A teacher from Muswell Hill has won a prestigious national award for inspiring young people and girls to choose careers in science and technology.

Peter Crompton, who works for the design and technology department at Fortismere School in Tetherdown, Muswell Hill, received the first ever national teacher award from education charity the Engineering Development Trust (EDT).

It recognises his wholehearted involvement since 1994 promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in schools.

EDT works to provide learning opportunities for students aged 11-21 to raise the profile of engineering as a career choice. Mr Crompton’s has engaged more students than any of the 1,700 schools and 2,000 teachers involved in EDT’s programme and has acted as a mentor to involve other schools.

He said: “It’s always good to receive recognition. It was nice to see ex-pupils who are working for big national companies, such as the engineering firm ARUP, come along on the day.” Mr Crompton has been at Fortismere School for 35 years and has helped it gain a national reputation for the quality of its science and engineering teaching and the quality of its alumni.

“I feel I’ve had an effect on students choosing engineering at university,” said Mr Crompton, who trained as a teacher at what is now Middlesex University.

“Basically I’ve just engaged students who I see have a potential. We enter competitions, get onto pre-university programmes and host a science and engineering ambassadors group.”

Increased numbers of students from the school now choose science and technology subjects to study at university, especially girls, who are under-represented in the science industry as a whole.

“One of my big passions is getting girls involved in engineering,” said Mr Crompton. “The industry has been missing out on a lot of potential and at Fortismere we’ve helped redress that balance. “Some girls used to think engineering was men in overalls tinkering around under a car, but we help them see that engineering is a lot more interesting and is relevant to them.”

Mr Crompton received the award in November last year at the Drapers’ Hall in the City of London, the location used for filming of The King’s Speech.