A physics teacher from Sutton has won a £5,000 prize from the ERA Foundation for his school after encouraging a quarter of his students to opt for engineering degrees and courses (www.erafoundation.org).

The “exemplary performance” of Jamie Costello, head of science at Sutton Grammar School, included running voluntary projects like designing and making an ocean drifter device and founding Sutton’s branch of the Big Bang Fair.

He said: “I am absolutely thrilled to win this award. I have designed and built high-altitude balloons, an ocean drifter and a solar-storm detector; I also run the regional Big Bang Fair for Engineering UK in Sutton. The next one is on 13 July, which all are invited to.”

Mr Costello was nominated for the prize by the Smallpeice Trust for his work for the Arkwright Foundation, which included submitting a 500-word piece on his education out-reach activities.

The ERA Foundation has promoted engineering and “productive industry” in the UK for 15 years, since the former Electronic Research Association was sold to engineering group Cobham in 2003.

It also supports projects to encourage young people to consider engineering careers.