A Wirral teacher who transformed a struggling school has been given a major award for her efforts.

Rosemary Littler, who served as Liscard Primary School's head teacher for 14 years during a 43-year career in education, has been given a silver award for lifetime achievement in the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

She has also been shortlisted to win one of just 15 gold awards across the country later in the year.

Ms Littler was given the accolade for an outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children she worked with every day.

She retired in January after almost a decade-and-a-half in charge of Liscard Primary.

The woman who has succeeded her in the role, Sue Talbot, said: "When she [Ms Littler] came to the school it was rated as requires improvement. It's now moved to outstanding.

"The outcomes in the school for all children are in the top 20% nationally.

"On disadvantaged children’s attainment and progress, the school is also in the top 20%.

"She's always been passionate about ensuring children of disadvantage have really good opportunities to move on in life.

"That's been her whole vision for the school."

Ms Talbot said the former head teacher had a particularly passion for PE.

She added: "For any child [Ms Littler] would always go the extra mile to let them achieve their goals and provide them with experiences to open their minds to anything they wanted to do when they left school.

"She also introduced a platinum award for PE, as she saw sport as really important."

Sharon Hague, senior vice president of schools at Pearson UK, said: "After a year like no other we want to take today to say thank you to all the incredible school staff who have kept children and young people learning despite unprecedented challenges.

"We hope the celebrations today show how much you are appreciated, and that your hard work has not gone unnoticed nor unrecognised."