A HEADTEACHER who inspires both staff and students to be the best they can be has won a prestigious award.

In a surprise assembly yesterday, Andrea English was revealed as a silver award winner in the Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School category of the Pearson Teaching Awards.

Mrs English became executive headteacher of The Oaks Secondary School in Spennymoor, along with Evergreen Primary School in Bishop Auckland, before they opened in 2005. For the first two terms she was a head without a building but worked with dedication and enthusiasm to pull staff and governors together and create an ethos of high expectations of learning, behaviour and self.

Within 16 months The Oaks, a special school for more than 260 pupils with a wide range of needs, was rated 'good' by Ofsted and has been 'outstanding' in the last three reports.

Under her leadership, the school has high attendance rates and pupils make outstanding progress from exam results to being able to cope in unfamiliar environments, try new things and form positive relationships.

Mrs English, a teacher for 30 years, said: "Today has been the biggest surprise of my life and such a great honour, I couldn't have been prouder.

"Thank you to all my lovely staff, governors and pupils for this fantastic award."

Deputy headteacher Helen Crawford, who nominated Mrs English, said: "Andrea is engaging, empathetic and encouraging."

John Farrow, a retired local authority advisor for special education, said Mrs English's advice is valued throughout the county and she always puts children first.

Selected from thousands of nominations, Mrs English was one of 65 UK winners announced on Thank A Teacher Day. Next month she will attend a celebration event at the House of Commons and in October go to the televised Pearson Teaching Awards finals ceremony, regarded as the teaching Oscars by education professionals.

Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “The best we can do is to pass on to children all that we know and love and mean every word.

"I think above all else, a teacher should be a friend, and that’s not an easy thing to do when there are 35 children out there.

"With these awards we are shining a light on these inspirational individuals whose efforts and commitment so often go uncelebrated.”

Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK, said: "A huge congratulations to all those receiving a silver trophy today. They should feel extremely proud of their achievements and join an inspirational group of Teaching Award winners from the past two decades.

" It’s an honour for Pearson to support these Awards each year– it’s so vital to recognise and celebrate those in the teaching profession, for their commitment to education and for the impact they have on young people's lives."