WEST DEVON school support staff were among those this week celebrating gaining a series of important national qualifications. The five from the Tavistock and Okehampton area — along with almost 200 school staff from Devon — have all passed higher level teaching assistant and vocational qualifications. Anne Anstee of Okehampton Primary School and Sylvia Riley of St Andrew's Primary School in Buckland Monochorum earned an A1 assessor award; Amanda Parkes of Horrabridge Primary School and Gaile Partridge of Okehampton Primary School were awarded Higher Level Teaching Assistant status; Esther Rookes of St Andrew's Primary School in Buckland Monochorum was awarded a teaching assistant NVQ level three qualification. They were presented with their awards at a ceremony at The Loop Centre at Sowton in Exeter by Anne Whiteley, Devon County Council's director of children and young people's services, and Roger Fetherston, head of Devon's curriculum advisory service, dcs. Gaile Partridge said: 'Gaining HLTA status has allowed me to reflect on my own working practice. 'It has improved my knowledge and understanding of the professional standards required to develop pupils' teaching and learning in our rapidly changing school environment. 'I have been given a leadership role for support staff in my school which includes acting as mentor for other teaching assistants working towards HLTA.' The awards covered school support staff including meal time assistants, technicians, administrative staff and catering and caretaking staff.