AFTER taking some time off to bring up the five children in her own family, Frances Clements decided to return to teaching.

Although she had originally worked as a secondary school pottery and art teacher Mrs Clements turned her attention to primary education and was sent to Meadowhead Junior and St Thomas’ CE schools in Blackburn for two fortnight blocks.

That was several decades ago but she clearly liked St Thomas’, in Newton Street, and the school liked her because Mrs Clements is still there aged 63!

A list of glowing testimonials from heads, fellow teachers and pupils past and present made this hugely respected and popular figure the judges’ unanimous choice for the Lifetime Achievement title, sponsored by North Lancs Training Group, in the first Lancashire Telegraph Schools Awards.

Fellow teacher Donna Briggs said: “I have worked with Frances for seven years and she is an amazing lady. She has also been described as passionate, dedicated, enthusiastic, inspirational and an angel of all arts.”

As well as teaching in various year groups she has led workshops for parents and been the Advanced Skills Teacher for art in both the school and for Blackburn with Darwen.

Art doesn’t just mean painting and sculpture either.

Mrs Clements has helped pupils and colleagues with poetry, dancing, singing, beat boxing, ICT, drama and even went on a drumming course so she could run a djembe drumming club!

She has also taken children singing at churches, shopping centres, King George’s Hall, residential homes and even Preston Docks.

Headteacher Carolyn Lord said: “Frances is a truly remarkable teacher with a determined character.

“She has the rare combination of creativity, energy and commitment even after many years in the profession.

“She is a true inspiration and has recently ventured into the world of iPads and is developing the use of arts into film making.

“She has an amazing sense of humour and we never know what she will do next. At a history day she appeared as Queen Victoria!”

Past pupil Mubeen Ainarkar, who is now herself a teacher, wrote: “If I can one day recreate just a tiny fraction of the joy and inspiration that she has brought to so many young lives I will consider myself to be extremely fortunate.”

  • Two other finalists commended by judges in this category were Susan Prior, who retired last summer from SS John Fisher and Thomas More High School, Colne, along with Bernard Fariker and Tom Neill for their work as site supervisors at the former Blakewater College and the new Blackburn Central High School.