WA Education Awards: Science specialist at Grandis Primary School, Christopher Lambe, crowned Teacher of Year

A primary school science teacher with his own YouTube channel, who believes “learning must be fun”, has been recognised as the State’s top teacher. Christopher Lambe, from Banksia Grove’s Grandis Primary School, wears his white lab coat all the time — even to the WA Education Awards at Crown Perth on Monday, where he was named the Minister’s Teacher of the Year. “The kids wouldn’t recognise me without my lab coat on,” he laughed. “I have the privilege of teaching kids to be curious — and trying not to blow them up. It is the best job in the world, and I’ll continue doing this until they kick me out.” The Education Department phased out individual awards several years ago, but Education Minister Sabine Winton returned the teacher of the year category. A former teacher herself, Ms Winton said she was keen to celebrate the profound difference that outstanding teachers can make in the lives of children and other teachers. Ms Winton said Mr Lambe’s dedication to science education was “extraordinary”. “I’m so pleased to see his outstanding professional knowledge and his passion celebrated here today,” she said. “He is, quite simply, infectious.” A teacher with 23 years experience, Mr Lambe said the motto underpinning everything he did in the classroom was that “learning must be fun”. He first realised he wanted to be a teacher when he was in year 3 at Greenwood Primary School, where his teacher displayed the quote “knowledge is power” above the classroom blackboard. Recognised for his innovative teaching methods, Mr Lambe said teaching was “the most important job in the world” because it was about inspiring the future. “For me in this science role, it’s inspiring, potentially, the kid that’s going to be the future astronaut, that kid that’s going to be getting Australia and the Australian space agency to the moon,” he said. “It’s an incredible privilege, and I don’t underestimate how powerful it is.” Teaching was also about finding the “spark” to hook kids’ interest. “You’ve got to be able to be make science just as exciting as a birthday,” he said. Mr Lambe also educates other teachers through his YouTube channel, Science with Mr Lambe. Grandis Primary principal Andrew Britton said on top of his teaching, Mr Lambe had helped expand the work of the Fathering Project across several schools — including running billy cart races. “He’s someone that extends in the classroom, supports his colleagues at school, colleagues in the State and then also families as well,” he said. Mr Lambe — who will receive $20,000 to spend on professional development — dedicated his award to unsung classroom heroes. “It’s just a privilege to know that there are ‘chalkies’ out there doing a really good job and making a huge impact on the world,” he said. “So can I just dedicate this to every teacher who doesn’t get recognised — at best, maybe they get a Ferrero Rocher at Christmas time.” Seven schools were also recognised for their outstanding achievements, including Campbell Primary and Ocean Reef Senior High School for excellence in teaching and learning.