A REDDITCH teacher has beaten thousands of others from across the West Midlands to scoop a much-coveted title.

Diane Bloomer, from St Luke's First School in Plymouth Road, won the BT Teaching Award for Teacher of the Year in a primary school at The Teaching Awards ceremony at Ironbridge Gorge Museum on Thursday.

Mrs Bloomer started teaching in September 1979. She was employed part time at St Luke's in 1995 and as soon as a full time position became available, she was offered it.

Now assistant headteacher, she underwent a series of stringent assessments and interviews before being nominated to the final stages of the competition. And finalists did not know who had won until the awards ceremony itself.

St Luke's headteacher Sue Shaw said: "We're unbelievably proud of Diane.

"There were about 6,000 people nominated for awards across the West Midlands so for one of our teachers to win is wonderful.

"The awards ceremony was brilliant. Diane and myself will never forget it."

She said the two teachers who had come second and third were announced, and then part of a testament written about the winner was read out.

"When we were listening to this testament our jaws dropped as we realised it was something I'd written about Diane months ago. It was a fantastic moment," added Ms Shaw.

"This award truly is justified recognition for someone who has given so much support to pupils, parents and staff and whose enthusiasm never fails to encourage people she works with."

Mrs Bloomer will go forward to the national finals of The Teaching Awards which will be held in London in October.