People across the borough are being encouraged to celebrate a teacher who inspired or supported them during their school years.

The Thank a Teacher Campaign has been launched by National College for Teaching and Leadership’s Get Into Teaching with the aim of highlighting how rewarding teaching can be.

People in Harrow can write a tweet or post on Instagram to say thanks and can include a photo of themselves with their teacher or a general picture from their school days.

Anyone can take part, saying which teacher they would like to thank and why - using the hashtag: #thankateacher.

Kelly Hoppen, interior designer and star of Dragons’ Den, said: "I had a truly amazing music teacher at school who supported me in ways I couldn’t imagine.

“He helped to bring out my creativity – and who knew I was a musician too? If more kids had a teacher like him, the world will be a more creative place.

Roger Pope, chair of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), an executive agency that provides a comprehensive programme of support to aspiring teachers, added: “Teachers are the backbone of our education system and it’s why we’re always looking for people with the passion and potential to teach. Great teachers make a real difference by developing and encouraging their students.

“Yet, teachers don’t always receive feedback from their pupils on what an important job we – as a profession – do. But, when someone does say thanks, it means a huge amount and makes all the hard work worth it.”

Mr Pope said that knowing he had made a difference to a student’s life had “stayed” with him over the years.

He said: “I once received a card from a Year 11 boy who I worked with to help pass his GCSEs after he was warned he may be excluded from school.

“The card said ‘Thanks for your help – you changed my life’. That has always stayed with me. “We hope this campaign will provide people with the opportunity to recall a time when a teacher inspired or supported them, and say a simple thank you.”