Michael Lewis, Immanuel College’s assistant head of Jewish education, has been shortlisted for the TES annual awards for educators.

A teacher at the independent Jewish school for eight years, he has been nominated as subject lead of the year for secondary schools.

John Severs, editor of the TES Magazine, said, "The standard was so high this year despite the challenges schools face. It is critical we celebrate excellence and share it widely so we can ensure that the fantastic work happening in education is properly recognised."

The award winners will be announced on June 21.

Immanuel headteacher Dr Millan Sachania, “The kind of optimistic, indefatigable, skilled and totally individualised teaching TES recognises this year in Michael Lewis is the essence of Immanuel College. We are so proud of him as well as the pupils’ achievements he has inspired and nurtured.”

Daniel Levy, the chair of governors, said that he embodied “ the chesed (kindness) and kavvanah (sincere feeling) that makes Immanuel College such a special place. We are thrilled that our Jewish studies team has such a wonderful subject lead who is appreciated by pupils and colleagues — and now recognised by a national organisation as the TES School Awards.”

One sixthformer said, “During the time that Mr Lewis was my teacher I had been through many hardships. I felt very lost and I did not really know who to speak to or what to do with myself. Mr Lewis could sense this and became so much more than just an ordinary teacher, he was someone who I could speak to and to give me advice or to even just have someone to listen to me.

“Even though there was nothing that Mr Lewis could physically do about my situations, he made me feel better and stronger about how I could turn all of these uncertainties and negatives that I had in my life into positives and possibilities.