An inspirational Hornchurch headteacher has been named as the headteacher of the year.

Staff and students at Ardleigh Green Junior School in Ardleigh Green Road are celebrating after John Morris was named as the winner of the award for Headteacher of the year in a primary school in London and the South East on Wednesday June 20.

John said: “It is still very surreal for me because I am still in shock, but I am really proud for the school.

“I think it is a tremendous achievement for the staff, children and parents.”

John, 53 was invited to a special assembly on Wednesday where he was told that he had won the Pearson Teaching Award.

The father of two, who has been headteacher of the school for 21 years was nominated earlier this year by a former student Amy Glover as a way of sayng thank you.

In May, John had a visit from the inspectors, some of which are former headteachers who spent the time talking to the staff and students.

John said: “I did not think that I would win it.

“It is a tremendous feeling to be nominated and afterwards they showed me all the comments from the parents and that was just overwhelming.”

John started his teaching career in Havering as a school teacher at St Edward’s Prmary School in Havering Drive, Romford.

After working for a few years at the school, John became Deputy Headteacher.

He was also the head of Crownfield School in White Hart Lane, Collier Row.

In 1991, John became the headteacher of Ardleigh Green Junior School.

Over that time, he helped to refurbish a former church so that it could be used as a family centre.

John said: “The family centre is one of the things that I am proudest of.

“We came to the agreement with the church that we would refurbish the building and in turn use it for the community and now it has more than 170 people going through the doors every week.”

John is now set to join the other winning teachers from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the prestigious UK ceremony which will be aired on BB2 in autumn.