Head teacher waits to see if he is top of the class for UK

A HEAD teacher who was crowned the best in Wales earlier this year will find out on Sunday if he is top of the class for the whole of the UK.

Mark Thompson, who has led St Helen’s Primary School in Swansea for the last six years, will attend the grand finale of the Pearson Teaching Awards in London hosted by BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty with Countryfile’s Sean Fletcher.

Mr Thompson was named the best head teacher in Wales at the Professional Teaching Awards Cymru and picked up a Silver Teaching Award for his exceptional contribution to the teaching profession.

He was nominated for the accolade by pupils, parents and colleagues at St Helen’s Primary and it will discover on Sunday if he has won gold.

As well as leading the team at St Helen’s, Mr Thompson supports other schools in Swansea.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to Sunday and it will be a privilege to join exceptional colleagues doing amazing work in schools around the country.

“This is recognition for the hard work of all staff at St Helen’s as well as the pupils, their parents and the wider community.”

Jennifer Raynor, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “Mark is an exceptional headteacher and I know everyone who works with him will be wishing him well on Sunday.”

Highlights from the awards ceremony at The East Wintergarden will be broadcast on BBC Two at 6pm on October 29 , as “Britain’s Classroom Heroes”.