A FORMER pupil of Crown Woods School, in Eltham, has won a top award in his second year as a teacher.

Paul Offord, 24, who works at the Joseph Rowntree School, in York, picked up the Teaching Awards Trust’s North Region Guardian Award for outstanding new teacher in a secondary school.

The English teacher, who was nominated by a year eight pupil, said: “I was deeply touched a student of mine nominated me, it is the greatest accolade any teacher can get.” He will join winners from 13 other British regions in a national final which will take place in London on October 26 and will be televised by the BBC in November.

Mr Offord praised his former school, saying: “If there is one thing which made me want to be a teacher, it is the teachers of Crown Woods — some were truly inspirational.” Mr Offord collected a silver plate and took a prize package worth more than £3,000 back to his school.