The country’s most outstanding teachers were given the red carpet treatment as they celebrated winning a Pearson Teaching Award yesterday. Dubbed the “Oscars for Teachers”, staff at 11 schools across the UK descended to London’s Royal Opera House for the glitzy awards ceremony hosted by TV historian Dan Snow. They were presented with Gold Plato’s by celebrities and prime minister David Cameron surprised one winner, Simon Bayliss, who won the award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year, with the news during a class visit. Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, said she was “genuinely proud and honoured” to be president of the Teaching Awards . “I owe so much of what I’ve done to my fantastic teachers at school and university and it is exciting to join in celebrating what is probably the most important profession of them all.” Rod Bristow, president of UK and core markets at Pearson, said: “Great teaching makes the biggest difference to learning. “Great teachers support young people, but they need and deserve our support so that they too can express the vital confidence they give to young people. “That’s why I’m proud of the Pearson Teaching Awards and thrilled to be joining the celebrations. “We are celebrating all those excellent teachers across the country who work tirelessly to change lives every day.” The ceremony, “Britain’s Classroom Heroes”, will be broadcast on BBC2 at 6pm on October 25. The Teaching Award Winners 2015 are: Joy Ballard The Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Secondary School 2015 Willows High School, Cardiff, Wales Simon Bayliss The Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year 2015 Oxford Spires Academy, East Oxford, Oxfordshire Caroline Ainsworth The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School 2015 Stockland C of E Primary Academy, Honiton, Devon The English Department The Award for Outstanding School Team of the Year 2015 West Lakes Academy, Egremont, Cumbria Kathy Harwood The Award for Teaching Assistant of the Year 2015 The Hospital and Home Education Learning Centre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Dinah MacManus The Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School 2015 Holy Family Primary School, Co. Antrim, Belfast Lorna Bradford The Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School 2015 The Farnley Academy, Leeds, West Yorkshire Miriam Donnan The Award for Special Needs Teacher of the Year 2015 Fleming Fulton School, Belfast, Northern Ireland Peter Dahlstrom OBE The Award for Lifetime Achievement Hope School, Wigan, Lancashire Raymond Chambers The Award for Outstanding Use of Technology in Education 2015 Uppingham Community College, Rutland, Leicestershire Jerry Nightingale The Award for FE Lecturer of the Year 2015 Weston College, Weston Super Mare, North Somerset