THE amazing success of a Bordon school continued this week, as one of its teachers won a prestigious Teacher of the Year award.

Margaret "Maggie" Maidment, from the Meadow School, won the category of Excellence in Special Needs Teaching on Monday, in the regional finals of the Teacher of the Year awards.

At a special ceremony at Winchester Guildhall, hosted by BBC presenter Roger Finn, the Bordon teacher beat two other teachers from the south region, which includes Kent, West Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset.

Maggie, who has been a teacher at the school for ten years, was shortlisted for the special needs category for her work with the school's autistic children over the last five years.

Nominated for the award by parents of her pupils, Maggie was the first teacher at the Meadow School to be specially trained to work with autistic children.

Headteacher Peter Greenwood was pleased for both the teacher and for the school, which has enjoyed a string of successes this academic year.

In December the special school earned top marks in its OFSTED report, with many aspects of the school labelled by inspectors as "outstanding".

Then in March the school was awarded a Department of Education and Employment school improvement award for its "outstanding improvements", "high-quality teaching" and "high standards of achievement" in its OFSTED report.

Mr Greenwood said: "This has been a fantastic year for us - first the great OFSTED report, then the award and now this.

"We are now a school known for our excellence in teaching."

The headteacher was particularly pleased that Maggie Maidment's work was being recognised and hoped that the success of the school would continue next year.

Hampshire County Council's education officer Andrew Seber was equally thrilled with the award, one of nine awards and commendations to be given to Hampshire teachers.

He said: "My congratulations go to the winners in the various categories of the teacher of the year award.

"I would also like to congratulate everyone who was put forward; being nominated is in itself a major mark of support and respect from colleagues and the community.

"I am now looking forward to the national finals in October in which Hampshire will be well represented by these excellent teachers."

Winners of the regional finals have received £2,000 for their schools.

Those schools whose teachers win in the finals on October 28 will receive a further £13,000.