A SCHOOL governor who has been instrumental in helping Highfields School at Edgerton move to a new site has been recognised for her dedication and commitment.

Janet Silvester is today named as the 2006 Governor of the Year for the North of England.

She attended a prestigious ceremony at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate yesterday with her nominator headteacher Sue Williams.

"It was a wonderful day and a complete surprise to win the award," said Janet, who has worked as an educational teaching assistant at Highfields since 1991 and has been a governor since 1999.

Janet, 58, of Crosland Moor has spent many hours over the last year preparing for the school's move this summer to the new purpose-built school at Castle Hill, Newsome.

She retires this summer but will continue as a governor at Castle Hill.

She spoke of the rewards of being a school governor.

"It gives you satisfaction that in some small way you are helping a school," she said.

"A school can't run without governors, we are unpaid, legally appointed volunteers."

Janet hopes to spend more time with her husband Michael, three children and four grandchildren when she retires.

And also hopes to pursue her main hobby of travelling with a trip to Alaska already booked.

Rastrick teaching assistant Cath Whitwam, who works at Carr Green Junior, Infant and Nursery School was also named as teaching assistant of the year for the North.

Cath, 47 has worked at Carr Green as a teaching assistant for seven years.

She was nominated by headteacher Lesley Bowyer.

Cath, who retrained after working as a florist for 25 years has two roles at school as its ICT technician and also family learning link worker helping parents and children study together on a variety of out-of-school courses.

"It's so varied. Every day is different and I absolutely love it," said Cath, who is married to John and has three sons.

"It was a fantastic fabulous event. The atmosphere was amazing."

Other local teachers who received distinctions and commendations at the awards were Sue Green, of Almondbury High School, for teaching assistant of the year, and Sandra Quarmby, for secondary school teacher of the year, also of Almondbury High School.

The ceremony, which was hosted by BBC Look North presenter Ian White celebrated excellence in schools across the North of England.

Winners from the North of England ceremony will now attend the National Teaching Awards Ceremony in London in October.