There were 14 “Platos” presented at the Alexandra Palace awards. Each winner won pound;20,000 - plus pound;3,500 from their regional prize -for their school.
All regional winners were observed in class by two teams of judges. A national panel including civil servants, headteachers, education journalists, academics and teachers’ union leaders then whittled down the regional winners to shortlists of four: Winners were: The Dorling Kindersley award for best new teacher in a primary: Florrie Witcombe, Inverteign Junior School, Teignmouth.
The Dorling Kindersley award for best teacher in a secondary: David Waugh, Beauchamp College, Leicester.
The Guardian award for most creative use of ICT in a primary school: Dianna Sperry, Moat Farm junior school, Oldbury.
The Guardian award for most creative use of ICT in a secondary school: Keith Parry, Hyde Technology School, Cheshire.
The Railtrack award for excellence in special needs teaching in a primary: Elizabeth Seddon, Elmtree first school, Chesham.
The Railtrack award for excellence in special needs teaching in a secondary school: Wendy Crockett, Alderman Blaxhill School, Colchester.
Primary teacher of the year: Norma Machell, Scarcroft county primary school, York.
Secondary teacher of the year: Romilda Scannelli, Uplands County College, Wadhurst, East Sussex.
The Camelot award for working with parents and the community in a primary school: Barbara “Paddy” Beels, Wingate nursery school, County Durham.
The Camelot award for working with parents and the community in a secondary : Bob Jennings, St George Community School, Bristol.
Contributions to school leadership in a primary: Jean Heslop, Cliffe Hill School, Halifax.
Contributions to school leadership in a secondary school: Barbara Berryman, Marshfields School, Peterborough.
Teacher of the year in a special school: Mary Pittman, Downham School, Plymouth.
Lifetime achievement award: Maureen Davies, St Sebastian’s Roman Catholic primary school,Liverpool. Regional winners were listed in last week’s TES Friday magazine.
* Susan Heightman, deputy head of Tolworth Girls’ School in Surrey, has won an Oracle-sponsored European Women of Achievement Award for pioneering new approaches to teacher training using ICT.
