A DEPUTY head teacher has won an award after going the extra mile to help stop pupils catching coronavirus at school.

Stephen Hill, the deputy head at St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Shaw and founder of Team Hill Charitable Trust, was chosen as the North West winner by a panel judges.

The competition launched by GAMA Healthcare, celebrates workers who have played a vital role in limiting the transmission of Covid-19.

Stephen was nominated by his friend Diana Heywood, who said: “The competition suggested nominating a local hero who has gone above and beyond and that’s exactly what Stephen is".

She added:“During the pandemic he has been on the frontline caring for the children, instilling in them the importance of keeping their distance and washing their hands, while also teaching them how to safely help others. ”

Stephen, a teacher of 24 years and the founder of Team Hill Charitable Trust, which supports Oldham causes and sustainable projects in Uganda, re-imagined the fundraising challenges he has previously completed for his pupils over the pandemic.

The six marathons he tackled in five days through the Amazon Jungle became jogs around the school playing field and his Kilimanjaro climb became an obstacle course.

He said: “It has been important to keep our pupils minds off the situation and I am impressed and proud of just how adaptable and resilient they have been.

“I love being outdoors and so felt it was important to get the children outside too. The children loved being kept busy, making dens and simply having fun. We also had lessons outside and painted lots of rainbows for care homes and made comfort packs for the Covid wards.

“While it is my job to teach the children the curriculum and inspire them in the classroom, I also feel that it is important to develop and instil in them an understanding of how they can help other people and to develop in them those character traits so that they are inspired to help those less fortunate than themselves. It is the children, who are the future and who can go on to make a real difference in the world.”

Stephen, along with Diana, also organised over 20 volunteers to carry out shopping for the elderly and vulnerable, with almost 2,000 shops to date, while encouraging others to help create care packs for patients in nearby Covid wards.