EXCELLENCE in teaching across North Yorkshire has been recognised in a debut awards scheme.

North Yorkshire County Council has celebrated its first teaching awards in partnership with secondary school headteachers.

The secondary school awards were launched in recognition of the many members of school staff who are inspirational role models and make a real difference to the lives of North Yorkshire’s children and young people.

The awards are the initiative of headteachers who are members of the council’s secondary improvement partnership in a bid to celebrate good practice as well as raising the profile of teaching and to improve the esteem of the profession.

Winners included Teaching Assistant of the Year Cathy Mitchell of Thirsk School and Sixth Form and Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School Andrew Wilkinson of The Wensleydale School in Leyburn.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s executive member for schools, said: “We have much to celebrate in North Yorkshire and I want to congratulate all our winners this year.

“A very high proportion, 88 per cent, of our secondary age pupils continue to attend a good or outstanding school, seven per cent above the national average.

“This essentially comes down to great teaching.”