FOUR of Huddersfield’s finest teachers are in line for a top honour today.

Almondbury High School and Language College staff Beverley Bitting, Christina Knight and Keith Hilton are among 6,000 teachers nominated.

Jonathan Heeley, from Rawthorpe High School has also been named.

They will travel to Harrogate’s Majestic Hotel later today to take part in the northern finals of the National Teaching Awards.

They will compete against three other teachers in their category for the northern crown and the chance to attend the national finals at the Savoy Hotel in London in October.

Beverley has been nominated in the outstanding new teacher category. She has worked at Almondbury for the past two years and has been instrumental in forming links between feeder primary schools and the language college.

English teacher Christina Knight has been nominated for the teacher of the year in the secondary category.

Keith Hilton, who has worked at the school for the past 28 years, is up for a lifetime achievement award.

Keith, who is assistant headteacher and teaches geography and PE, has been very involved in linking the school with the community, organising major projects, and applying to external agencies such as the Big Lottery Fund for funding for the school.

Jonathan, who is head of maths at Rawthorpe, has further cause for celebration at the school this week after it heard that 65% of pupils had achieved at least a level five in their key stage three exams, the best results in the school’s history.

Teachers can be nominated by students or colleagues. As well as having their nominations endorsed by senior management they are also observed in the classroom by inspectors before going onto the regional finals.