Top marks for vice principal of Millennium Primary School

Barry Corrigan's idea won the Microsoft Innovative Educators' Forum which was held in Berlin and will now go through to the final in South Africa.

The project, 'Making Homework Count: Engaging Parents' showcased the work Barry and his children in Millennium had been doing to make homework an interactive and meaningful extension of the school day.

His entry contained examples, videos and testimonies regarding the work taking place in the classroom.

Mr Corrigan said: "I feel that it is recognition of the effort the children and parents have put into realising my ideas and vision for the use of ICT in the learning process.

"It is by no means perfect but it certainly goes a long way to breaking down the barriers between school and home. The children have recognised the value in what I am trying to do with them and their enthusiasm has made the work much easier."

Barry uses the Virtual Learning Environment, LearningNI, to enable students to access the resources he uses in the teaching day.

Principal Mary Roulston said: "Children need these key skills now, and in the future, and what Barry is doing is delivering them in a way that makes learning interesting and exciting.

"It is also important that our ethos of parental involvement is developed in new and exciting ways and this is certainly both. We are delighted that his work has been recognised in this way and we all now have our fingers crossed for South Africa later in the year."

There were eight semi-finalists in Barry's section with three chosen to compete in the World final in October.

"To be chosen as a semi-finalist was breathtaking," said Barry, "but to actually come first in the competition was an incredible feeling. I still find myself coming to terms with the enormity of what has happened but am determined that the work and dedication of the children and parents is recognised on the largest stage – the world finals."