AN inspirational teacher has told how she went from dinner lady to school headteacher in the space of just a few years.

Rosalind Brotherton became headteacher at Flyford Flavell First School, near Worcester, after a meteoric rise to the top of her profession.

As a single mum she started working as a dinner lady to help make ends meet when her three sons were growing up.

She said: "My marriage broke down when I was 30 and I wanted to help provide for my children and to do something for myself.

"I started doing my degree at the Open University.

"I was juggling jobs working as a dinner lady and a learning assistant at a school, so I was working with children and that inspired me to become a teacher."

It took Mrs Brotherton five years to get a degree in history, graduating in 2005 and by the following year she was training to be a teacher at Swan Lane First School, in Evesham, with the University of Worcester.

After qualifying, she took a job at Thomas Jolysse School in Stratford, where she says her career took off and she rose through the ranks to assistant headteacher.

In 2013 she took her headteacher's qualification and, the following year, returned to Flyford Flavell to take charge – just nine years after qualifying as a teacher.

"It really surprised me because, when I started the journey, I was never career-minded," Mrs Brotherton said.

"But I was working in school and I wanted to be able to affect change.

"The higher I went the more I felt I could make things better for children, sort things out or influence more."

Returning to Flyford Flavell, she knew the school needed improvement – so it was no surprise when six weeks later Ofsted said as much in its inspection.

The school was recently inspected again and achieved a good ranking.

Mrs Brotherton says her own life experience has influenced her approach to teaching.

"I didn't have a very good education. I didn't enjoy school," she said.

"I came from a single-parent family and all this came together and there weren't many opportunities for me when I left school at 16 with a few CSEs.

"I think that has helped me to make sure children love learning and enjoy learning."

She said she enjoyed different aspects of the roles she has taken on in schools.

She said: "I understand the stresses and strains of each particular role.

"When you are a dinner lady you are seeing the children at a social time when they need to let off steam.

"There are mores stresses and strains as a headteacher but it's just as enjoyable.

"As a dinner lady you can form strong relationships.

"As a head I still have that but I have to work hard to make sure that I don't shut myself in the office and don't engage with the children.

"You have to walk around the playground and be available to them."