A circus performer won a prestigious teaching award after bringing his act into the classroom.

Andrew Latham, 35, gave up his circus career six years ago to teach science at Hove Park Upper School in Hangleton Way, Hove.

But that has not stopped him from demonstrating the laws of physics by juggling fire clubs and walking on broken glass.

Yesterday he was one of three Sussex schools staff to win regional accolades in the national teaching awards.

The two others to win their categories in the finals of the competition for the South-East were Mirella Jerez-Rios, also from Hove Park School, and Kim Ives, from Bognor Regis Community College.

Mr Latham, winner of the Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School, said: "The key to being a successful teacher is to make every lesson engaging and exciting. A little bit of the unpredictable should be brought into every lesson."

Ms Ives, 45, a teaching assistant, won the award for working with business and community.

She helped pioneer a programme at the college where GCSE students do work experience one or two days each week.

She said: "It's very fulfilling for me. We are preparing them for the wide world of work and many go on to study vocational courses when they would not have continued their education otherwise."

Mirella Jerez-Rios, 28, a Spanish teacher, won the Teacher Training Agency Award for outstanding new teacher in a secondary school.

She said: "I like the fact that it's never the same day twice."