THE headteacher of a Flintshire school has been been honoured with a top prize in a prestigious celebration of UK teaching.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in education.

Founded in 1998, by Lord Puttnam the awards recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they work with.

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John Weir, headteacher of Ysgol Treffynnon school in Holywell, has been named as one of the 80 Pearson National Teaching Award Silver Award winners across 16 different categories.

Mr Weir took the Silver Award for 'Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School'.

His strong vision and strategic approach means that Ysgol Treffynnon is the school of choice for the local community since he took it out of special measures in December 2019.

Despite taking on huge challenges including poor attendance, a falling school roll, staff problems, poor results, a high budget deficit, and transitioning to a new school building, Mr Weir's optimism and conviction of purpose never wavered.

The Leader:

PIC : Ysgol Treffynnon School headteacher John Weir.

His outstanding leadership has resulted in an increase in school enrolment and through gradual change and improvement, he has taken the school’s provision to another level.

As a Silver Award winner, Mr Weir has now been shortlisted to win one of just 16 Gold Awards later in the year.

Recognition of this once in a lifetime achievement will be broadcast on the BBC’s The One Show as part of a week-long celebration of teaching, which sees famous faces honour award winners every night in the run up to the ceremony.

The Silver Award winners are being honoured as part of the wider celebrations for national ‘Thank a Teacher Day’, bringing together everyone across the country to celebrate the schools and colleges at the heart of our communities.

Paul Matthias, National Director at Hays Education, said: “Working in placing thousands of education professionals across the country – we know that the right school leader is essential to the success of a school and the wellbeing of its students. John Weir and Ann Webb (Headteacher, Ysgol John Bright, Llandudno)have received one of the highest accolades a head can receive, and it’s obvious from the feedback how much they deserve it.”