Billed as 'the Oscars' for the profession, the Teaching Awards celebrate the UK's greatest teachers — and this year unusual approaches in the classroom caught the judges' attention.
Semi-professional dancer Kelly Steeples, who was named outstanding new teacher, recreates scenes from Avatar in her classroom — she uses her dance background to develop highly creative lessons which gave judges "goosebumps", according to a Guardian Education article.
Switchboard operator and nursery nurse turned teaching assistant Becky Newman certainly went the extra mile to show her support to pupils taking their exams — she joined them to retake her maths GCSE — improving her initial D grade to an A* this time around.
And one winner proved so popular with pupils that he is said to be "a teacher who children will remember all their lives" — year 5 teacher Llew Davies was even nominated for the awards by a nine-year-old pupil.
So, inspired by their success, we've invited this year's UK winners to join us in a Q&A — they will be answering your questions about what it takes to be a top teacher. Representatives from the Teaching Awards will also be on hand to explain what they are looking for from potential winners — and also explaining how your school can get involved. Join them on 18 November at 4pm.
Nominees and judges at the 2010 Teaching Awards also gave their advice to budding teachers on a recent Guardian Careers video — check it out here.
Our panel:
Kate Campion–Smith from Cator Park School in Beckenham is winner of The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year in London and the south-east.
Kelly Steeples from Southdale CE Junior School in Ossett is UK winner of The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year.
David Stinson is winner of The Becta Award for Next Generation Learning and a design and technology teacher at Sullivan Upper School, a grammar school in Holywood near Belfast.
Lois Lurinsky from Dalmarnock primary school in the winner of The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year in Scotland.
Sophie Byatt is the managing director of the Teaching Awards.
Dorothy Nesbit has been a volunteer judge on behalf of the Teaching Awards since 2003, during which time she has judged at regional and national levels and across a range of award categories. Dorothy has 20 years experience in the field of leadership development including conducting research into what differentiates the most outstanding leaders, assessing candidates for senior leadership roles and coaching leaders on a one-to-one basis.
