Hurworth School has been named as the region's top school. The maths and computing college near Darlington won the top prize in the awards run by The Journal and the Evening Gazette and main sponsors Northumbrian Water, while headteacher Dean Judson was named the Headteacher of the Year.
The awards came after the school both beat off closure and had one of the most improved GCSE scores in the country. Mr Judson, who missed the ceremony because he was in Germany advising British Schools Overseas on how to copy Hurworth's success, said: "On my own award, I'm really happy because I was nominated by students. To have it come from them is really nice. "The school has done well academically and that's grabbed the headlines but we've also made the place somewhere where it's really fun to learn. I see the award as a reward for the staff. The teaching and learning that they provide is incredible." The awards were made up of five prizes for teachers and other school staff and five project prizes. Amer Sheikh, a chemistry teacher from Thornhill School in Sunderland, was named the region's most inspirational secondary school teacher while Joanne Miller, from Layfield Primary in Yarm was judged the best primary teacher. Mr Sheikh said: "I'm full of pride for what the school has done. I love what I do and I put everything into it, whether it's teaching my chemistry class or being on stage. This is a dream." The prize for best support staff was won by husband-and-wife team Nigel and Susan Moore, from King Edward VI School, in Morpeth, while caretaker of the year was John Armstrong, from Kenton Bar Primary in Newcastle. He said: "Being a caretaker is a great job and it's nice to think that somebody thinks I do it well." Walbottle Primary School in Newcastle won the Environment Award for its science garden project, Norton School in Stockton won the School Newspaper Award and the Healthy Living Award was won by Skelton Primary School, on Teesside. The Active Community Award went to St Joseph's RCVA Primary School in Coundon, whose head Stefa McManners said: "This is fantastic and it's really an achievement for the whole community." The Sustainable School Award went to Cassop Primary in County Durham. Journal editor Brian Aitken, who introduced the awards ceremony, said: "In this target-driven society we now live in - and education has more than its fair share of targets - it is nice to recognise and reward the fantastic work, dedication, innovation and quality of performance that takes place in our schools on a daily basis." Northumbrian Water's communications and PR manager Alistair Baker said: "We're delighted to have worked with The Journal and the Evening Gazette on these awards - they're something that's been missing from the region and I hope they're here to stay." | 
Northumberland