A teaching assistant has scooped £25,000 for her school after being crowned the best in the country.
Penny Jones, who works at Bexhill High School, won Teaching Assistant of the Year at a glittering awards ceremony held at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London.
Soul singer Mica Paris handed Mrs Jones her award at the BT Teaching Awards 2002 event.
The prize promises £10,000-worth of computer equipment and another £15,000 for the school in Down Road, Bexhill.
Mrs Jones, who lives in Bexhill, said: "I had no idea I was going to win until they showed a film on screen and I recognised some of my students. What they were saying about me was overwhelming."
The national ceremony will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday. Nominations for next year's awards can be made at www.teachingawards.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article