Use: Immediate                                                                                 Issue Date: Monday 16 May 2005

A teacher and a janitor from the Highlands have been shortlisted for this year's Scottish Education Awards.

Moira Mackenzie, who teaches at Park Primary School in Invergordon, is one of three teachers up for an award in the Inspirational Teacher (Primary) category. She said she was surprised to receive a letter inviting her to the award ceremony after she had been nominated by the School’s Headteacher and her own Classroom Assistant on behalf of the pupils and their parents. She said: "It came as a complete surprise to me and I am absolutely thrilled to be on the short list. I teach a wonderful group of children and get fantastic support from their parents and the whole school. It is such an honour to be but forward and I am very excited about going to the award ceremony in June."

Mark Sloggie, a Janitor at Kirkhill Primary School by Inverness is also in the running for the Education Supporter Award. Mark was nominated by the school’s Pupils Council with support from the teaching staff and parents.

The prestigious awards, now in their fourth year, recognise excellence in Scotland's schools.

The awards ceremony will take place on June 10 at the Glasgow Science Centre. Winners will get up to £2000 for their school.

In addition, for the first time this year, the winners of the Inspirational Teacher (Primary) and Inspirational Teacher (Secondary) awards will go forward to the UK Teaching Awards which will be held in the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, London, on October 16 and will be televised by BBC2 the same day.