Ref. 28012/2Matravers School is celebrating the news that two of its staff have been short-listed for awards.

Head of dance Beth Brewer and teaching assistant Meryl Hardiman have both won through to the west finals of the Teaching Awards, which take place in Cirencester on June 22. Pupils at the school in Westbury nominated the pair via the awards' website.

The Teaching Awards, which finish up with a national final, aim to highlight excellence and to encourage best practice in teaching, as well as raising the profile of the profession. Miss Brewer has been nominated for secondary school teacher of the year while Mrs Hardiman is in the running for teaching assistant of the year.

Miss Brewer joined Matravers in September after moving from Kent and has already done much to boost dance within the school. This has included increasing numbers taking the subject at GCSE and establishing an AS-level group.

She said: "I was surprised to be short-listed. I guess it was because I've built up a rapport with some of my students.

"I love dance and suppose that comes through in my teaching and inspires the pupils."

Adrian Cunningham, president elect of Westbury Rotary Club, also praised Miss Brewer for the way she supported the group's production of Pocahontas last year.

He said: "We didn't have any dancers so I came and saw Beth and explained the situation. She put together six dancers for me in under six weeks and they were absolutely wonderful her enthusiasm was brilliant."

Mrs Hardiman, who has been working at Matravers for 15 years, was nominated by Year 13 pupil Barry Farwell, who she has supported since he joined in Year 7. Her role at the school also includes mentoring, one-to-one sessions and literacy lessons.

She said: "Barry said I make people feel better about themselves and I just thought that's why I'm here. I still enjoy my work as much as ever because it is always changing and moving forward. Matravers is such a good school, which is why I think two of us have been nominated."

Headteacher Nigel Gilhespy said: "Meryl helps all sorts of kids and this is a reflection not only on her but on the team of which she is part.

"In both cases it was the youngsters who made the nominations."