Silver teaching ‘Oscar’ for Irene

RETIRED Bell’s Brae Primary School deputy head teacher Irene Smith won a silver award at a ceremony dubbed the “Oscars for teaching” in London last night.

The Pearson Teaching Awards ceremony was hosted by TV historian Dan Snow at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, and will be televised next weekend.

Irene was accompanied at the event – founded in 1999 as a celebration of “exceptional teachers and teaching” – by her family, as well as Bell’s Brae head teacher Jennifer Wadley.

Jennifer said it was a wonderful experience, and while Irene didn’t win gold in the lifetime achievement category, she was still “a star”.

“It’s amazing that Irene made it this far,” she said, “and it is very well deserved. She is very much a gold winner in our eyes.”

Shetland Islands Council children’s services director Helen Budge said: “Irene has been a very devoted teacher throughout her career and I am absolutely delighted that she has been rewarded in this way at such a prestigious event.

“It is an excellent recognition for all she has done for bairns in Shetland over many years.”

The ceremony, Britain’s Classroom Heroes, will be broadcast on BBC2 at 6pm on Sunday (25 October).