A NORTH-EAST teacher is one of 15 secondary school staff across the UK awarded a new community fellowship.

Ben Johnson, Director of Sport and Assistant Head Teacher, at Bishop Barrington School Sports With Mathematics College in Bishop Auckland, was chosen for Sinnott Fellowship, founded in memory of the late National Union of Teachers’ (NUT) general secretary Steve Sinnott who died last year aged 56.

Mr Johnson, who is the school’s director of sport and an assistant head teacher, will spend two days a week until January helping transform pupils’ lives by setting up partnerships with community groups and other external organisations.

He said: "I am passionate about community use of schools and also the positive values achieved by pupils engaging within the community, both locally and internationally.

Head teacher Bruce Guthrie said: "This is a significant achievement, to be only one of 15 selected for this Fellowship. All credit to him. It is also recognition of the contribution he has made to Bishop Barrington School."

The Fellowship scheme which will initially run until 2011 and is worth a total of £400,000 annually, targets teachers and school support staff in disadvantaged areas.

Fellows will share what they have learnt with other schools across the country through producing a final report, speaking at conferences and mentoring other schools.