Moray teacher dedicated to supporting pupils with extra needs made MBE

A Moray teacher, who has dedicated her career to helping pupils with specialist needs has been made an MBE.

Sharon Aitken has helped generations of students with additional support needs during her 27-year-career in Buckie.

After starting out as a primary school teacher, the mother-of-two initially joined the ASN team at the town’s high school on a one-year secondment in 1990.

However, Mrs Aitken remained there for six years after her post, which was devoted to helping pupils with difficulties, was made permanent.

The teacher subsequently returned to primary schools and was instrumental in helping set up ASN services at Millbank Primary School.

Mrs Aitken went back to Buckie High School after being appointed the principal teacher of ASN seven years ago, where she currently heads up a team of five.

Despite being “totally overwhelmed” with the honour, she chose to heap praise on her colleagues for the impact they had made on the youngsters’ lives.

She said: “I am part of a team and I would not be able to do my job without their support.

“This honour is as much for them and the young people and their families that I have worked with over the years as it is for me.”