Teachers chalk up a win for Cumbria

By Kelly Eve

Last updated 09:22, Friday, 03 October 2008

Two north Cumbrian teachers are heading to London to discover if they are winners in the 2008 Teaching Awards.

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Martin Vevers: The region’s top secondary school teacher

Stephen Fraser, headteacher at St Michael’s School in Dalston, and Martin Vevers took home silver Platos when they were named as regional winners earlier this year.

Mr Fraser was named the primary headteacher of the year for North East and Cumbria while Mr Vevers, 31, is the North West’s secondary school teacher of the year.

Physics teacher Martin, originally from Carlisle, is now at Cheadle Hulme High School in Cheshire. He has recently been promoted to assistant headteacher.

He was educated at Upperby School and moved on to Trinity before reading physics at Manchester University.

The national finals will be broadcast live on October 19.

The London Palladium will stage what is recognised as the biggest celebration of education excellence before a 2,000-strong audience. Eleven gold Platos will be awarded.

Screened on BBC2, the ceremony will be hosted by celebrity presenters Myleene Klass and Jeremy Vine.

All 142 winners from around Britain are now 2008 Teaching Awards fellows and part of their prize is an all-expenses-paid weekend for two in London for the finals.

They will be staying at a luxury hotel next to the Tower of London where scientist Lord Robert Winston will be a leading seminar speaker.

The awards ceremony will be followed by a gala dinner, hosted by Lord Puttnam.

Lord Puttman, founding chairman of the awards, said: “This is our tenth anniversary ceremony and a thrilling moment when I think how far we have come.

“It is a unique opportunity to feel proud of our schools and to say thank you to a profession that is at the heart of progress and the future of our society. Teachers deserve recognition for the difference they make to young lives.”