A TEACHER from Tavistock College is celebrating after scooping a top regional award in the industry?s equivalent to the Oscars. Eva Pemberton, who is head of drama at the college, was presented with the Guardian Teaching Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School at the prestigious Teaching Awards ceremony at Dartington Hall on Monday. The event was hosted by the BBC?s Justin Leigh and attended by civic dignitaries, education professionals and children from finalists? schools. Eva said she was ?pretty shell-shocked? to have won the award. She said: ?It?s the biggest compliment ever. I get excited just when a student says thanks for a lesson, so this is just amazing. ?I feel pretty much on top of the world ? when I came here today I thought a nomination was amazing enough, but to be walking away with this rather nice silver trophy, it?s just fantastic.? Eva said she could not have been considered for the award without the support of her colleagues. ?Tavistock College has allowed me to do so much ? I feel quite emotional about it all really. They?ve been great in allowing me to get on with stuff and try things out, supporting me and saying ?go for it?. ?And it comes down to to the kids too ? if they want to do it, you just go with them all the way.? Eva said she was delighted that numbers of students taking drama at Tavistock College at both GCSE and A Level have ?shot up? in recent years. ?There?s a lot of talent there ? the students are super young people,? she said. Colin Eves, Tavistock College principal, said: ?The college is absolutely delighted at this recognition of the impact Eva has had. ?Anyone who has had the privilege of seeing drama performances by students Eva has taught will have seen the remarkable standards they achieve. The maturity of the performances in this year?s senior play would not have looked out of place on a professional stage. ?Eva has not only made a huge impact on drama ? her work with our college council has significantly raised the profile of students, not only in day to day activities but also in decision making. ?Also, our termly ?In Focus? newspaper has got bigger and better. ?Obviously, we now wish her well in the national competition.? Eva was among eleven headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants and governors from the South West to be presented with awards. Several others from West Devon received commendations. Alison Carter from St Andrew?s School at Buckland Monachorum received a distinction in the special needs teacher of the year category and Ros Knight, also of St Andrew?s, received a distinction in the teaching award for enterprise section. Tim Woodward, of Whitchurch Primary School, received a commendation in the teacher of the year in a primary school category and Pat Crossley of Lady Modiford?s School at Walkhampton received a commendation in the teaching assistant of the year section. Caroline Evans, chief executive of the Teaching Awards, said: ?This year the number and quality of nominations for the Teaching Awards was higher than ever before and every single finalist deserves enormous credit for reaching this stage in the process.? Eva Pemberton will now attend the National Teaching Awards Ceremony at the Theatre Royal in London on Sunday October 15 which will be broadcast on BBC2.
