Education Award

Winner: Nicola Westerman

Sponsors: Newman Moore

UNFORTUNATELY, neither the winner nor sponsor of the 2009 Education Award was available on the night of the ceremony, so Mayor Coun George Grout read the sponsor's citation and spoke on behalf of the nominee, who was named top of the class.

"The winner of our Education Award is one of those extremely valuable people who look after the young people of the town," he said.

"There are so many teachers throughout the primary and secondary schools, and colleges in town who shape our young people into the citizens of tomorrow.

"This particular teacher works with some of the very youngest, the year two children. In old money, that's the six-year-olds and thereabouts!"

He continued: "Our winner graduated in 2000 and then went off to Germany to teach with the Service Children's Education, an agency of the MOD dedicated to the education of the children of service families and MOD personnel serving outside the UK.

"After eight years abroad she decided it was time to come back to the UK and found a new teaching post here in Sleaford.

"She joined the staff of the William Alvey School last September and in that short space of time she has made a big impression on her class.

"According to the nomination she is more than just a teacher, she really cares about the children, putting everything into her work and is a very caring person.

"Nicola told us she feels lucky to have such a lovely class, with such well-behaved children.

"She really enjoys coming to work and although she's particularly keen on arts activities and teaching writing, she loves working with the children on all parts of the curriculum.