A CWMBRAN headteacher has been named inspirational primary head teacher of the year in Wales.

John Healy, who has been at the helm of St David’s RC Primary since 2012, was presented with the accolade at the 2014 Inspirational Teaching Awards after being nominated by teacher Jackie Lewis.

The awards are organised by recruitment and training specialists New Directions Education and are held each year to honour ten people, chosen from 200 nominees from schools and colleges across the country.

In her nomination, Ms Lewis described Mr Healy as ‘an inspirational man who makes things happen’.

She praised his dynamic and tireless approach to enhancing the curriculum.

She said: “I have never worked with anyone that has made such a positive and dramatic change to any workplace I’ve been into, in such a short space of time. The children, parents and staff here at St David’s think we are blessed to have him.”

Ms Lewis said since his arrival at the school he energised staff to work with him for the better and has introduced new initiatives at the school, built a school website and improved the IT and outdoor areas.

The father-of-four started his teaching career in 1977, taking his first post in Gwent at Fairwater Junior School, Cwmbran in 1978, before moving to St Mary’s RC Primary School in Newport, seven years later. He moved on to Abergavenny in 1989.

He bid farewell to Our Lady and St Michael’s RC Primary School in 2010 to take up a new post as principal school improvement officer for Monmouthshire council. His secondment comes to an end at the end of this week when he returns to the education advisory service as a challenge advisor.

Mr Healy, 58, said: “To finish my headship career with such an accolade is fantastic. It was absolutely wonderful and exhilarating.”

“I found out I was nominated when the organisers contacted me but was surprised, thrilled and delighted to hear my name called out.”

“I’ve loved my time here and have fantastic staff.”