Plymouth teacher strikes a chord with the judges

A MUSIC teacher has reached the South West final of the 2013 Pearson Teaching Awards.

Jessica Rowe, a music teacher at Montpelier Primary School, has reached the regional final of the prestigious awards.

Jessica said: "It's a great honour to have been nominated in the first place.

"I'm delighted to have got as far as I have in the South West Regional Finals.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

"It's wonderful working with so many talented children watching their confidence and skills develop and to see children who may have barriers to learn achieving and enjoying it makes my job a joy."

Jessica, known in the school as Miss JR, was nominated for the award by a parent governor.

In her role, Jessica teaches students across the school as well as teaching students and teachers how to play musical instruments.

She also teaches a combined choir of 140 students and supports service children at Montpelier Primary School as well as other schools across the city.

Jessica also runs staff training days and workshops in music.

Cheryl Pyner, acting headteacher of Montpelier Primary School, said: "Jessica is a very special teacher who absolutely deserves to be nominated for the Teacher of the Year award.

"She is an exceptional teacher who is passionate about music.

"She nurtures a desire in all our children from the youngest to the oldest to make music not because she tells them to but because she wants them to."

The judges have been into Montpelier School to see Jessica in action.

The judging panel were met by a student-led brass band when they entered the school and they watched the teacher in a lesson where Year 2 students were composing their own music.

Then the judges met with parents and teachers to find out more about Jessica.

Later that day the judges had lunch with the staff and then watched a choir rehearsal for the school's entry to the Music for Youth competition in Birmingham.

The judges will announce the results on May 17.

The 2013 Pearson Teaching Awards aims to reward teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers and teams across the country.

Winners receive trophies and certificates, and then journey to London for a big bash to announce the UK winners on BBC2.