Ref. 31055-22A TEACHER at a Swindon comprehensive school has been named top of her class.

Irene Hunt, who has taught at Headlands School for 21 years, bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award in this year's West of England Regional Teaching Awards.

The 55-year-old special needs teacher, who is also deputy head, was nominated by fellow staff after showing her determination to turn things around at the Gorse Hill school.

Mrs Hunt said it was nice to see the school hitting the headlines for the right reason.

"This award is very important to a lot of people. Credit must also go to my colleagues.

"The award shows that despite the turmoil of recent months the people in the school have been working hard to provide what they can for the children."

As exclusively revealed by the Evening Advertiser last month, the school's problems hit boiling point when popular history teacher Malcolm Walker handed in his resignation.

In a parting shot, he issued a letter to pupils telling them they were being let down by management.

Mrs Hunt believes the school faces a mammoth task if it is to get back on track but she is adamant it can be done.

She said: "The main problem the school faces is the lack of permanent teachers.

"We lost around 17 at Christmas and a few more followed at Easter.

"We now have 20 supply teachers. This makes it very difficult.

"However good they are, they will never be able to build relationships with the children. That is a key part of teaching.

"It has been remarkably stressful but I believe there is a lot of potential in this school."

As for the secret to her success, Mrs Hunt reckons it's all down to confidence.

"I am a strong supporter of this community," she said. "Some of the pupils face enormous challenges in their lives. My job, as a teacher, is to make them believe in themselves."

There was also recognition for two other Swindon teachers in the awards.

Wayne Smith, of Even Junior School, and Ivan Kirk of Dorcan Technology College were highly commended in the categories of Outstanding New Teacher and School and Community Involvement, respectively.

Mr Smith, 25, who has been teaching for just 18 months, said he was honoured by the mention and heaped praise on his Year 6 pupils.

"They are great kids," he said. "When I'm feeling stressed all I need to do is look at their beaming faces and it all seems worthwhile."

Kevin Shoesmith