A TALENTED teacher at a York school is off to London after winning a national award.

Jan Wilson, who has taught hundreds of pupils at The Mount School, has won a Silver Teaching Award in the Primary School Teacher of the Year category of the Pearson Teaching Awards.

Selected from thousands of nominations, Jan is one of just 65 winners who celebrated today on ‘Thank A Teacher Day’, as the national teaching awards marks its 20th year of celebrating excellence in education.

Jan was surprised with the news during an assembly this morning.

She said: “It goes without saying that it is an honour to win this award and a very humbling experience. I was certainly surprised!

"The joyful cheers from the children as the news sunk in was just fantastic. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with supportive colleagues who seek to nurture in our pupils that greatest and most powerful of things: an enthusiastic child with an enquiring mind.

"I have been extremely fortunate to work with some of the most of the most fantastic fantastic enquiring young minds over my career at The Mount School, who continue to inspire me each and every day.”

Principal Adrienne Richmond, said: “I am delighted for Jan. To be selected from the thousands of teachers to win a silver award is an achievement that is thoroughly deserved.

"Jan inspires children, parents and colleagues with her passion and dedication for educating young children.

"She is a creative person who works tirelessly to provide children with opportunities and experiences in the classroom and beyond. Her energy is boundless and her personality infectious.”

The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they teach.

Jan will attend a ceremony held in London on October 21 and find out if she's won one of 12 Gold Plato Awards, the UK’s “Oscars for Teachers”.

The October ceremony, titled “Britain’s Classroom Heroes”, will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC as a showcase of excellence in education.

Previous award presenters have included former prime ministers David Cameron and Tony Blair, acting legends Jenny Agutter, Alison Steadman and Sheila Hancock and sports and TV personalities including Shirley Ballas, Helen Glover, Brendan Cole and Nadiya Hussain.