Louise Atkinson was a trainee teacher when she was invited to her first union meeting.

That was the start of something that has now led to the Carlisle woman being elected national president of the National Education Union.

Louise, 42, is a primary teacher. Although she has been given a year's secondment to concentrate in her new role, she feels she is still at the coal face and able to understand completely what is going on in education and in the classroom.

She also has two children, one of whom is sitting A levels this year so she is aware of the whole spectrum of education.

Her ambitions as president includes trying to get a living wage for teachers without compromising education,

"I know of teachers who need to access the foodbanks. We have to fight that.But, at the same time, wage increases have to be fully funded and not taken out of school funds.Schools have lost enough over the years. I still remember times when you could call in a psychologist, for instance, and he or she would be at the school within a couple of days. Through 10 to12 years of austerity we have lost so much and cannot afford to lose more."

Her other goal is to have more women in leadership roles.

"Two thirds of our members are women and yet this is not reflected in leadership roles."

Louise said the pandemic and lockdowns gave proved how teachers are prepared to work for the sake of their students and recognising their efforts, as well as keeping them in the profession was vital.

Louise has lived in Carlisle most of her life and lives in the house in which she was brought up.

Her love of her her city persuaded her to stand for Carlisle City Council. She has been a councillor for five years.

Her attitude to council work is the same as to teaching and the NEU: she is passionate about education and she loves her city and is determined to do what she can to make both better for all