TODAY we can reveal which unsung heroes from the world of education, learning and training have been shortlisted for the Golden Apples Awards 2015.


The North-West Evening Mail and its sister titles across Cumbria invited readers to nominate deserving individuals and teams for the CN Group Education and Learning Awards 2015 - best known as the Golden Apples.

Barrow Sixth Form College has two students shortlisted to help fly the flag for South Cumbria.

Alistair Kirk is in the running for the Learner of the Year award.

Alistair is proud to be a success story for children and young people brought up in foster care.

He found a passion for politics at sixth form and won a scholarship to be a student at Aberystwyth University.

He has been accompanied to revision sessions by his Jack Russell, Bobby Jack Kirk.

Barrow Sixth Form's Scarlett Wright has not let Crohn's Disease, and the time she has missed from college, stand in the way of her gaining good grades and a university place to train to be a teacher.

She is shortlisted for the Against All Odds Award.

The Furness group of the Riding for the Disabled Association charity, which runs horse riding sessions for children with physical and learning disabilities, is up for two awards - the Award for Youth and the Inclusion Award.

The group works with Furness primary, secondary and special schools and individual families throughout the year to put on these greatly beneficial sessions.

St Bernard’s Catholic High School is one of the three finalists in the Secondary School of the Year category.

Furness College has two contenders in Megan Hughes, for Support Staff of the Year and Steven Barclay, shortlisted for Outstanding New teacher.

North Walney Primary School is up for the Sporting Achievement Award after the football team won a national championship.

Our area has a strong pedigree for apprentices, and Jeff Hayward of Oxley Ulverston is in the running for Apprentice of the Year in this highly contested category. 

On the judging panel were Professor Liz Beaty, from the University of Cumbria; Mark Bowman, chief executive of Inspira; retired headteacher Sue Hatt; retired Furness College principal Anne Attwood, who won last year’s lifetime achievement award; and KellyPattison, education reporter at The Cumberland News and News & Star. 

Professor Beaty said: “It takes a lot for individuals like parents and students to sit down and take the time to put the effort in and nominate someone in this way, on top of saying thank you which they’ve probably already done, and every single person deserves the recognition.

“It has been quite a privilege to read through all these stories.”

The CN Group Education and Learning Awards are supported by Inspira and the University of Cumbria.

The winners will be revealed at a gala event on October 2 at Carlisle Racecourse.
Alistair Kirk and Bobby the Jack Russell

Learner of the Year:  

Greg Brough, Netherhall School, Maryport

Alistair Kirk, Barrow Sixth Form College, Barrow-in-Furness

Charlie Minshaw, Energy Coast UTC, Workington


Megan Hughes, HR officer Support Staff of the Year: 

Cherry Akred, Energy Coast UTC, Workington

Megan Hughes, Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness

Paul Walker, Carlisle College, Carlisle

Community Involvement:  

Blooming Youth, North Allerdale Development Trust, Wigton

Maryport Extended Schools Partnership, Maryport

Victoria Junior School, Workington

Technology in Learning:

Caroline Jourdain, Mayfield School, Whitehaven

Gen2, Lillyhall, Workington

North Allerdale Development Trust Media Group,

Wigton Wigton Infants’ School, Wigton

Teaching Assistant of the Year:

Alison Harper, Mayfield School, Whitehaven

Mrs Grogan, William Howard School, Brampton

Award for Enterprise:

Graduates Restaurant, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Workington

Jonathan Scott, Cumbrian SPAA Foundation, Carlisle

St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Workington

Sporting Achievement Award:

Beckstone Primary School, Harrington, Workington

James Rennie School, Carlisle North Walney Primary School, Barrow-in-Furness

Sport & Physical Activity Alliance Foundation, Carlisle

Award for Youth:

Catherine Moss, Tullie House Museum, Carlisle

Martin Ulyatt, Cockermouth School, Cockermouth

Riding for the Disabled Furness
Scarlett Wright

Against All Odds:

Darren Kilvington, Lakes College West Cumbria, Workington

Matthew McMorrow, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith

Scarlett Wright, Barrow Sixth Form College, Barrow-in-Furness

Apprentice of the Year:

Paige Brown, Energy Coast UTC, Seaton, Workington

Jeff Hayward, Oxley Group/Gen2, Ulverston


Furness Riding for the Disabled Association Jamie Lee Robinson, TATA Steel/Lakes College, Workington

Inclusion Award:

Dingley Dell, Pennine Way Primary School, Carlisle

Riding for the Disabled Furness

Woodend Country Childcare, Lamplugh, Workington

Outstanding New Teacher:

Steven Barclay, Furness College, Barrow-in-Furness

Michael Cookson, Trinity School, Carlisle

Helen Scott, St Benedict’s Catholic High School, Whitehaven

Teacher/Lecturer of the Year:

Lisa Bewley, Richard Rose Morton Academy, Carlisle

Joan Carter, Adult Education Carlisle

Dave Crowe, William Howard School, Brampton

Susan Little, Wiggonby CoE Primary School, Wigton

Headteacher/Principal of the Year:

Sue Blair, Pennine Way Primary School, Carlisle

Lynne Harrison, Irthington Village School, Carlisle

Christopher Kirkup, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith

Early Years Award:

Kiddlywinks Nursery, Penrith

Nutkins Nursery, Hunter Hall School, Penrith

Woodend Country Childcare, Lamplugh, Workington

Primary School of the Year:

Kirkbride Primary School, Kirkbride, Wigton

Norman Street Primary School, Carlisle

Victoria Infant & Nursery School, Workington

Secondary School of the Year:

James Rennie School, Carlisle

St Bernard’s Catholic High School, Barrow-in-Furness

West Lakes Academy, Egremont

Excellence in Training Award:

Gen2, Lillyhall, Workington

Stone Eden Training, Aglionby, Carlisle

The Edge, c/o Carlisle College, Carlisle

Lifetime Achievement Award:

John Metcalfe, Carlisle