A HEAD teacher from Llandogo has been awarded the prestigious Primary School Teacher of the Year Award..

Jon Murphy from Llandogo Primary School won the award, sponsored by Pfizer Inc, a leading manufacturer of prescription medicines, and The Times Educational Supplement.

The award recognises excellence in teaching at primary levels and is made annually to five outstanding primary science teachers.

Mr Murphy, 44, pictured, said: "I am still lost for words. I know that the calibre of teaching is tremendously high and to have been nominated in the first place was a privilege."

Mr Murphy, a teacher for 15 years, was put forward for the award by the Local Education Authority and was one of 100 people nominated for the Science Education award.

He said he was very proud to receive the award and he had had some lovely comments from the children.

Oscar Lindsell-Hales, 11, and a pupil at Llandogo, said: "Mr Murphy is a good science teacher because he explains things well and he makes the science work fun."

Ten-year-old Hannah Barnes said: "I like Mr Murphy because you always know what you are doing and why you are doing it."

Alistair Woodford, ten, and a pupil in Jon's class, said: "He always makes our lessons fun and we get to carry out different experiments."

The £750 award to the school will be designated for science education, and John Adams, academic liaison manager for Pfizer, will present the school with a framed certificate and £750 on Thursday.

Mr Murphy said he was going to take the children on a science trip with the £750 award.

Mr Murphy will receive his personal award of £500 in Birmingham next January.