The national ceremony will be held in October

The regional ceremony of The Teaching Awards 2005 was held on Wednesday at Newcastle Racecourse.

Head teachers, teachers, and teaching assistants were praised for their work and achievements.

The winners of the regional awards will now join others from around the country for the national ceremony, which will be held in London in October.

Dr Tony Broady, head teacher of Newcastle's Walker Technology College, was recognised with the DfES Innovation Unit Award for Lifetime Achievement as was Christine Palmer, from Inglewood Infant School, in Carlisle.

Distinctions awarded

The Promethean Award for Head Teacher of the Year in a Primary School went to Angela Rawlinson, from St James CE Junior School, Barrow, Cumbria.

Paul Rusby, from Seaton Hirst Middle School, Ashington, Northumberland, won the RAF Award for Head Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School.

Sandra Ford, from Abbeyfields First School, Morpeth, Northumberland, was named winner of the BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School.

Ann Hammett, from Gateshead's Emmanuel College, won The Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School.

Lisa Holt, from Sunderland's Hill View Infant School, scooped The Teacher Training Agency Award for Outstanding New Teacher.

The Special Needs Teacher of the Year went to Ann Oliver, from Sunningdale Special School, Sunderland.

Janice Hutchinson, from Manor College of Technology, in Hartlepool, and Pamela Bolton, of Vickerstown Primary School, Barrow, Cumbria, were winners of the Teaching Assistant of the Year award.

The Healthy Schools Award went to Gill Hedworth at John Spence High School Sports College, in North Shields.