A Watford teacher has said she is “absolutely humbled” to receive a national award for her work.

Debra Higginson, who has taught at Nascot Wood Junior School for 37 years, won a Silver Teaching Award in the Pearson Teaching Awards 2016, one of 55 winners from a field of thousands.

After joining Nascot Wood in 1979, she says she is now teaching the children of her her first pupils, and calls it an “absolute privilege”.

She said: “It’s not just the children, it’s working with entire families and seeing the development of generations that is so rewarding.

“In education there seems to be an idea that veteran teachers, women in their 50s particularly, are to be put on a back shelf, but here I’m able to be at the forefront of developments and innovation.”

The school thanked Ms Higginson at a special assembly on June 17.

She now goes on to the UK final, to be held at the Guildhall on October 23, where 10 winners will receive a Gold Award. The ceremony will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC, making Ms Higginson a TV star as well as a star teacher.

She said: “I’m going for gold; I never go into something to come second.

“To be nominated and awarded is incredibly humbling, the support I get from the children and colleagues is great.”