INSPIRATIONAL teachers from across the region could scoop prizes worth thousands of pounds when the national education "Oscars" get under way.

Several teachers from the North-East and North Yorkshire will be attending the finals of the annual BT Teaching Awards, in London, on Sunday, October 27.

The ceremony will be hosted by television presenter Carol Smillie, of Changing Rooms fame, and attended by a host of celebrities, including actor Art Malik and singer Mica Paris.

Christopher Lewis, who has been head of Thirsk Secondary School, North Yorkshire, for 16 years, won an award in the northern region for leadership in a primary school.

Other regional winners who automatically go through to next week's final include:

North-East: Riosin McVeigh, of Wolsingham School and Community College, Weardale, the Guardian Award for Outstanding New Teacher; Maureen Stephenson, of St Mary's RC First School, Newcastle, who won BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School; Joan Lister, of Ashfield Nursery School, Newcastle, who won a Lifetime Achievement Award; Neil Parker, Heighington CE Primary School, near Darlington, who won the Leadership Trust Award for Leadership in a Primary School.

North Yorkshire: Teresa Pridmore, of Boroughbridge High School, who was awarded regional Teaching Assistant of the Year, and Sue Uffindall, who won a Lifetime Achievement Award after 30 years at Ripon College.