Milton Keynes teacher on TV after winning national award

Helena Carter of Oxley Park Academy picked up a top honour at the Pearson Teaching Awards, a ceremony celebrating the crème de la crème of the UK teaching profession.

She was one of just ten teachers from across the country to be presented with a Gold Plato Award, in front of an audience of hundreds at the Guildhall in London.

The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC2 on 30th October at 6pm in the show Britain’s Classroom Heroes.

Helena joined Oxley Park Academy as a graduate trainee four years ago, and is seen by staff as an inspirational role model and by children as ‘the best teacher in the universe’.

She has been praised by her fellow teachers for the way in which she personalises her teaching strategy to help children access a range of styles of learning, while also creating a secure, and nurturing place for them to flourish.

Her teaching style is reflected in the outstanding progress the children make and their attitudes to learning.

Beyond the classroom, Helena runs before and after school clubs which vary to meet the needs of her pupils. She is also at the forefront of leading fundraising events, from delivering assemblies to aid children’s understanding of Motor Neurone Disease to taking part in a charity skydive with 26 children.

Hosted by the actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, star of ‘Outnumbered’ and ‘Mock the Week’, the ceremony also saw awards handed out across categories such as Excellence in Special Needs Education and Lifetime Achievement.

Parents and students alike can recognise the teachers who are making a difference by visiting www.pearsonteachingawards.com/ to thank a teacher.