Pearson Teaching Awards reveals 2018 winners

Sunderland College's Jonathan Wharton has been named Further Education Lecturer of the Year

A drama lecturer covering maternity leave has won a top teaching award.

In eight months, Jonathan Wharton has "completely transformed the dynamics" within Sunderland College's drama department, judges have said.

He has been named Further Education Lecturer of the Year at the 20th Pearson Teaching Awards.

Twelve other "inspirational" teachers and schools from across England and Northern Ireland were also given gold awards.

Mr Wharton was praised by judges for being "highly creative in findings ways to inspire and engage" students.

He was also commended for free drama sessions he provides at Thornhill Academy in Sunderland.

Marie Watson won the award for Excellence in Special Needs Education

Andy Silvester was credited for "making school fun" as he won the Primary School Teacher of the Year Award for his work at Crowmarsh Gifford Primary School in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

Marie Watson started at the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby as a pupil and now the English and British Sign Language teacher has won the award for Excellence in Special Needs Education.

Judges said she is an "excellent role model" and shows children how to "break the barriers of their disability".

The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Janis Burden, who has been associate head teacher at Moss Side Primary School for 36 years.

Janis Burdin won the Lifetime Achievement Award

The gold winners were:

• Jonathan Wharton, Sunderland College - Further Education Lecturer of the Year

• Andy Silvester, Crowmarsh Gifford Primary School, Wallingford, Oxfordshire - Primary School Teacher of the Year

• Marie Watson, Royal School for the Deaf in Derby - Excellence in Special Needs Education

• James Poynter, Clacton County High School, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - Teaching Assistant of the Year

• Jo Richardson Community School, Dagenham, East London - School of the Year Making a Difference

• Cinzia Imbriano, Green Ridge Primary Academy, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire - Outstanding New Teacher of the Year

• Leanne Griffiths, Morley Academy, Leeds - Secondary School Head teacher of the Year

• Jamie Frost, Tiffin School, Kingston-upon-Thames - Outstanding Use of Technology

• Chris Flathers, Goldbeaters, Edgware, London - Primary School Head teacher of the Year

• Essential Skills Team, Belfast Metropolitan College - Further Education Team of the Year

• Romayne Charles, Higham Lane School, Nuneaton, Warwickshire - Secondary School Teacher of the Year

• Janis Burdin, Moss Side Primary School, Leyland, Lancashire - Lifetime Achievement Award

• Benjamin Adlard Primary School, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire - School of the Year Making a Difference