David Ball and Sarah Beswick celebrate being shortlisted for a regional award with their pupils at Rowde Primary School 16248/3STAFF and pupils at Rowde Primary School had good cause to celebrate this week after they received news that their head teacher, David Ball, and infants' teacher, Sarah Beswick, had both been shortlisted for the regional Teaching Awards.

Mr Ball is up for the title of Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School while Mrs Beswick could win the BT award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School at the regional finals on June 21.

Mr Ball has been headteacher for nearly 12 years and in that time he has guided the school through grant maintained status and now sees it well up in the county league tables for primary schools every year.

He is currently involved in getting a new school built on greenfield land and organising fundraising for the building of a new swimming pool there.

He is self-effacing about his own role in the school's success. He said: "I have been very lucky having such a good team around me and having such excellent pupils.

"I feel the awards should have a wider remit and include people like chairmen of governors, financial officers and chairmen of PTAs. The school succeeds because it is run by a team."

He paid tribute to Mrs Beswick, who has been an infants' teacher for over 30 years.

She said: "I love teaching infants because of all the awe and wonder they display. Most things are new for them.

"I am delighted someone has recognised the work of the whole school. I certainly think Mr Ball deserves to win an award. He has such vision and is always coming up with some new initiative to improve things at the school."