O₂ learn launched

Telecommunications company O₂  has launched a new competition for UK secondary school teachers with a flair for video. Teachers who enter could win up to £50,000 for themselves.

Teachers are invited to upload video clips of showcase lessons, aimed at pupils aged 13-18. As well as creating a free online teaching resource, the users of the resource will vote for their favourite lessons.

Every fortnight until July 2011, the teacher who produced the most watched and best-rated lessons will win £2000, plus £2000 for his or her school. There will be 18 such awards totaling £72,000.

In addition, O₂ Learn will assemble a panel of headteachers and members of teaching unions to shortlist eight of the 18 fortnightly winners to go through to a grand final in the autumn of 2011 where, with the help of the public, they will decide on the winning three UK teachers. The winner of the O₂ Learn award will receive £50,000 and a further £100,000 for his or her school. The runner up will win £20,000 and £40,000 for his or her school, and a third prize will also be awarded of £10,000 for the teacher and an additional £20,000 for the school.

O₂ Learn launches with the support of five partners - The National Union of Teachers, The Teaching Awards, Teach First, Parentline Plus and Teaching Leaders - and seven founder schools, a mixture of independent and state-funded schools, whose teachers have uploaded 100 lessons.

O₂ Learn is part of O₂'s Think Big strategy which seeks to inspire young people, and those that help young people, to make a positive change to the community. To find out more visit the O₂ Learn website.