An arts and textiles teacher has won £715,000 in a global teaching competition.

Andria Zafirakou, 39, who works at Alperton Community School, was named the winner from ten finalists at the fourth annual Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018, in Dubai on March 18.

She is the first UK teacher to win the award.

The award, the largest of its kind, recognises one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.

Theresa May: “Being a great teacher requires resilience, ingenuity, and a generous heart."

Harrow Times:

Mrs Zafirakou transformed the Alperton schools’ teaching approach to reach often isolated young people, after deciding a one-size-fits-all curriculum would not get the best from her students.

With her colleagues she set about redesigning various stands of the school’s education from launching a Somali school choir, creating an alternative times tables, and starting a girls-only sports club that would not offend conservative communities.

She also took the time to visit students in their homes to understand their lives beyond school, sat with them on school bus rides and took to standing at the school gates to welcome pupils as they arrive.

She has also learned basic greetings in many of the 35 languages spoken at the school, including Hindi, Tamil, Portuguese and Gujarat.

In a special congratulatory message, Prime Minister Theresa May, said: “Being a great teacher requires resilience, ingenuity, and a generous heart.

“These are the qualities that you share with your students every day. So thank you for all you have done and continue to do.”

On winning the prize, Mrs Zafirakou, said: “The community where I teach in Brent is beautifully diverse and indeed is one of the most multicultural communities in the world.

“What is amazing is whatever issues students are having at home, whatever is missing from their life or causing them pain, our school is theirs.

“I know if our school could open at six o’clock in the morning, there would be a queue of children waiting outside at five o’clock in the morning. That’s how phenomenal they are.”

The ten finalists were drawn from a shortlist of 50 teachers from countries including Turkey, South Africa, Colombia, Philippines, United States, Brazil, Belgium, Australia and Norway. The winner was announced live on stage in a red carpet gala event hosted by Trevor Noah.

Ms Zafirakou will become a global ambassador for the Varkey Foundation.