A HEAD teacher from Kent has been named Headteacher of the Year at the National Teaching Awards ceremony.

Richard Wallis, head of Sandwich Technology School, won the Royal Air Force Award for Headteacher of the Year on Sunday in the "Oscars" of the teaching profession.

Mr Wallis, was surprised by actress Brenda Blethyn and a BBC film crew during an assembly last week when he was given the award. His PA, Lynn Waters, said: "He was completely stunned and it was a lovely moment."

The presentation was then televised on BBC2 on Sunday night as part of the awards ceremony.

The event was hosted by TV presenter Eamonn Holmes and other award presenters included Lord Melvyn Bragg, MP David Cameron, Alan Titchmarsh, Katherine Jenkins and Aled Jones.

The National Teaching Awards aim to celebrate excellence and promote best practice in education.