Teacher Claire aims for national title

IT was top marks for Oldham teacher Claire Eastwood when she had the nerve-racking experience of taking a lesson under the eagle eyes of three judges.

And tomorrow she will stand against two other outstanding teachers to find out if she is the best in the North.

The mother-of-three, of Hartshead Street, Lees, is assistant head at Hyde Technology School and was nominated for the prestigious National Teaching Awards by a fellow tutor.

She was among 9,500 teachers put forward for the accolade, and had to undergo stringent scrutiny from a panel of judges who also interviewed pupils, parents and staff before naming her in the top three. The annual Teaching Awards aim to recognise inspirational and dedicated teachers, and Mrs Eastwood is considered as one of the best.

She has taught French, German and Spanish to 11 to 16-year-olds at the school for 10 years, and did some voluntary teaching at St Edward’s Primary School, Lees, when she was on maternity leave three years ago

Her own children, aged 11, eight and two, already have a grip on foreign languages, but it was her success with school pupils which have put her on the road to glory.

If Mrs Eastwood (36) comes out on top tomorrow, she will go forward to the national finals later in the year.

She said: “I am over the moon to have got this far. I have a great record with results and creating life chances for pupils so they can use languages in business and travel.

“I work with some amazing teachers at Hyde Technology School, and my pupils have the opportunity to take language GCSEs two years early.”

Mrs Eastwood is on a fast-track course with Future Leaders to become a head teacher, and admitted: “It’s been the busiest year of our lives ever.

“My husband, Adam, opened the Relish Tapas in Grotton and Relish Bar and Grill in Mossley with his partner Mark Hughes, and I have been translating the menus for them as well.”