National Chance To Shine Award for Barton Teacher

A Devon teacher has received a prestigious award for her contribution to a national campaign to boost cricket in state schools.    Sue Steart, from Barton Primary School in Torquay, was given the Chance to shine Teacher of the Year award by former prime minister Sir John Major and bat maker Duncan Fearnley at a special ceremony held at Lord's Cricket Ground last month.   Chance to Shine is the Cricket Foundation's campaign to regenerate competitive cricket in state schools across England.    Barton is one of 1,276 schools to benefit from Chance to shine's cricket programmes in 2007.    Despite knowing nothing about the sport, Ms Steart set up an after-school cricket club in 2006 which proved so popular she had to introduce a second club.    She has also entered the school in every cricket festival going and now organises her own school festival at Barton Cricket Club.    “I can't tell how much I love the cricket sessions and matches. When we win, the feeling is just electric,” she said.    “I was delighted just to be nominated so to win the award is amazing, especially as I got to mee Chance to Shine ambassador Mark Ramprakash at the awards ceremony.”    Stuart Priscott, Chance to Shine manager for the South West of England, said: “Chance to Shine is not a search for a star but about giving children the chance to learn the life skills taught by sport in general and cricket in particular.    “Teachers with Sue's commitment are vital to our success.”

   Also present at the awards ceremony were Chance to Shine ambassadors Matthew Hoggard and Mike Gatting.    Chance to Shine aims to start up cricket programmes in a third of all state schools by 2015 and introduce more than two million children to the sport.