A BUDDING drama teacher has won a Princess Diana Memorial Award for making a difference to lives of other young people.Jo Buxton, 17, a pupil at Farlingaye High School, Woodbridge, was nominated for the award by Sue Hargadon, her head teacher, and Ian Piddington, head of sixth form.

A BUDDING drama teacher has won a Princess Diana Memorial Award for making a difference to lives of other young people.

Jo Buxton, 17, a pupil at Farlingaye High School, Woodbridge, was nominated for the award by Sue Hargadon, her head teacher, and Ian Piddington, head of sixth form.

Jo from Bury Hill Close, Melton, had already received an award for doing 200 hours of voluntary service in a scheme organised by Suffolk College to mark the millennium. Her work included helping with children at Melton primary school.

She has since been involved in several school and community-based initiatives and it was this latest work which led to her award in memory of Princess Diana.

Jo gives up six hours of her study time a week to assist Caroline Farrall, a teacher, in drama lessons and she teamed up with Mrs Farrall to co-direct a production of Alice in Wonderland.

Jo is a ''buddy mentor'' and looks after a year nine girl to assist her with any school or home problems, and she helps with two youth groups run at St John's Church Hall, Woodbridge.

Her spare time at weekends is engaged in earning money by working in the restaurant at the Wyevale Garden Centre, Woodbridge.

Jo, an A-level student, has her sights set on studying drama and psychology at university and then teaching drama. She said she was ''quite pleased'' to have received the award and she was looking forward to a rest after a busy term.

Mr Piddington said: ''She is also running a millennium volunteers project so that a number of students do community service and she is organising that in school. She also does a good deal of charity work outside school, particularly with disabled people.

''I think it is good the way she remains on top of her school work which she still maintains at a good standard. It is over and above what other students do.''

Jo was the first nomination from Farlingaye since the award was started in 1999. Up to 3,000 children aged 12 to 18 from across the UK have received an award.

The award is open to all secondary, middle and special schools and recognises the achievements of a pupil or a small group of pupils. The next deadline for nominations is March 14 and further details are available at www.educationextra.org.uk