As ever, the Teaching Awards has good news to share about education. We hear every day how teachers change lives. When Lord Puttnam established the “Oscars for Teachers” in 1998 he wanted to tell that story and, together with the late, great Ted Wragg, campaigned to bring all the interested parties together to make it happen.

No one expected that first year to be easy, as The TES story suggests (“Puttnam: ‘I diddled Blunkett’”, September 17). But there was a great celebration at Alexandra Palace and a live TV programme broadcast by the BBC that was devoted to brilliant teachers.

Since then, nominations have grown and 12 years on 70 per cent come each year from children, young people and their families.

We are a small charity with a big message and we are aiming high for 2011. If your faith needs restoring in schools, you could do nothing better than watch the 2010 ceremony, which will be broadcast on BBC2 on Sunday, October 31 at 6pm.

Caroline Evans, Chief executive, The Teaching Awards, London.