THE cream of the county's teaching talent assembled for the presentation of the Kent Teacher of the Year awards.

Twenty nominees from five Kent regions attended the ceremony at County Hall, Maidstone,to hear judges announce the winners of the competition, organised by the Kent Messenger Group.

The winners were Linda Bourne (North Kent), Rainham Mark Grammar School, Pump Lane, Gillingham; Angie Conroy (East Kent), Sheldwich Primary School, Lees Court Road, Sheldwich, Faversham; John Hall (South Kent), Norton Knatchbull (CORR) School, Hythe Rd, Ashford; Gary Hollingsbee (West Kent), previously of Senacre Technology College, Sutton Road, Maidstone; and Tracy Binns (North West Kent), Riverview Junior School, Cimba Wood, Gravesend.

Mr Hollingsbee, who is now employed at Thamesview School, Thong Lane, Gravesend, was also named overall Kent Teacher of the Year.

"I genuinely did not expect to win," he said. "There are so many other nominees who I believe have done a lot more work than me.

"Teachers give up a huge amount of their life and play a pivotal role in society. A lot of the time it is hard work and very stressful but there is a magical feeling when you see the faces of students when they are learning something and doing it well."

Mike Whiting, managing editor of the Kent Messenger Group, said judges rewarded Mr Hollingsbee for his part in turning around the fortunes of Senacre Technology College.

"He has all you could want of a teacher", he said. "Respected by pupils and staff as a leader and a doer. During his time there he helped transform the English department and students have just achieved their best ever set of English GCSEs."

KM Group chairman Edwin Boorman paid tribute to the nominees for the knowledge and wisdom that they give to pupils.

Kent's Chief Constable Mike Fuller, who launched the awards in June, was among the guests at the ceremony.