OVER the past 20 years, Josephine Bamford has gone the extra mile for her pupils.

In total, that is 3,800 extra miles over the course of her career, which is why Mrs Bamford was a worthy winner of the Supporting Staff Member of the Year prize.

As well as juggling three different roles, she also helps families, including refugee families, settle into the school and their new homes, including helping to source furnishing and white goods for families in her own time,

Her kindness, compassion, dedication and reliability were described as invaluable to her school, St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs’ Primary.

Upon winning the award, Mrs Bamford said: “I am a bit in shock that I have actually won.

“I’m really grateful to my colleagues that nominated me, but I just want to say I am just part of a team who all work together.

“I don’t feel like I am doing the extra things they say, we all just work together and it is great to go to work every day and being part of a really lovely, friendly team.

“The children and families at our school are really great, it is a really community at our school.

“Everyone - all the teachers, staff, pupils, families - we all pull together and I am really proud of St Cuthbert’s. I’m really proud of the school I work at and to be a part of it is great, but I am just one member of a great team.”

Recently, Mrs Bamford helped the school to achieve the prestigious Sanctuary School Award, as well as carrying out her usual duties as a nursery nurse, outreach worker and teaching assistant at the school.

In her nomination, it said: “There are too many things to list what Mrs Bamford has done for our superb school over the years.

“She always goes the extra mile for pupils and families, and is kind, compassionate and patient.”

Highly commended were Killinghall Primary’s Rifat Khanum, and Diana Miller of Peel Park Primary.