A SCHOOL in Runcorn is celebrating after having two of its teaching staff nominated for the Teaching Awards 2006.

The Heath School boasts two top teachers who have been chosen as finalists for the north west heats of the competition.

Tony Fretwell and Denise Payne have been nominated for Outstanding New Teacher and Teaching Assistant of the Year respectively along with Steve Gill, from The Grange School, who has also been nominated for The Teaching Award for Enterprise.

Nominations come directly from pupils, who can put forward their favourite teachers for a number of different categories.

There are three nominees in each category and the winner from each group will go forward to the national final, which will take place later this year.

Mr Fretwell, a former rugby league player, has been described by head teacher, Heather Mullaney, as 'a total inspiration' to the boys he teaches in PE.

He has been working at the school for the past two years after retraining to become a teacher when he finished his playing career with teams such as the Widnes Vikings.

Denise is a learning mentor who runs the school's peer mentoring scheme which has trained hundreds of pupils to offer support and advice to younger students.

The scheme has also won a Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award.

The three teachers will find out whether they have won their categories at the north west awards, hosted by BBC North West Tonight presenter Diane Oxberry.

The event takes place at The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool on Tuesday, June 27.