Mr Cooke has done more for our community than any other person I know

School governor

One of the school governors said: "The Bangladeshi community is very lucky to have a head teacher who has patience and is prepared to listen to all sides of a story before he makes a decision."

"The community trusts him - they know he will not tolerate any racism, no matter where it comes from.

"He has done more for our community than any other person I know."

Star ceremony

The awards ceremony was hosted by television celebrity Carol Smillie and among the stars presenting the awards were Michael Parkinson, Joanna Lumley and Sol Campbell.

Sue Hyland picked up an award for leadership

Each winner in the 10 categories took prizes worth �25,000 back to their school - a grant of �15,000 and computer equipment worth �10,000.

The awards, now in their third year, were designed to celebrate and publicly acknowledge the work of outstanding teachers in schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

They are sponsored by BT and The Guardian.

Chair of the Teaching Awards Trust, Lord Puttnam, said they were an opportunity to "recognise the outstanding communicators within the teaching profession" and to celebrate the "vital role" they played in communities across the country.

Working with parents

Also getting an award was secondary school teacher Barbara Robinson for her efforts in encouraging parents to get involved in the work of her school.

Ms Robinson, from Blakeston Community School in Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, has inspired dozens of parents - many of whom had had unrewarding experiences of school - to sign up on her course to become teacher assistants.

"Not only has she enriched the lives of so many children and their parents, she has given them the gift of going on to enrich the lives of others too," said one of the judges.

Barbara Blaney from Chalvedon School and Sixth Form College in Basildon, Essex, picked up the Award for Excellence in Special Needs Training.

She was especially praised for her work with the traveller community.

Her head teacher said she was a "truly exceptional" teacher who had chosen to devote her career to the education of children with special needs, and to traveller children, in a socially and economically deprived area.

"With her ability, energy and commitment she could undoubtedly have her choice of schools, and we are indeed fortunate that she has chosen to work with us," the head said.

Mrs Blaney told the audience at the awards ceremony: "I would like to think that this award acknowledges all teachers of special needs and all teachers of travellers, and celebrates how important it is to have inclusion in schools."

The awards ceremony will be shown on BBC One on Sunday 4 November.

Anyone wanting to nominate a teacher for the 2002 Teaching Awards can do so online at www.teachingawards.com.

Award			Winner
	The BT Award for Teacher of the Year			Primary: John King Greswold Primary School, Solihull Secondary:David Bennett Babington Community Technology College, Beaumont Leys, Leicester
	The Leadership Trust Award for School Leadership			Primary: Rose Marie Pugh Crowle Primary School, Crowle, North Lincolnshire Secondary: Sue Hyland Houghton Kepier School, Houghton-le-Spring
	The Award for Learning Support Assistant of the Year			Josephine Adlard Pugh St Martins CofE Infants School, Salisbury
	The Award for Excellence in Special Needs Teaching			Barbara Blaney Chalvedon School & Sixth Form College, Basildon, Essex
	The Award for Most Creative Use of ICT			Keith Phipps King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, Birmingham
	The Guardian Award for Outstanding New Teacher			Ingrid Spencer Longslade Community School, Birstall, Leicester
	The Lloyds TSB Award for Working with Parents and the Community			Barbara Robinson Blakeston Community School, Stockton
	The Award for Lifetime Achievement			Barry Cooke Hyde Technology School, Hyde, Tameside

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