Head-shaving head wins top prize for his caring attitude

Chris Gabbett, headteacher at Trinity School, won first prize in the ‘JD’s Heroes’ competition run by Free Radio and Coventry-based training provider PET-Xi, where pupils were asked to nominate their favourite teachers.

Year 12 pupil Neetu Purewal, who won a further £250 for the school for nominating Mr Gabbett, said: “Chris Gabbett genuinely cares about the wellbeing of his school and his students.

“After hearing about a fellow student being diagnosed with cancer, he proceeded in shaving his hair off.

“He has also helped me personally after a close friend of mine passed away earlier on in the year.

“Chris did his absolute best to deal with the troubling situation - from organising a concert in memory of my friend, to being a teacher in whom I could truly confide.

“Chris Gabbett is a fantastic headteacher of Trinity and he very much deserves to win this award.”

John Dalziel of Free Radio said the competition had revealed some heart-warming stories, singling out Mr Gabbett’s in particular.

He said: “It was great to meet the winning teachers and their nominees. The teachers’ prize money will be used to provide projects which will benefit youngsters throughout the schools.

“In particular, Mr Gabbett deserves praise for shaving his head to raise money for charity after a pupil was diagnosed with cancer, because he didn’t want the boy to feel like he was the only one losing his hair.”

Fleur Sexton, joint managing director of PET-Xi, said: “It was a significant sum of money to give away and it was fantastic to see the reaction of the teachers when we made our surprise visit to present the cheques.”

Mr Gabbett, who took over from Dr Jim Ferguson as Trinity’s headteacher last year, has already allocated the funding to go towards performing arts projects.

He said: “I am humbled and honoured to receive this award.

“To be recognised and rewarded by one’s students is the greatest honour any teacher can receive and I thank Neetu and the other students who nominated and voted.

“A big thanks to Free Radio and PET Xi too, who have shown real thoughtfulness in developing this.”

The radio station had asked pupils in primary and secondary schools across Coventry and Warwickshire to nominate their favourite teachers and the entries were then whittled down to a shortlist of three in each category. The winners were selected through a 48-hour online vote.

Second prize went to Lucy Price of the Heart of England School in Balsall Common, who was presented with £500, , while pupil Summer Wareing was given £250 for putting forward the nomination.

To find out more about the competition and see the full list of winners, visit www.freeradio.co.uk/jds-heroes/your-winners