A 33-YEAR-OLD with a passion for helping children achieve their best has been recognised as Warrington's Teacher of the Year.

John Leonard was surprised with the award at the Warrington Guardian's Inspiration Awards after starting his career as a PE teacher more than a decade ago.

Now the assistant head teacher for personal development, behaviour and welfare at Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School in Grammar School Road, Latchford, his efforts have been in instrumental in making the school’s pastoral care system one of the most successful in the area.

His leadership role has also helped transform the school into one of the most improved in the country, ensuring pupils are truly cared for during what can often be a difficult transition into adulthood.

Parents said he is a real inspiration to the children he teaches and his approach to teaching is ‘the stuff of legends’.

Accepting his award at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, John was adamant that the prize belonged to the entire pastoral care team at the school.

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He explained: "It was a surprise to be nominated so it's a surprise to win.

“For the past four years, I’ve been doing pastoral care so that’s probably where this award has come from because we shape the structures to meet the needs of every student coming from all ranges of backgrounds.

"I think the pastoral team really need to be recognised for this award because it’s all because of their relentless approach to meeting the needs of our students.”

Highly commended were Alison Stokes, from St Andrew's CE Primary School in Orford, who has offered support and help to a child in her class who is battling cancer.

From helping to arrange transport so the family’s younger son could get to school to keeping in constant contact with Callum’s parents while he has been undergoing radiotherapy in Germany, Alison has gone above and beyond her role in the classroom

And Jon Leatherbarrow, from Statham Primary School in Lymm, was also recognised for his work with a child who has type one diabetes.

Determined that eight-year-old Neve should still enjoy her love of sport, Jon attended every event she represented the school in, completing checks, adjusting insulin injections and even running cross country courses on Saturday mornings himself so he was within calling distance if blood glucose levels started to drop