A MODERN language teacher from Tavistock College has been announced as the winner of the Pearson Teaching Award for Secondary School Teacher of the Year in the South West of England.

Crispin Chambers, head of Japanese, has been teaching at the college since 1996 and was promoted to his current role in 2002. He has always inspired and encouraged his students and part of his inspirational work included establishing the college's Japanese exchange programme that gives students a unique cultural experience.

Mr Chambers said: 'It is quite overwhelming that my teaching of Japanese has been recognised not only by the teachers, parents and pupils — past and present — of Tavistock College where I first started teaching Japanese in 1996, but also by the wider Tavistock community, many of whom supported me when the judges came into the college.

'The judges said they were impressed not only by the success of Japanese but also the fact that Tavistock College still has more students studying Japanese than any other secondary school in the UK with many continuing to take Japanese at university.'

Principal Helen Salmon said she was delighted that Mr Chambers' attitude, experience and skills as a teacher had been recognised by the 'fantastic' award: 'We are all incredibly proud to have Crispin at Tavistock College and this is reinforced by the fact that it was not only me who nominated him for this award, but students too.

'The positive attitude and dedication and passion that teachers like Crispin show, have a huge impact on the college's success.

'Crispin lives and breathes teaching. He is a natural and he picks up every nuance in a classroom. Very few state schools teach Japanese and Crispin has built up a department of committed and effective teachers who are second to none. In his class, students are so immersed in their learning that they almost don't realise they are doing it.

'I am delighted that the hard work of teachers and students alike is being recognised externally by awards such as these and we are all keeping our fingers crossed for the live finals in London.'

Teaching Awards judges said Mr Chambers' lessons were 'a joy to watch'.

As well as his classroom work, Mr Chambers is involved in a wide range of areas — he works with Nottingham University and St Mark and St John in Plymouth with respect to PGCE students. He has talked on Japanese education at the British Council, has entered KS3 students into Japanese speaking competitions at the Japanese Embassy and run exchange visits to Japan. He also runs a calligraphy club for year 7s and works with the schools 16 feeder primary schools.

Mr Chambers will now join fellow winners at the UK final of the Teaching Awards on October 20, filmed in London and broadcast by the BBC.

Success seems to be running through the veins of the school, with teams of its students recently making it to the national finals of Coca-Cola's Real Business Challenge and the Rotary Youth Speaks competition.

The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers and teaching, founded in 1999 by Lord Puttnam, they recognise the life-changing impact of an inspirational teacher on the lives of the young people they teach.

Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK said: 'We want to recognise and support inspirational teachers, for their commitment to teaching and learning and improving the life chances of the next generation. It's really important that we create opportunities to say thank you.'