WATCH: Highland Heroes secondary teacher says 'it takes a village to raise a child'

Having recently moved from working in Golspie High School to Invergordon Academy, Catherine Ferguson was "overwhelmed" to be named Highland Heroes' secondary teacher of the year.

Judges for the Highland Heroes awards organised by Highland News and Media and held at the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Friday, had heard her described as "incredible".

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She admitted on being nominated that she had been a bit "teary eyed", adding: "I can only do what I do thanks to the other teachers, school staff, pupils and their parents. It really is a community effort to get the right outcome for our pupils."

She spoke in much the same terms after receiving her award, sponsored by Barratt Homes.

"It means the world to be honest," she said.

"I'm a bit speechless and a bit taken aback because I would just say I was just doing what any other teacher would normally do."

She added: "I think, as the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and if it wasn't for the staff – all the staff, not just the teachers but the office staff, the janitors...and actually working with parents and the community...the job wouldn't be possible without all those people."

Describing how her phone had been pinging constantly since her win was announced she expected the school to be full of excitement come Monday morning and said she was definitely going to be taking her trophy in to share with everyone.

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