Teaching award

A teaching assistant who has helped transform the lives of pupils at a north Norfolk school has been honoured with a national award.

David Bonnington from Aylsham High School was honoured for his contribution to education at an exclusive reception at the House of Commons.

Mr Bonnington, who lives in Roughton, was presented with The Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year in the East after being shortlisted from a record number of 'thank you' nominations made by pupils, past and present, parents and colleagues as part of the Pearson Teaching Award's annual Thank A Teacher Day.

A former shopkeeper and Norwich Union staff member, Mr Bonnington, 53, switched careers and came to Aylsham five years ago where he runs the inclusion area, helping children in need of special support feel at home and thrive.

Pupils at the school had told how he cheered them up with his bad jokes and by trying to make them skip down the corridor.

He joined winning teachers and four awarded schools from across Northern Ireland, England and Wales at the prestigious Pearson Teaching Awards ceremony which will be aired on BBC2 in the autumn.

Will Wyatt, chair of the Teaching Awards Trust adds: 'The difference a good teacher can make to a pupils lives is beyond measure and a good teacher is never forgotten.'