Lyme school’s head of sixth form wins the Ted Wragg Lifetime Achievement Award

Woodroffe School teacher Jim Thomas is a class act – and now he has a top award to prove it.

He was named today (Wednesday) as the winner of The Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement in the South West.

Mr Thomas, 58, will join the other category winners in this year’s Pearson Teaching Awards from across the UK at the prestigious prize-giving ceremony to be screened by BBC2 in the autumn.

Nominations are received in the form of an online ‘thank you’ message to a teacher who has made a real difference before each note of thanks is considered by the judging panel.

Mr Thomas was nominated by a grateful student who wrote: “Mr Thomas has been an incredibly understanding and helpful teacher throughout my two years at sixth form, as well as having an incredible sense of humour! He always goes out of his way to accommodate individual needs and requirements and pretty much ensured I, and the rest of my year, got places at university.

“He is quite simply, brilliant and definitely deserves a teaching award!”

Announcing him as a winner judges said: “James Thomas is an outstanding geography specialist and head of sixth form, serving the community surrounding Woodroffe Comprehensive for an impressive 31 years.

“It is clear that his combination of support, his approach to teaching and learning and his high aspirations have created extremely positive outcomes for students.”

As well as being an outstanding teacher Mr Thomas was a dedicated lifeboat crew member for many years before reaching compulsory retirement age at 50. His voluntary work continues through his duties as a coastguard and after-school activities with sailing and swimming clubs.”