Published: Monday, 13th October, 2008 11:55am

‘It will be an honour just to be there’

by Judith Green

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Over the moon: John Thompson, deputy headteacher of St Michael's CofE Primary School in Bracknell, who has been nominated for a national teaching award.

A DEDICATED teacher who has helped three generations of families with their maths has been nominated for a national award.

John Thompson, deputy headteacher at St Michael's CE Primary School in Easthampstead, will attend the star-studded ceremony at the London Palladium on Sunday, October 19.

The ceremony, to be televised on BBC 2, will be hosted by Jeremy Vine and Myleene Klass and Mr Thompson will be fighting a number of nominees from across the country to win a gold Plato head.

Mr Thompson said: "I am absolutely flabbergasted to be honest with you, I really didn't expect to get this far.

"There are thousands of teachers across the country who work so hard and it never gets recognised, I am just so shocked that I have been.

"All I can say is that I am over the moon and it will be an honour just to be there."

Mr Thompson started teaching at the school 28 years ago after a knee injury prevented him teaching PE.

Parents have praised him for his calm and authoritative manner which inspires trust, respect and hard work from his pupils.

As well as teaching at St Michael's, Mr Thompson runs maths clubs at neighbouring schools and has contributed to guides for teachers.

Beyond the classroom, he runs a number of initiatives including school sports activities and gymnastics clubs, as well as a local football league.

Earlier this year, Mr Thompson won the Ted Wragg award for lifetime achievement in the Teaching Awards South of England category.

He was nominated by two parents and their eldest daughter, who got the rest of her class to nominate him as well.