Among the 12 stars to receive a Plato Award this year was Michelle McCarthy of Sandling Primary School, who was picked as the outstanding new year teacher of the year.

Miss McCarthy is in only her second year of teaching. She described her triumph as "unbelievable - I'm so honoured." She said: "I teach because it's such fun and every day is a new challenge."

A colleague said of her: "Michelle is one of those teachers who will make a positive, lasting impact on her pupils who, in future years, will look back and say 'yes, I really liked school, especially when I was in Miss McCarthy's class'."

Suzanne Patt, of Wrotham School, was also a Plato award winner. She won the Becta Award for Next Generation Learning.

Mrs Patt was described as "brilliant at getting the best out of her pupils." She had integrated ICT into her teaching to make lessons more exciting, even using podcasts to help pupils revise material. Both teachers will now go forward to the UK finals in London in October.

Other awards made at the ceremony which was held in Canterbury Cathedral Lodge included one to a teacher at Oakwood Park Grammar School.

Duncan Dwinell was commended in the Ted Wragg Award for lifetime achievement.

Mr Dwinell is head of music at the school where he has taught for eight years, developing the school's Coconut Grove Steel Band, orchestra, wind band, junior choir and baroque recorder group. He had previously been head of music at Sackville School in Hildenborough for 15 years and he also works with pupils at Dorton House School for the visually impaired in Seal, is an active Scout leader in Ightham and is musical director of the Darent Valley Youth Music Wind Band.