Pupils at Easton Royal School have joined in celebrations this week at the news that the chairman of their school governors Shelley Whitehead has been chosen as the best in the West.

The winners of the West of England Teaching Awards were a closely guarded secret until the presentation ceremony in Bath on Monday.

When the news reached the school, said acting head Tom Hill, there was a huge round of applause from the teaching staff and children.

Mrs Whitehead, who has been a governor at the school for four years and helped steer a new and pioneering federation with St John’s School in Marlborough, goes through to the national finals in October.

Mrs Whitehead, who runs a business consultancy, said she enjoyed her work as a governor. She said: “It’s all about giving something back to the community and helping a small school meet the challenges that come up all the time.”

She added: “School governors do work very hard and it is nice that this is recognised.”

She said her team of governors worked very closely with Mr Hill and the teaching staff, with the parents and also with the pupils meeting members of the school council regularly.

She was nominated for the Governor of the Year awards both by her colleagues and by Mr Hill.