A TAVISTOCK teacher is celebrating after winning a prestigious national award for his efforts in the classroom.

Dan Buckley, who teaches at Eggbuckland Community College in Plymouth, scooped the award for most creative use of ICT at the glitzy ceremony at the London Palladium.

He was one of 13 regional winners to attend the Teaching Awards gala dinner on Monday night, and received his prize from David and Carrie Grant, two of the judges from BBC?s Fame Academy.

?My reaction was sheer disbelief when I realised I had won,? said Dan, 36. ?The other candidates were outstanding people, so it?s an honour to be picked.?

Dan won £25,000 for his school, some of which will go towards a whiteboard to enhance interactive learning.

Since starting at the college three years ago, he has transformed the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for students and teachers.

One of his most advanced concepts has been the ?e-learning? project that he has funded by setting up a special charity.

It involves 90 pupils per year over a three-year period doing the bulk of their learning on laptop computers.

The Teaching Awards, commonly known as the ?Teaching Oscars?, are sponsored by BT and The Guardian among others.