Swindon College student Tim Hancox beat stiff competition to earn a place on the UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador Programme.

Parliament is inundated each year with applicants for only 70 positions and Tim is the first successful candidate from Swindon since 2016.

Tim is the head of Key Stage 4 and teaches at Abbey Park School and applied to join the ambassador programme after his Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course group visited Parliament in April.

He has worked in education for 11 years in a variety of settings and roles.

He also trained and dedicated his spare time to Wiltshire Police as a special constable.

Tim said: “I’m excited to have this opportunity to work with parliament and to promote the political system.

“In addition to engaging students, I will also be giving teachers and potentially parents a better understanding of how our parliamentary system is embedded into society.”

Tim’s lecturer, Lisa Lawlor, said: “I am incredibly proud of Tim for embarking on his journey to participate in the Teacher Ambassador Programme and I wish him every success.”

In July Tim will attend a three-day professional development course at the Teachers’ Institute in parliament before working towards achieving official UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador status.