TOP teachers from across Kent gathered for the presentation of the Kent Teacher of the Year awards.

In sweltering heat, the nominees attended the annual ceremony at County Hall, Maidstone, on Wednesday evening, to hear judges announce the winners of the competition, organised by the Kent Messenger Group.

From among 259 entrants nominated by parents, teaching colleagues and in many cases by their pupils, the overall winner was Hannah Taylor, from Goodnestone Primary School, near Canterbury, who was praised for making a major impact through "a mixture of innovation and inspiration" to excite children in science, sport and music.

Miss Taylor, who burst into tears on hearing the announcement, said afterwards: "I feel so unworthy, because I know there are so many teachers who do such a wonderful job.

"I just do it for the sheer love and joy of being at the school. I couldn’t do my job without the support of everyone else there - especially my teaching assistant Hayley Broadhurst."

The Kent Teacher of the Year runner-up was Betty Allen, from The New School, West Heath, near Sevenoaks, who retires this year. She was praised for her dedication to physical education.

She said: "I see this as an honour not just for me, but for all teachers. Too often teachers are under-rated by the public, and teased for their long holidays."

For the first time this year, a major new prize was introduced - the East Kent Science Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Pfizer.

The winner was Dr Graeme Poole, from the Simon Langton School for Boys, Canterbury, who was praised for inspiring students with his teaching of physics in particular.

Dr Poole said: "I am very proud - for me and for the school. The head is wholly supportive of science at the school; the staff are totally dedicated, and the students are a pleasure to teach."

The guest speaker for the evening was Sir Robert Worcester, KM director and founder of the market research company, MORI.