THE headteacher of an academy school near Bridgwater has been recognised with a prestigious award ahead of his imminent retirement.

Mark Thomas, Head of Brymore Academy, has been presented with the Pearson Teaching Silver Award for Headteacher of the Year during a ceremony in front of the whole school and the Deputy Mayor of Bridgwater, Kathy Pearce.

Mark, who has been the Cannington-based academy's head for 14 years, was shortlisted for the award earlier this year after  judges carried out a virtual visit in April.

Read more: Brymore Academy Cannington could be outstanding, say Ofsted

Read more: Mark Thomas to retire as headteacher at Brymore Academy

Andy Berry, Principal of Bridgwater and Taunton College spoke to the assembled audience to surprise Mark with the award, and thank him for all his hard work before handing over the trophy.

Peter Elliot, Trust Leader of the BTC Trust, said: "Mark has transformed Brymore and taken it from a school where progress results were not good enough, to a school where they are not only top in the county, but in the top five per cent in the country, which is a phenomenal achievement."

Mark told the audience that this was not his award, but an award for Brymore, and that it was the staff around the room working as hard as they do that helped win the award, along with the students from over the years.