TWO teachers have won prizes at the Teaching Awards for the East of England.

Gavin Byford and Howard Frizzell, both from Tendring Technology College, both won awards, while colleague Kate Martin was commended by the judges.

Computing teacher Mr Frizzell was picked out as the Outstanding New Teacher of the Year.

He has been teaching for two years and impressed with his passion and a flair for teaching and determination to inspire students.

Mr Frizzell said he was surprised and honoured to have been chosen for the award.

He said: “It has given me the confidence to carry on with what I am doing. At some level, it is obviously working.”

Mr Byford, the college’s head of information and computer technology, won the Next Generation Learning award after being nominated by a pupil at the school.

He was chosen by judges for the way he has brought technology into all areas of school life.

His innovations include a “sharepoint” web-based learning system which everyone at the school can use, and a new website to allow parents to monitor their children’s progress at school, which has sites in Thorpe and Frinton.

He said: “It’s excellent news. I’m over the moon one of the students took the time to nominate me. I’m humbled by that. I’m a strong believer that technology is there to help, not hamper us, and the pupils love it. If you use the technology which they enjoy, pupils don’t even notice they are learning.”

Kate Martin, a media and photography teacher at the school, was commended in the enterprise category.