A WORCESTER teacher has been shortlisted for the ‘Oscars’ of education.

Selected from thousands of nominations, Robert Harrison is one of 87 teachers, lecturers and school staff who have been entered for the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

Mr Harrison of Perryfields Primary Pupil Referral Unit was nominated for a Silver Award in the award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School.

Mr Harrison said: “I feel extremely humbled and privileged to have been nominated for Primary School Teacher of the Year as part of the Pearson National Teaching Awards 2020. Thank you for shining a light on the hard work of all teachers and school workers all around the country.

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“To have the opportunity to make a positive and real difference to vulnerable young people’s lives is a real honour and I’m lucky to work with such amazing colleagues, a fantastic head-teacher and a forward thinking and supportive governing body. I hope I can continue teaching and helping young people, their families and my fellow professionals across Worcestershire and beyond for many years to come.”

Mr Harrison regularly goes above and beyond his role, organising and leading residential visits for pupils who had never had these opportunities before, as well as sports tournaments and wider learning opportunities.

He has helped the school achieve and maintain an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, as well as being voted Primary School of the Year in the Worcestershire Education Awards.

Mr Harrison is in the running to be one of the Silver Award winners. These will then compete to win one of just 14 Gold Awards which will be announced at the televised UK ceremony later in the year, broadcast on the BBC as ‘Britain’s Classroom Heroes’.

The awards is an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord David Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they teach.