THREE North Yorkshire teachers have come out top of the class in the regional heat of the national teaching awards.

A fourth, from York, got a special commendation at the ceremony in Sheffield.

Christopher Lewis, who has been head teacher of Thirsk School for 16 years, won the regional award for school leadership in a secondary school.

Mr Lewis is responsible for a school with 1,200 pupils and 60 staff. He was nominated for his dynamism and for working with the whole community, and for expanding pupils' horizons by encouraging trips to more multi-cultural cities and universities and inviting experts, educators and mentors in.

The judges said Mr Lewis had high expectations of all his pupils and said that his staff were optimistic, committed and "usually ahead of the game".

Teresa Bridmore, from Boroughbridge High School, won the regional teaching assistant award.

She was nominated by a pupil for her kindness and she was also praised for her ideas, giving up her time and boosting pupils' self esteem.

Teresa has also set up examples for the heads of departments such as homework and reading clubs. She leads a team of teaching assistants with "impressive professionalism which has given a new credibility to the school's SEN department".

At the same time she has re-sat GCSEs and plans to start a degree.

Teacher Sue Uffindall, of Ripon College, won the award for lifetime achievement.

Sue has been teaching for more than 30 years. She has liaised with the community, built the school's special needs department and mentors every new teacher. For the last three years she has been the school's director of learning, introducing new teaching techniques.

English teacher Christine Unsworth, from Lowfield School, York, was the Special Commendee in the lifetime achievement award.

She is a long-serving member of staff at the Acomb school and has been described as a charismatic teacher who can project her love of her subject, conveying it to pupils whatever their ability.

The three winners, who each won £3,000 for their school, were presented with their awards in a ceremony hosted by BBC Look North's Clare Frisby. They will now go through to the national final on October 27.

Updated: 11:55 Monday, June 24, 2002