THIS WEEK’S winner of The Mail’s Citizen of the Week is a dedicated headteacher who’s had a ‘baptism of fire’ during the first year of her position.

Dowdales School headteacher Emma Aubrey has been nominated by Caren Hindle, the chair of governors for the school.

Speaking highly of Emma and the rest of the staff, Caren said: “Not only Emma, but all the staff at Dowdales have worked tirelessly, keeping open for children of front line workers, keeping in touch with vulnerable students and making plans for the return to school as and when it is safe to do so.

“As well as doing all this, the staff have also had to assess all the year 11 students work for their exam results due to not being able to sit their GCSE exams. This in itself is a mammoth task.

“Despite all the stress and work required, Emma is there to support all staff, day in, day out, and is devastated for her students who are not able to take their exams.

“She is keeping in touch with all the new students waiting to start at Dowdales, sending them post cards letting them know the school is excited to welcome them into the Dowdales family hopefully in September.

“To Emma, all staff and students are part of her family and are treated as such. This is her first year as head teacher and to be faced with this situation has been a baptism of fire but she has taken everything in her stride and just got on with it with the amazing help and support of all staff in the school.

“The entire team at Dowdales both teaching and non teaching have done an amazing job for the community including making face masks for the NHS, supporting vulnerable and worried students and providing an excellent online learning platform for all year groups.

“As the chair of governors at Dowdales I am extremely proud and grateful for the amazing staff we have at our school led by Emma and the SLT who I think are deserving of every praise and thanks that can be bestowed on them for everything they do not only day in day out in normal circumstances but for going all out during these exceptional times.”

Emma said: “The staff have been absolutely amazing - and the kids have been great too!”