A TEACHER from Pershore High School is in the running for a prestigious award after being picked out as one of the most talented teachers in the West Midlands.

Rachel Coton has been nominated in the Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School category, at The Teaching Awards 2006 to be held at Ironbridge Gorge Museums on Thursday, June 22.

The competition aims to seek out the most talented head teachers, teachers, teaching assistants and school governors from across the West Midlands, who if successful will go up against the cream of the crop from the other regions of the UK in a national ceremony held in London on Sunday, October 15.

Rachel, head of sixth form at Pershore High, said: "I think my nomination could be related to the fact that we lost two students this year so it was a tough time for me and the students and I had to work to help them cope with their grief."

Caroline Evans, Chief Executive of the Teaching Awards said: "The Teaching Awards celebrate the work of those people who make a difference to children's achievement, aspirations and opportunities."