Educate Awards 2016 open for entries

Schools, colleges, parents and pupils are invited to submit their entries to the 5th annual Educate Awards 2016.

The Educate Awards is the biggest celebration of education in the North West which rewards every aspect of the school’s curriculum, teaching and staff.

It is the one night of the year where the excellence of schools in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire is celebrated and rewarded in a unique fashion.

The awards are free to enter and open to all Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Halton, Wirral, St Helens, West Lancashire, Lancashire, Cheshire West and Chester government funded and independent private educational establishments, including primary, secondary, further education providers and special needs schools.

A total of 21 awards are up for grabs via nominations which are then shortlisted by a panel of judges. The full shortlist is released prior to the event, with the lucky winners being announced on the night of the prestigious awards ceremony.  

This year sees the introduction of two new awards – Most Inspirational 16-18 Education Provider, which is looking for the most outstanding delivery of 16-18 education provision and School Support Star of the Year, which will award an individual who consistently goes that extra mile in the school setting.

The categories are:

•         Most Inspirational Primary School
•         Most Inspirational Secondary School
•         Most Inspirational 16-18 Education Provider
•         Community Partnership Award
•         Outstanding Commitment to Sport in a Primary School
•         Outstanding Commitment to Sport in a Secondary School
•         Eco School Project of the Year
•         The Communication Award
•         Teacher of the Year
•         Spirit of Enterprise Award
•         Innovative and Creative Literacy Award
•         SEND Provision Award
•         STEM Project of the Year
•         Outstanding Arts in a Primary School
•         Outstanding Arts in a Secondary School
•         Career Aspiration Award
•         Wow Recognition Award
•         Leadership Team of the Year
•         Outstanding Teaching of Life Skills

•         Innovation in Education Award
•         School Support Star of the Year
 
With the entries judged and awarded by some of the leading names in education, business and media, the Educate Awards are highly respected throughout the region.

Joining the judging panel this year is Henry Platten, founder of the multi award-winning eCadet Scheme; managing director of MerseySTEM, Michelle Dow and Merseyside track athlete and architect James Tartt.

Returning judges include Radio City presenter Leanne Campbell; Fiona Barnet, director of The Foundry Agency; Councillor Gary Millar, Liverpool’s cabinet member for business, enterprise and investment; Chris Walker, regional managing editor of Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales; Lesley Martin-Wright, chief executive of Knowsley Chamber; Andrew Pimbley of Claremont Farm and Wirral’s Farm Feast; Olympian and managing director of Raise The Bar, Steve Smith and the education team at the Everyman and Playhouse theatres.

Sponsors for the event include MerseySTEM, The Foundry Agency, Greater Merseyside Learning Providers’ Federation (GMLPF) and eCadets.

This year’s ceremony will once again be held at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Friday 18 November.

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, says: “We’re delighted to announce that entries for the Educate Awards 2016 are now open! So much has changed in education over the last five years but the awards continue to celebrate schools, colleges and staff who are providing outstanding provision and continue to go above and beyond the call of duty.

“With three new judges in tow and two new award categories added to the line-up, I’m certain the Educate Awards 2016 will continue to raise the bar and award the best projects and initiatives happening throughout the region. I urge anyone involved in schools in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire to enter this year!”

To make a nomination, visit www.educateawards.co.uk to find the full list of award categories, entry criteria and the entry form. Follow @EducateAwards on Twitter for updates.

Liverpool Waterfront