Top nomination for schools trio (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Top nomination for schools trio

7:10am Monday 31st May 2010

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TWO teachers and one school governor from Chelmsford are in the regional finals of the Teacher of the Year awards.

Battling it out for the Secondary School Teacher of the Year in the East Anglia region are Dr Paul Thomas, of New Hall School, and Nick Farn, of Sandon School.

Dr Thomas is head of science at the independent school. Following testimonials from staff and students at New Hall, he beat 150 other teachers who had been nominated in the region to go forward to the regional final on June 24.

Students nominated Dr Thomas for his enthusiastic teaching, his humour and his dedication to helping each individual realise their potential.

Katherine Jeffrey, principal at New Hall School, said: “We are really proud of Dr Thomas’s achievement. It is richly deserved. He is an outstanding physics teacher and a first-class Head of Science.

“It is very moving to hear from students about how he has transformed their confidence in their ability to engage successfully with science subjects and to excel in these.

“He has inspired many students to pursue the sciences as specialist subjects at GCSE, A- Level and degree level.”

Sandon School teacher Nick Farn said he was “humbled” by the nomination from pupils and staff.

The 38-year-old IT teacher, who also runs the business department at the school, said he was quite shocked.

He said: “It came completely out of the blue. I have always thought of teaching as a vocation and doing that bit extra as part of that.

“I think of myself as a bit of a rigid disciplinarian so it is nice the pupils respect that.”

Nick was one of four teachers nominated from the school.

Retiring school governor David Bebb, who leaves Chelmsford County High School for Girls in July after 22 years as a governor, is a finalist in the category of School Governor of the Year.

For the past 21 years, he has been chaiman of the governing body.

At the time his retirement was announced, headteacher Nicole Chapman said: “His contributions have been invaluable. His knowledge and experience is highly valued by his fellow governors and members of the school.”

The finalists will attend the ceremony in June and the winners will go on to a national final.

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