Ask any teacher stepping into the classroom why they pursued that career and they will all have their own unique reasons.

But for Halima Khan, inspiration struck through sheer chance after a blast from the past appeared in her life at a garden centre.

The 29-year-old, who teaches at Cringleford Primary School near Norwich, was on a different career trajectory when she bumped into her former primary school teacher.

And while many visit garden centres to pick up pot plants, gnomes, or even cream teas, Miss Khan came away with a whole new direction in life.

At the time she was working at Apple in the city and was a self-employed yoga instructor - but the meeting inspired her to take a PGCE.

Cringleford teacher Halima Khan, with Bishop of Norwich Graham Usher and her pupils  (Image: Diocese of Norwich/Luke Bryant/Tile Media)

She said: "I decided to train to be a teacher when I bumped into a Year 2 teacher from Mundford Primary School at a garden centre in between Covid lockdowns.

"Not only did she recognise my face - over 20 years later - but she remembered my name and took a genuine interest in what I was doing and how I had been over the years.

"I reflected then on the impact that some of my most inspiring teachers have had on me and I realised I wanted to inspire children in the same way."

She was supported in her studies by a £5,000 bursary from the Diocese of Norwich.

The bursary is funded by the Anne French Memorial Trust and awarded to a UK minority ethnic student training to be a primary school teacher at the University of East Anglia.

(Image: Diocese of Norwich/Luke Bryant/Tile Media)

Miss Khan added: "This bursary took the financial stress off my shoulders and allowed me to completely focus on my learning and school placements."

Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher said: "It was a joy to meet Halima in her first few days as a primary teacher.

"I'm so glad I have been able to support her into her new career."