A DEPUTY headteacher has won a prestigious national teaching award.

Louise Parks, who works at Bournmoor Primary School, near Chester-le-Street, was awarded the Primary Science Enthuse award at a recent ceremony in London.

The awards recognise outstanding teaching professionals and the effect they have on their pupils, their colleagues and the wider school.

Seven teachers and technicians, who have all had a significant impact on science teaching in their schools across the country won awards this year.

Mrs Parks, 42, who has been at Bournmoor for two years but teaching for 20, said: “I am amazed and over the moon. I cannot quite believe it.”

Mrs Parks, and those who were nominated, have taken part in subject-specific continuing professional development (CPD) at the National STEM Learning Centre.

They have received bursaries from Project Enthuse, a partnership between Wellcome, and professional bodies, which provides funding for staff from state funded schools, academies and colleges in the UK to make it easier to access training.