Award-winning teacher's lifetime achievement

A foreign language teacher rounded off a three-decade teaching career by winning a Lifetime Achievement Award before she retired.

Meryl Wakeman taught German at Sir Thomas More Catholic High School in Tyne and Wear for almost 30 years, and was nominated for the prestigious award by Curriculum Leader for Modern Foreign Language, Lisa Fisher.

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“Meryl has been a long-standing member of staff at Sir Thomas More, who has contributed so much to the Modern Foreign Language Department,” said Mrs Fisher. “Her dedication and inspiration for students and staff at Thomas More deserves to be recognised.”

Mrs Wakeman received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the German Ambassador, Miguel Berger, and the former director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, at the Ambassador’s residence before the end of the school year.

“Throughout her teaching career, Meryl has been the ultimate ambassador for German,” continued Mrs Fisher. “Her enthusiasm for the German language and culture were a constant inspiration for our students, who were at the heart of everything she did. She kept up to date with the daily German news, had fantastic German book recommendations, hosted lodgers from German-speaking countries, and travelled to Germany in her camper van.”

Initiatives introduced by Mrs Wakeman include St Thomas More’s successful German exchange with Oer-Erkenschwink, and she secured support for the scheme from the UK German Connection to keep it going virtually during Covid restrictions. 

She also organised regular sixth-form trips to Berlin, along with memorable activities such as a visit to a Geothe Institut concert featuring rapper Chefket, and the making of Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte for the Great German Bake Off competition.

“Throughout the school, from the lowest sets in Year 8 to high achievers in the Sixth Form, Meryl ensured students were able to communicate effectively in German,” added Mrs Fisher. “She worked tirelessly with students of all abilities to ensure they achieved their full potential.”

The Modern Foreign Language department marked the retirement of their long-serving colleague with a Twilight Spa at Seaham Hall and a meal out in Newcastle, while headteacher David Watson made a presentation to Mrs Wakeman after the end-of-year liturgy at Sir Thomas More, which is a member of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust.

“I have been amazingly fortunate to work in a brilliant Modern Foreign Language department, with a group of supportive, hard-working, professional colleagues, who are always there to help each other, and to share the day-to-day challenges and rewards of teaching with good humour and positivity,” said Mrs Wakeman, who now plans to go travelling around Europe with her husband.

“I still love teaching, but, at the same time, I am looking forward to seeing where the next stage of my personal journey will take me. I am sure, however, that I will keep in touch with many of my colleagues, and hope that many interesting and rewarding ventures lie ahead.”