TEACHERS from two York schools have been nominated for prestigious teaching awards which will be announced at a ceremony next week.

Joseph Rowntree teacher Paul Offord and Burnholme Community College teacher Christina Wright will join more than 30 others nominated for the Teaching Awards 2003.

Paul has been nominated in the outstanding new teacher category and Christina has been nominated for the teacher of the year in a secondary school category.

Head teacher of Burnholme Tony Gavin said he was delighted Christina had been nominated.

Other nominations from the area include Paul Keogh from King James's School in Knaresborough, who has also been nominated as teacher of the year in a secondary school category. Fran Stone from Hambleton Primary School in Selby has been nominated in the teaching assistant of the year category.

More than 30 teachers in the North have been shortlisted in a number of categories, including community involvement, school leadership, science teaching, special needs teaching and the award for lifelong achievement.

The regional ceremony will take place at All Saints' College, Horsforth, Leeds, on June 13 and will be attended by local dignitaries and members of the education sector.

Regional winners will be invited to attend the Teaching Awards 2003 national ceremony, which will take place on Sunday October 26, and will be broadcast on BBC1.

Winners will receive a £2,000 cash grant for their schools, plus £1,000 worth of ICT equipment.

National winners take a further £13,000 cash grant plus £10,000 worth of ICT equipment back to their schools - bringing the total value of their prize up to £25,000. The nominations were submitted by parents, pupils and colleagues and assessed by an awards panel.

The awards were established in 1998 by Lord Puttnam and administered by the charity Teaching Awards Trust.

The charity aims to highlight excellence and encourage best practice in teaching by raising the profile and public perception of the teaching profession.

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, June 04, 2003