TWO Widnes teachers are celebrating after scooping one of the top titles available to the profession.
Janet Whittingham, of Fairfield High. and Terenia Gosney, of St Michael's RC Primary, both won titles in their categories of the North West. Teaching Awards.
Janet, head of performing arts at Fairfield, was named Teacher of the Year in a Sec­ondary School while Tere­nia, headteacher at St Michael's, took the award for School Leadership in a Primary School.
The pair were honoured at a.. ceremony in Liverpool, where they took home silver plates and a prize package worth £3.000 for their schools, comprising a £2,000 grant and ICT equip­ment worth £1.000.
And they received a £500 professional bursary from the Department for Educa­tion and Skills to spend on their continuing develop­ment.
Janet and Terenia will now

OUTSTANDING WORK: Janet Whittingham - North West Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School

JANET Whittingham's work as head of performing arts is apparent throughout Fairfield High.
Some of her achievements include .putting together a staff choir that could sing in three part harmony within three weeks and encouraging pupils who have never picked up an in­strument In their lives to go on to learn three or even four
Under Janet's direction, Fairfield’s school choir has visited St Mark’s Cathedral In Venice to sing and youngsters have enjoyed links with a school in Tongling, China, sharing musical knowledge, friendship and experience with pupils thou­sands of miles away.

In a testimony submitted to judges about Janet's work; It was noted that: 'Janet's teaching style Is outstanding.
'She uses Innovative and tra­ditional methods very effectively within the classroom that result In excellent learning and high achievement.
'A simple example of Janet's talent and enthusiasm can be demonstrated by a parent who commented' that her eldest child displayed absolutely no musical inclination but. now a Grade 8 clarinet player.'
Janet said: 'I am amazed to have won because I work with 80 many other good teachers. 'But what Is lovely Is that the children nominated me.'