A SPECIALIST Wirral secondary school has scooped three silver awards in recognition of exceptional teachers and teaching.

Kilgarth School in Birkenhead, which teachers boys with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, was considered alongside 20,000 other schools for this year’s Pearson Teaching Awards in a number of categories.

The school has achieved ‘silver’ awards in three of the categories. They will now join fellow silver winners at the UK final of the Teaching Awards at London’s Guildhall in October.

Its staff were named Outstanding School Team of the Year, Heleb Pullin is teaching assistant of the Year and Jane Westlake outstanding new teacher.

The Pearson Teaching Awards were founded in 1999 by film director, Lord David Puttnam. They recognise the life-changing impact of an inspirational teacher on the lives of the young people they teach.

In recognition of the success in the Outstanding School Team of the Year category, Headteacher Mr Baker said: "I feel honoured to work with such a successful, passionate, determined and committed team of professionals."

The president of the Pearson Teaching Awards is Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, who said: "I am genuinely proud and honoured to be the president of the Teaching Awards.

"I owe so much of what I’ve done to my fantastic teachers at school and university and it is exciting to join in celebrating what is probably the most important profession of them all."