Published at 11:06, Thursday, 01 September 2011

THE finalists in the 2011 CN Group Education and Learning Awards have been revealed.

Judging took place last week to decide who is in the running for the Golden Apples, which are sponsored by Britain’s Energy Coast Campus and Invest in Cumbria.

The finalists from across the county range from a school caretaker to some of Cumbria’s biggest education establishment and employers.

Poring over the entries were judges Professor Peter Strike, the new vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria; Helen Armstrong, former head teacher of Kirkoswald School and a former school improvement officer; Sir David Hart, retired leader of the National Association of Head Teachers union; and Kelly Eve, education reporter at Cumbrian Newspapers, part of CN Group.

They said: “There was a very high standard of entries from across the educational field and across the whole county of Cumbria. We were particularly pleased with the range of people who had made nominations – students, parents, employers as well as teaching professionals.”

The winners will be announced at a gala evening at the Energus centre, Lillyhall, on October 6.

The guest speaker on the night will be Stephen Henwood, the chairman of the University of Cumbria.

LEARNER OF THE YEAR: Rob Skelly, Lakes College, Workington; Natasha Styth, System Training, Carlisle; Thomas Waite, Stainburn School & Science College, Workington

SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR: Mr Clark, Dane Ghyll School, Barrow-in-Furness; Lynne Harkness, Bridekirk Dovenby CE School; Learning Mentors, Stainburn School & Science College, Workington; Carla Tomlinson, St Benedict’s Catholic High School, Whitehaven

EARLY YEARS AWARD: Footsteps Nursery, Westfield, Workington; Jigsaw Nursery & Pre-school, Gilsland School; New Rainbow Pre-school Playgroup Limited, Whitehaven

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AWARD: Ellen Mothersdale, The Tanzanian Link, William Howard School, Brampton; Gerald Richardson, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle; Lakes College West Cumbria, Workington

GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR: Brian Armstrong, Trinity School, Carlisle; John Mann, St Benedict’s Catholic High School, Whitehaven; Thelma Toman, Whitehaven School, Whitehaven

TEACHING ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR: Clare Savage, Stainburn School & Science College, Workington; Claire Shakespeare, Lakes College West Cumbria, Workington; Margaret Walker, Yewdale Pre-school Nursery, Carlisle

INNOVATION IN THE ARTS: Art & Design Students, Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness; North Lakes School, Penrith; Alison Richardson, Trinity School, Carlisle; Fit for Life; Belle Vue Primary School, Carlisle; Chetwynde School, Barrow-in-Furness; Raughton Head CE Primary School, Carilsle

OUTSTANDING NEW TEACHER: Sam Craig, Lakes College West Cumbria, Workington; Erin Dixon, Ullswater Community College, Penrith; Gary Vear, University of Cumbria, Carlisle

TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Alan Dunn, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle; Omar Rabia, Belle Vue Primary School, Carlisle; Alison Richardson, Trinity School, Carlisle

HEAD TEACHER/PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR: Lesley Grace, Seaton Academy, Workington; Russ Wallace, Richard Rose Central Academy, Carlisle; Graham Wilkinson, Kendal College, Kendal

LECTURER OF THE YEAR: Fiona Donaldson, Lakes College West Cumbria, Workington; Kate Short, System Training, Carlisle; Rachel Waterhouse, University of Cumbria, Newton Rigg, Penrith

AGAINST ALL ODDS: Speech after Stroke Scheme IT Group, Workington Hospital; Hayley Howard, Netherhall School, Maryport; Gillian Mahaffy, Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR: Stephanie Humphries, Forth Engineering, Risehow, Flimby; Michael Kilgrour, Amcor Flexibles Cumbria, Workington; Jadwiga Kulik, Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR: Armstrong Watson, Carlisle; Barrow Borough Council, Barrow-in-Furness; Riverside Group, Carlisle

PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR: Eaglesfield Paddle CE Primary Academy, Cockermouth; Gilsland CoE Primary School, Gilsland; Jericho Primary School, Whitehaven

SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR: Trinity School, Carlisle; Ulverston Victoria High School, Ulverston; Windermere School, Windermere

POST-16 EDUCATION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR: Kendal College, Kendal; Lakes College West Cumbria, Workington

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Graham Hodgson, Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk