A TEESSIDE teacher is one step closer to being crowned the best in the world after being shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Middlesbrough College A-Level biology teacher Dr Richard Spencer has been named as a top ten finalist in a competition to find the world’s best teacher - and is the only teacher in Europe to make the shortlist.

Dr Spencer, known to his students as Doc, will be flown to Dubai along with the other nine finalists for an award ceremony taking place on Sunday, March 15, at the Global Education and Skills Forum.

The $1m Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize seeks to find one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.

Dr Spencer said: “I still can’t quite believe that I’ve been shortlisted - I keep pinching myself.

“It’s a great honour to be chosen as one of the final ten candidates, all of whom are doing incredible things in the world of teaching and learning.

“I’m very mindful that the whole purpose of the global prize isn’t to make a celebrity out of a teacher, but to celebrate the teaching profession and the importance of teaching.”

The competition has already seen Dr Spencer chosen at random as one of three of the 50 shortlisted candidates to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome on February 5, at the IV Scholas Occurentes World Educational Congress.

Dr Spencer studied for a PhD in molecular biology before becoming a teacher and has previously won prizes for his work as a science teacher.

He was awarded an MBE in 2010 for services to science communication and was named as one of the UK’s Leading 100 Practising Scientists in 2014.

Zoe Lewis, Middlesbrough College principal and chief executive, said: “It’s amazing news, we’re thrilled for Dr Spencer and for the college.

“Doc is an inspiration to staff and students and we wish him the best of luck when he travels to Dubai for the final.”

The ten finalists are being judged on criteria including innovation in teaching, providing a role model, contributing to the public debate on education and sharing ideas with other teachers.

The top ten finalists were narrowed down from the top 50 shortlisted candidates, which were chosen from over 5,000 nominations and 1,300 final applications from 127 countries including the US, UK, Italy, Kenya, Uganda, India, Afghanistan, Australia, Argentina Mexico and Jordan, amongst others.