Hull Daily Mail Golden Apple Awards to celebrate our best schools, students and teachers: Nominations open

The Hull Daily Mail today launches its inaugural Golden Apple Awards. These awards are being launched for schools, academies, colleges, staff and students to shout from the rooftops about all that is good about our region's education. With 10 categories for people to make nominations in and a Lifetime Achievement award, the Mail's Golden Apples will recognise outstanding achievement across the region, from schools to academies and colleges and training providers to university - and the staff and young people who work and learn in them. But more than that, they will allow communities to tell us what is great about their schools, teachers staff and children in them. Thousands of young people are benefiting from the hard work and dedication put in by hundreds of teachers, lecturers and support staff in education settings across East Yorkshire. Educators are often the unsung heroes, they foster creativity, help children become independent thinkers and learners, they encourage, cajole and push youngsters and they care for, nurture and help them flourish into outstanding young people. Children in our school work hard, dedicate themselves and achieve remarkable things. The Golden Apples will shine a spotlight on those people working hard and dedicating their lives to education excellence. We urge everyone to nominate someone they feel is deserving of one of our awards. Mail Editor Neil Hodgkinson said: "No other public service is more emotional, more analysed and more discussed by the public and politicians. No other sector is criticised and maligned by people who often should know better. "In our opinion, no other key ingredient to the wellbeing of our society deserves a night of simple celebration than education. "Most importantly, this is about the people – not Ofsted results or Key Stages. We spoke to people involved in teaching and that was the resounding advice we received – and expected.

This is about the pupils and students from primary to colleges and universities. This is a showcase for talents." See the award categories below and scroll down for a nomination form. Entries open between 22nd September and 30th October for categories 1 - 9. 1: Teaching Assistant of the Year - sponsored by KC The winner will be a teaching assistant who makes an outstanding contribution to the life of a school or college. 2: Community Award - sponsored by South Hunsley Sixth Form The judges will be looking for an educational establishment that has created beneficial links and/or partnerships with the community it serves or beyond. 3: Support Staff of the Year - sponsored by HallTech This award is for a member of support staff, or a team of support staff, who always gives exceptional service and makes a real difference to their educational establishment through their work. 4: Innovation in the Arts Award - sponsored by Sewell Group This award will go to a school, academy, college or University that can demonstrate providing opportunities in the arena of arts and culture allowing pupils and students to achieve their true potential in artistic and cultural activities. 5: Teacher /Lecturer of the Year - sponsored by Hull College This award will recognise a teacher or lecturer who inspires and engages students to fulfil their potential and makes an exceptional contribution to the life of their school, college or university. 6: Against All Odds Award - sponsored by Heta This award will go to an individual or group of people who rose to meet an exceptional challenge which affected themselves as individuals or their establishment during the academic year 2013/14. 7: Outstanding Sporting Achievement - sponsored by Bishop Burton College An award for the educational establishment (catering for any age group) that can demonstrate an outstanding commitment to both encouraging students to be active on a regular basis with a wide participation in sports and other physical pursuits and achieving success in those activities. 8: Apprentice of the Year - sponsored by East Riding College This award will go to a student who has completed an apprenticeship within the academic year (2013-14) or is working towards an apprenticeship. Judges will be looking for someone who has made outstanding progress in both their practical work and in their studies and who have made an exceptional contribution to their workplace. 9: Most Enterprising Student of the Year - sponsored by BAE Systems Open to primary, secondary or further education students, this award will be given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial skills. The winner will have shown flair, initiative and drive to excel in enterprise in education. 10: We Love Our School Award - sponsored by Bishop Burton College This award is open to pupils and parents of all primary, secondary and academy schools in Hull and the East Riding. We want to hear about everything that is great about your school/academy. • 'Golden Apple' tokens will be printed in the Hull Daily Mail alongside an entry form and a section on why your school is great. Simply collect five 'Golden Apples' to enter your school and send in to us with a completed entry form. The more we hear about why your school is great, the more chance there will be of winning. All entries will be put forward to an independent judging panel and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday, December 4. Starts Monday, October 6, 2014. Terms and conditions apply.Lifetime Contribution Award - sponsored by the University of Hull This prestigious award will go to someone who, according to the judges, has had a significant and positive impact on education in Hull and East Riding over a period of years. Unlike the other Mail Business Award categories, for the Lifetime Contribution Award there will be no nomination process or shortlist published. Only the winner will be invited to the event.Nominate now

• Alternatively you can follow this link for a Nomination Form