ST John Ambulance volunteer and lead health and social care teacher for Featherstone High School, Southall, John Andrews has scooped the silver teaching award in the BBC Teacher of the Year Awards.

Today (Friday), he receives his accolade from editor and broadcaster Ian Hislop, who is visiting the school as part of the Speakers for Schools initiative.

Pupils nominated Mr Andrews in the category of secondary school teacher of the year for his groundbreaking work training more than 200 Year Nine students in life-saving skills every year.

Finalists were selected from more than 20,000 nominations and Mr Andrews joins a list of exceptional teachers who are the stars of the profession.

He has a life-long passion for health and life-saving skills, from his early years as a cadet in Belfast, which continued into his training as a nurse and, subsequently, a teacher.

Throughout this time, he has continued his volunteering for St John and has passed on his skills to hundreds of children.

"I think every child should be taught life saving skills," he said.

"It's so rewarding when the pupils tell me ‘Sir, I saved my little brother’s life yesterday after he was choking’, or ‘I phoned an ambulance and made sure the person stayed still until it came’."

Teachers interested in following in John’s footsteps can sign up to St John Ambulance’s latest schools training scheme: student first aid.

www.sja.org.uk/sja/training-courses/school-student-training/student-first-aid-programme.