TODAY we can reveal who is in the running to pick up one of this year’s Golden Apple Awards.

Fifty-two finalists have been chosen by a panel of judges who debated over 115 entries in the CN Group Education and Learning Awards.

The judges were Michelle Skeer, assistant chief constable of Cumbria Constabulary, Professor Peter Strike, vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria, Ed Elvish, educational consultant and former principal of Barrow Sixth Form College, and Clare Kinrade, Times & Star education reporter.

Twenty of the finalists are from West Cumbria – of which two are from the Copeland area.

They will now go on to battle it out in the 19 categories from Learner of the Year to Innovation in the Arts.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony held in Rheged, near Penrith, in October.

LEARNER OF THE YEAR:

Emma Gibbon, Action for Children, Workington

Neil Brace, Sellafield Ltd, Seascale

Joanne Holloway, Lakes College, Lillyhall

Support Staff of the Year:

Claire Williamson, West Lakes Academy, Egremont

Lakes College marketing department, Lillyhall

Pastoral tutors, Trinity School, Carlisle

Early Years:

Gosforth Nursery Ltd, Gosforth

Mother Goose Day Nursery, Carlisle

Footsteps Nursery, Workington

Community Involvement:

Daniel Young, Chetwynde School, Barrow in Furness

Cheryl Eastburn, Caldew School, Carlisle

Sport department, Lakes College, Lillyhall

Governor of the Year:

Ewan Cartwright, University of Cumbria, Carlisle

Paul Pharaoh, Lakes College, Lillyhall

Andrew Humphries, Newton Rigg, Penrith

Teaching Assistant of the Year:

Sandra Mitchinson, Bowness on Solway Primary School, Bowness on Solway

Isabelle Hill, Lakes College, Lillyhall

Sandra Crease, Furness College, Barrow in Furness

Innovation in the Arts:

Southfield Technology College, Workington

Furness Academy, Barrow in Furness

Kendal College, Kendal

Fit for Life:

Kingmoor Junior School, Carlisle

Stanwix School, Carlisle

Raughton Head School, Carlisle

Outstanding New Teacher:

Gabriella Brown, Chetwynde School, Barrow in Furness

Ailsa Marell Kaye, Beacon Hill Community School, Aspatria

Phil Hodgson, Lakes College, Lillyhall

Helen Pickup, Ullswater Community College, Penrith

Teacher of the Year:

Judith Henderson, Beckstone Primary School, Workington

Heather Highet, Ullswater Community College, Penrith

Owen Smith, Ullswater Community College, Penrith

Headteacher of the Year:

Jill Byrne, Newbarns Primary School, Barrow in Furness

Andrew Cairns, Kingmoor Junior School, Carlisle

Nigel Pattinson, Ullswater Community College, Penrith

Lecturer of the Year:

Ken Sneddon, Furness College, Barrow on Furness

Mark Christie, University of Cumbria, Carlisle

Chris Buxton, University of Cumbria, Carlisle

Against All Odds:

Nathan List, Furness College, Barrow in Furness

Eren Oguz, Lakes College, Lillyhal

Apprentice of the Year:

Ryan Sammut-Ghigo, Furness College, Barrow in Furness

Jake Holmes, Gen II Training, Ulverston

Kayleigh Ennis, Gen II Training, Lillyhall

Employer of the Year:

BAE Systems – Maritime Submarines

Primary School of the Year:

Beckstone Primary School, Workington

Newbarns Primary School, Barrow-in-Furness

Victoria Infant and Nursery School, Workington

Secondary School of the Year:

Cockermouth School, Cockermouth

Ullswater Community College, Penrith

Trinity School, Carlisle

Post 16 Education Provider:

Lakes College, Lillyhall

University of Cumbria, Carlisle

Austin Friars St Monica’s School, Carlisle

Lifetime Achievement:

The winner of this award will be announced on the night.