Winner Tim is in his element (From Gazette Series)

Winner Tim is in his element

A REDNOCK School chemistry teacher has given an effervescent reaction to being awarded a top honour in his field.

Tim Harrison has received a Royal Society of Chemistry School's Education Award for 2005.

"I am both delighted and honoured to receive an award from an organisation such as the RSoC who are so actively engaged in supporting students' understanding of chemistry," he said.

"The enthusiastic students I teach at Rednock make the efforts that I put into my work and extra curricular activities rewarding in itself."

The RSoC School's Education Award is for a professional who has made a significant contribution to the teaching of the chemical sciences at a school or college.

It is awarded for innovative, inspirational and engaging teaching, as well as contributing to RSoC activities and involving students in extra curricular activities that promotes the teaching of the chemical sciences.

Rednock headmaster David Alexander said: "Tim's excellence is worthy of this accolade. He works very hard to excite, inspire and motivate the students at Rednock.

"He represents the excellent professionalism that permeates all of Rednock's teaching and teachers. Well done Tim."

Apart from teaching chemistry and science at Rednock for the last 17 years and having a heavy involvement in the school's extra curricular activities, Mr Harrison has been working closely with the School of Chemistry at the University of Bristol on a number of projects involving the promotion of chemistry.

These projects include the creation of a two-week Year 10 chemistry summer school and a programme of AS and A level practicals that can be carried out using the university's facilities.

Mr Harrison has also helped initiate an online science competition for primary schools, post-16 chemistry conferences for up to 300 students at a time and practical workshops for teachers who are new to teaching practical chemistry.

In addition, he has been working with the Open University for three years in the promotion of undergraduate level science short courses for sixth formers.

Mr Harrison will be made a teacher fellow at the School of Chemistry, Bristol, in September.