SWASHBUCKLING heavy metal fan Mark Cavill is the teacher of the year.

All-singing, all-dancing Mr Cavill teaches English at Budmouth Technology College in Weymouth - in between duelling with students and hiding under desks.

His unconventional teaching techniques have won over pupils who put his name forward for the annual teaching awards.

And the judges agreed, naming him secondary school teacher of the year for the South of England.

Mr Cavill said: "I think it's down to my relationship with the students, which I try to make as interactive and positive and humorous as I can.

"I do like to duel with students using lightsabers - obviously not real ones, they're far too expensive, but I bring in my son's.

"If we're talking about poetry from the First World War I like to crawl under desks, using them as trenches.

"And if we're reading something dramatic I like to get the kids shouting and singing.

"I've sung to them before. It usually shocks them but then they're engaged in what we're doing."

To launch a series of student's individual presentations Mr Cavill stepped up to give his class a 30-second talk on his favourite band Iron Maiden.

The teaching awards judges, who watched one of Mr Cavill's lessons, said they were amazed at how many activities he could pack into a lesson - and stopped counting at 12.

All the shenanigans are designed to get the attention of his class and focus them on the task in hand.

Mr Cavill said: "I hope I make them comfortable and relaxed and make them feel lessons are worth attending.

"I get students to write on the board so I can concentrate on their learning while they are concentrating on what's going on the board.

"We have students working together and working alone and I move around the classroom trying to enthuse and engage them as much as humanly possible."

Vice principal Vince Jones said: "In the words of one student 'he even makes Macbeth interesting!' He makes a difference and kids come out of his lessons having had a real experience."