A TEACHER has been named as an outstanding newcomer to the profession.

The Pearson Teaching Awards 2013 has handed Chorley teacher Sean Hardeley, the Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year.

Mr Hardley, of Holy Cross Roman Catholic High School in Chorley, switched careers three years ago, leaving his job as a health assessor for Bupa.

He now teaches biology, chemistry and physics and his lessons have included a class on the cardiovascular system that featured a real lamb's heart.

Another inspired class project involved sending a balloon into space with a teddy bear and camera attached to record images of the earth and its weather systems.

Judges said that Mr Hardeley, who is deputy head of science at Holy Cross, gives his ‘heart and soul’ to the school.

Mr Hardeley had become involved in a number of activities such as coaching the rugby league team, running a careers convention and training to become an assessor for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards,