WHEN 25-year-old Sarah Perry embarked on a teaching career two years ago, little did she think she would be awarded the accolade of the South's best new teacher.

Now she's the toast of hundreds of pupils at Woolston Secondary in Southampton as her win has netted £3,500 for computers in the school's language laboratories.

News of the prize was announced at the 1999 South's Teaching Awards held in Winchester's Guildhall and presented by BBC South presenter Andrew Harvey.

Now she goes through to the national final on July 11 at Alexandra Palace, London, where she could win £20,000 and the title of best new teacher in the country.

Sarah, who has always wanted to be a teacher, said the win had come as a great shock, especially as the last thing she won was a teddy bear in a raffle when at junior school.

Her tutor group of 12-13 year-olds were delighted with her win and all clapped when she came into school the next day with the award.

She said: "I'm really chuffed to win this award, but really it's for my department. They've given me so much support since I started. Awards like these are putting teach-ing back on the map, and it shows that the school is going places as well. Head teacher John Masters said Sarah was a popular teacher whom her pupils respected because she had high expectations of them.

"She is enthusiastic, and full of energy in her teaching, and her award is a recognition of the team she works with. Sarah is an out-standing example of a young person starting out in teaching."

However, Sarah is nervous about the next phase of the competition, as the judges will see her in action.

"They come to the school for four hours, and talk to the head, chair of governors, the pupils and parents, but being watched teaching will be the most nerveracking," she said.

The competition is organised by the Teaching Awards Trust to highlight excellence in teaching.

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