AN EAST Lancashire headteacher could be crowned the best in the North West after making the short-list for prestigious awards.

Iain Hulland, head teacher at Alder Grange Community and Technology School in Rawtenstall, has chalked up an outstanding reputation which has earned him a place alongside the best in the profession.

He joins teaching assistant Alison Pickering, of Ivy Bank Business and Technology College, Burnley; special needs teacher Avril Ormisher, of St Bede's RC High School, Blackburn; and nursery nurse Jeanette Brown of Lower Darwen County Primary School as nominees for the Teaching Awards 2004.

Iain, 54, has been headteacher at Alder Grange since 1997 and has overseen the school gain technology status, and most recently the Healthy Schools Standard which recognises the way in which the voices of the school and community have been instrumental in making it the kind of school everyone can be proud of.

He said: "To be nominated for such an accolade by the people I work with every day is utterly humbling and wonderfully fulfilling."

Alison Pickering, 46, works in the Learning Support Unit at Ivy Bank, alongside children with emotional and behavioural problems. She said: "I was overwhelmed that the management of the unit thought so highly of me to nominate me for this award."

Avril Ormisher, who has been teaching special needs pupils for 12 years, "It's a great honour, but I'm just doing my job. I am overwhelmed and humbled."

Nursery nurse Jeanette Brown, 41, has worked at Lower Darwen County Primary for more than 10 years.

She said: "I am really honoured but a bit embarrassed at the same time.

"I am involved in lots of extra groups and have established a story sack in the library full of props to bring reading alive for children."

Two other nominees are Caroline Sephton, of St Michael's CE High School, Chorley, and Tony Charnock, of Holy Cross RC High School, Chorley.

The awards will take place on June 10 in Liverpool. All regional winners receive £2,000 for their school and a grant of £1,000 for ICT equipment. They then go on to the national televised final with a further £23,000 up for grabs.