Northampton schoolboy named youngest runner-up in national contest with colourful drawing of his favourite teacher

A Northampton schoolboy was the youngest runner-up in a nationwide competition to design a One4all gift card thanking teachers for their work during the coronavirus pandemic.

The gift card firm asked primary school children across the country to draw their favourite teacher for the chance for it to be used on the new 'thank you teacher' collection.

Sam Debenham, eight, earned a £50 One4all gift card for his colourful picture of his Year 3 teacher at Delapre Primary School, Mr Pawlusek.

“Yay! I’m so happy to be a runner up! I picked Mr Pawlusek because he’s a great teacher and I really like him. I can’t wait to tell Mr Pawlusek and all my friends," he said.

Aoife Davey, from One4all Gift Cards, said the standard of entries this year was very high and it was a real challenge for the judges to pick just one overall winner.

"We were really impressed with Sam’s colourful and eye-catching design," he said.

"Sam is very talented for someone so young and the effort put into his gift card design shows how much he appreciates everything his teacher has done to help him this year.

"Sam should be proud of his efforts and we hope he will enjoy his prize as a reward for his fantastic design.”