PHILIP Cotton proved himself to be a model teacher for the second year running — retaining his title at the UK’s number one teacher of 3D printing.

The 32-year-old who teaches design and technology at Ladybridge High School has again won the 3D Printshow Educational Excellence Award at the ceremony in London.

Mr Cotton said: “To have won it and to retain it is extremely challenging, and I’m really happy.

“It validates what we are doing at Ladybridge School. I showed the work the pupils had been doing to billion dollar companies at the ceremony and they were shocked by the high standard of work being done by schoolchildren.”

Since being recognised at the high profile awards ceremony, Mr Cotton has been approached by Shape-ways — a company in America which recognises the importance of 3D printing and how it revolutises industry from fashion to medicine — to work in partnership on educational prog-rammes.

Mr Cotton said: “I have been approached by a number of companies and have not been interested, but this will benefit the children.”

Ladybridge School is a regular point of contact for other teachers, education providers and 3D printing companies, with Mr Cotton running workshops for university students who are training to be teachers at The University of Manchester.

The award will feature a 3D scale model of Mr Cotton.

He said: “When I first saw the award I was surprised thinking it was not as good as last year, until they told me what they were doing and I went into a body scanner.

“I should receive it in a couple of weeks.”

Ladybridge will receive a 3D printer as part of the prize.