Kathryn invited to Downing Street to meet the PM

Kathryn McMurray from Oakwood Integrated Primary School, who won the award as Teaching Assistant of the Year in Northern Ireland in 2010, said she was honoured to be invited to attend.

“I was surprised but very excited to receive an invitation – it’s not every day you get the opportunity to see round No 10!” Kathryn said.

“It was an extra bonus to have this treat at the end of the year.”

The 2011 Pearson Teaching Awards took place on Sunday 30th October at a star-studded ceremony celebrating excellence in education.

UK and regional winners from 2011 and 2010 were invited to the reception hosted by the Prime Minister on Wednesday 2 November.

Mr Cameron said: “It’s incredibly encouraging to know that over 22,000 teachers from across the UK are thought of so highly by their pupils, colleagues and local community that they were nominated for a Teaching Award. This is a testament to the thousands of hard-working and inspirational teachers there are in the country and everyone who was nominated should be proud of the impact they have clearly had on the lives of the children they teach

“I would especially like to congratulate the winners who I met in Downing Street. I heard some amazing stories of the passion these teachers bring to the classroom and their drive not just to teach but to make a real difference in their schools. Each one of them should be proud of this achievement.”