THE cream of Kent teachers gathered in Ashford on Tuesday evening to eagerly anticipate the winners of the coveted Kent Teacher of the Year awards.

They were welcomed to Ashford International Hotel by county council chairman Leyland Ridings, a former cabinet member for education, who said they and the Kent Messenger Group had been working together for five years on the awards that recognised the impact teachers make on communities across the county.

He said: "With more than 600 schools and 13,000 teachers you are critically important people."

Kent Messenger Group chairman Geraldine Allinson congratulated all winners and sponsors and pledged that the company would continue to support schools in many ways including shortly launching a new treasure chest scheme to help Parent Teacher Associations with fund-raising.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors that included Denne Construction, Canterbury Christchurch University, the county council and Ground Zero, Kevin Charles from Pfizer praised all teachers for their efforts in motivating students.

More than 300 teachers were nominated for awards by parents, pupils past and present, and fellow staff. The number of nominations was 50 per cent up on last year and 38 of them were presented with awards that went to all corners of the county.

The hall erupted when organiser Simon Dolby announced the final top four prizes.

Kent teacher of the year was Philip Burns from Stocks Green Primary in Tonbridge, head teacher of the year Pam Jones of Ifield Special School, Gravesend, and the special science awards went to Michael Lees of Mongeham Primary in Deal for East Kent, and Christine Mullins of Holy Trinity Lamorbey School, Sidcup in West Kent.