Formby’s Matthew King has been awarded the prestigious title of one of the country’s best teachers by the Pearson National Teaching Awards.
His name was put forward for the competition by two co-workers after they forgot to get him a birthday present last year.
Mr King is an assistant headteacher at Trinity St Peter’s Primary School in Formby, and also teaches his own year six class.
Mr King received the title and award based on his unwavering commitment to teaching and to his pupils, and was selected from thousands of nominees. It was awarded to him on BBC’s ‘The One Show’.
The judging process was “basically a whole day of judging”, with Mr King’s pupils’ workbooks being considered, the opinions of his co-workers and pupils past and present as well as their parents: “They even spoke to the cleaner, Eileen.”
He is somewhat of a real-life Mr Maddens, from the 2009 comedy Christmas feel-good film ‘Nativity’. His children dance and sing, and he teaches them essential life skills – such as kindness – through song.
Mr King said that teaching children did not require just one person, “so I feel like it is an award for the school … and it’s just a huge honour, really.”
Both his silver and gold teaching awards are up on the wall in his living room.
Watch Ruby Smith’s video report here:
Featured image (c) BBC/Matthew King
