A top Basildon teacher hand-picked by Tony Blair to record a snapshot of today's Education system admitted she was glowing with pride at the honour.

As part of the annual report at what the Government has achieved, the Prime Minister sent out disposable cameras to people working in public service industries around the country.

Jayne Dear, deputy headteacher of Woodlands School in Takely End, Basildon, was the only teacher chosen to record typical moments in school life.

Two pages have now been dedicated to those photographs in the Government's annual report for 1998/1999, released yesterday.

Woodlands headteacher Andy White is delighted his school has been given such high profile.

He said: "This is superb for Woodlands and for Basildon. The town getting recognition is really important. This has come during a very good year for the area with the Queen's visit and the anniversary. It is just excellent."

Mrs Dear said: "It was really interesting. I was asked to highlight the good things, as well as the things that haven't gone so well.

"Senior Teacher Joan Risby and I got together and took 24 shots."

The good points included staff at work on extra curricular activities, examples of pupils' work in lessons and their outside work including murals in the town.

The not so good points included the school fence and tennis courts which both need improvements.

Mrs Dear added: "I was obviously very pleased to be chosen but Woodlands is seen by the Department for Education and Employment as being one of its schools of excellence."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.