A TEACHER from Shebbear Community School was named Primary Teacher of the Year at this year's South West Teaching Awards.

A Devon governor picked up the Governor of the Year award and a Devon secondary school teacher won the DSCF Teaching Award for Enterprise.

In addition 13 staff from the county were awarded distinctions and commendations.

Devon's Director of Children and Young People's Services, Anne Whiteley, said: "This is a real tribute to the quality of staff we have in Devon in all sectors."

Lois Gough from Shebbear Community School won the Primary Teacher of the Year Award. She said: "I was very surprised and very pleased to win. We are a small school with a real family feel at the heart of the community and I am lucky to work with very supportive colleagues."

Mrs Gough has been a teacher for eight years and has spent six years working at Shebbear.

Shebbear headteacher Sally Strange said the judges had listened to what the children, the parents and school governors had to say about Mrs Gough.

"They all spoke about her commitment and enthusiasm which knows no end," she said.

The chairman of governors at Okehampton College, Ian Courtney, won the Governor of the Year award. Mr Courtney has been a governor for 10 years and chairman for four years.

He said: "I wasn't expecting to win. I genuinely feel I get more out of the job than I put in. I have always been involved in training and education. I believe it is absolutely central.

"Whenever the governing body gets caught up in finance or policy or politics, I always bring them back to what we are there for. Ultimately it's about the kids."

The DCSF Award for Enterprise also went to Okehampton College through physics teacher Keith Webber.

Mr Webber has been heavily involved in the college and in the Okeham­pton Learning Community with putting on adult education courses and raising money for energy efficiency and new technology.

This includes installing cavity wall insultation and solar panels and replacing 3,000 light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs which is expected to save £40,000 on electricity alone.

Anne Whiteley added: "We have excellent school leaders across the county but, to ensure that all our children receive a high quality education, they have to have the backing of high quality teachers, teaching assistants, support staff and governors.

"Good education is a team effort and these awards prove we have real strength in depth. I want to congratulate everyone who was honoured."