Prime minister Boris Johnson has congratulated a British maths teacher for winning the Covid Hero award at the Global Teacher Prize.
Jamie Frost, who runs the website DrFrostMaths and works at Tiffin School in London, was named as a winner for his work supporting learning across the world during the pandemic.
He had been shortlisted as one of 10 finalists for the overall $1 million Global Teacher Prize award, which was won by Ranjitsinh Disale, a primary school teacher from India.
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Mr Frost was selected from more than 12,000 nominations and applications from over 140 countries for the Global Teacher Prize.
As winner of the Covid Hero award, he receives a prize of $45,000 (£33,000) for going above and beyond during the coronavirus crisis to help keep pupils learning.
In a video recording posted on social media today, Mr Johnson said: “As the Global Teacher Prize ceremony moves around the world making its reputation live up to its name as a true global celebration of teachers, it is an honour that London has been chosen as the first of the new host cities.
Congratulations to @DrFrostMaths for winning the @TeacherPrize COVID Hero award and for all your hard work transforming maths for millions of children.
I also want to say a big thank you to all the world’s teachers for all you have done to support learning during the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/kCBtNPRSBs
- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 3, 2020
“Although I am speaking to you in difficult and sometimes heartbreaking circumstances, it is right that we take time to recognise the enormous contribution and sacrifice of the world’s teachers during this pandemic.
“Teachers like you, Jamie Frost. Congratulations on winning the Global Teacher Prize Covid Hero award.
“Your creativity and ingenuity has given hope to millions of children throughout the world.
“It’s been incredible to see how teachers have adapted to home learning and used technology to continue with lessons throughout the pandemic.
“You don’t just recognise the heroic teachers across the United Kingdom, but also across the whole world.”
Mr Frost’s site DrFrostMaths offers maths resources for teachers and students that have been downloaded more than 8 million times, as well as an online learning platform.
Before he was announced as the Covid Hero winner, he said: “I receive emails every day from different countries saying how they are still in lockdown and yet my resources and the online platform enable their mathematics learning to still continue in their school.”
After the announcement, Mr Frost said on Twitter: “Really delighted the win the Covid Hero prize in this year’s Global Teacher Prize awards. And I congratulate Ranjitsinh Disale on winning the overall competition; an exciting year he has ahead of him! A deserving winner.”
Really delighted the win the Covid Hero Prize in this year’s @TeacherPrize. And I congratulate @ranjitdisale on winning the overall competition; an exciting year he has ahead of him! A deserving winner.
- DrFrostMaths (@DrFrostMaths) December 3, 2020
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “I would like to send my warmest congratulations and thanks to Jamie for his outstanding innovation and dedication in helping pupils and fellow teachers around the world. It is a truly remarkable story, and I am pleased he is receiving the worldwide recognition he thoroughly deserves.
“This is also another moment I would like to take to thank teachers and support staff in all schools and colleges for what they have done for our children this year, and their extraordinary hard work in the face of unprecedented circumstances.”
