Headteacher named best in country

A Black Country headteacher has been honoured by his profession's version of the Oscars with a national award.

Dr Melvyn Kershaw scooped the The Royal Air Force Award for Headteacher of the Year award in a Secondary School at the UK Teaching Awards annual ceremony at the London Palladium last night.

He retired from Haybridge High School and Sixth Form in Hagley at the end of the summer term. Dr Kershaw began his career as a chemistry teacher and took over at Haybridge 20 years ago.

In that time he has taken the school "from good to great", and earlier this year a new campus was opened by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who was a teacher at the school for seven years.

Last year, 98 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades at GCSE, making it one of the top for state schools in the country. Dr Kershaw was awarded an OBE in the 2005 New Year's honours list for services to education.

He is now an adviser for the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

A former roadie for pop band Catatonia, who switched to a career in teaching, was also honoured. Natalie Richards was named the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Outstanding New Teacher of the Year.

Mrs Richards, a drama teacher at Bishop Gore School in Sketty, Swansea, was described as a "fantastic mentor" to younger teachers and staff.

The Teaching Awards, founded by Lord Puttnam 10 years ago, are open to every school in the UK, and reward excellent teachers, headteachers, teaching assistants, governors and sustainable schools. Lord Puttnam said: "Winners of Teaching Awards are extraordinary people and this year is no different. As ever, our judges have found a group of unique individuals with inspiring minds and outstanding commitment to the nations' schools."

Last night's ceremony was hosted by TV presenters Myleene Klass and Jeremy Vine with the 11 national awards presented by celebrities including actor Jeremy Irons and newsreader Sophie Raworth.

Miss Klass said: "Teachers have the power to release every child's potential, whether they want to be an astronaut, doctor, musician or accountant.

"Having been a music teacher myself, I understand the responsibility and enjoyment being a teacher brings. They deserve to be recognised and it's fantastic the Teaching Awards celebrate not just individuals, but the profession as a whole."