A RETIRED teacher has been presented with a national award after helping hundreds of Hampshire teenagers in her spare time.

Sue Lockwood uses her skills and experience to support staff and pupils at The Arnewood School in Gore Road, New Milton, on a voluntary basis.

Now the 67-year-old tutor from Sway has received a British Citizen Award (BCA) for services to education.

Sue has helped the maths department at Arnewood for three days a week for 12 years, ensuring a large number of children achieve their full potential.

One of her groups achieved the best set of GCSE maths results the school has ever had – 21 A* and nine A grades.

Sue also plays a vital role in encouraging and mentoring young maths teachers to boost their confidence and skills in the classroom.

She was among 36 people who were honoured at a prestigious ceremony at the Palace of Westminster in London. Each BCA award-winner received a medal inscribed with the words “For the Good of the Country”.

Sue was a chemistry teacher at Noadswood School in Dibden Purlieu before she moved to Belgium, where she taught maths in a British school.

After returning to the UK she settled in Sway, which is when she started doing voluntary work at Arnewood.

Sue said: “I haven’t really got any hobbies like golf or gardening so I decided to volunteer because it’s something I enjoy doing.“I know from my own career that teachers are always under a tremendous amount of pressure and little extras can really make a difference.

“I’ve built up lovely relationships with staff over the years and feel very lucky to be able to help people – both staff and pupils - by doing something I love.”

Sue was nominated for a BCA by her husband Jim and her colleague, Simon King.

Jim said: “Her contribution is characterised by a determination never to give up - there are no ‘lost causes’ in her world. She sets high standards and simply won’t allow people to underachieve.”

Arnewood head teacher Nigel Pressnell added: “She is a wonderful volunteer who has helped hundreds of children improve their grades over the years.”

Chris Clark, the Daily Echo’s sea angling correspondent has also been presented with a BCA.

Chris, described as one of the world’s best anglers, won 23 medals during a lifetime of fishing but now devotes his time to nurturing stars of the future.