Ten Sussex teachers have been hailed as among the best in the South.

Their work will be celebrated at the Teaching Awards 2002 ceremony on Tuesday.

Steve Latus, a geography teacher at Sackville Community College, East Grinstead, has been nominated for secondary school teacher of the year.

Elaine Allison, of Ringmer Community College, and Sean Maywood, of Oathall Community College, Haywards Heath, are both up for the BP award for science.

Jo Hedges, headteacher of Court Meadow School, Cuckfield, could win the award for leadership in a primary school and there are two Sussex contenders for the secondary school title.

These are Terry Boatright, headteacher of the Bishop Bell School, Eastbourne, and Rodney Bayes, of Bexhill High School.

Kay Willis, of Hazelwick School, Crawley, has been nominated for the excellence in special needs teaching award.

Penny Jones, of Bexhill High School, and Lauren Johnson of St Margaret's Primary School, Hassocks, were nominated for teaching assistant of the year.

Dame Sheila Wallis, headteacher of Davison High School for Girls, Worthing, is one of four candidates for the lifetime achievement award.

The South's awards, at The Guildhall, Southampton, will be one of 12 ceremonies across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in June and July.

Each regional winner will be invited to the national ceremony at the Theatre Royal, London, on October 27.

The contenders were nominated by colleagues, staff, pupils, ex-pupils and parents.