CUMBRIA's plethora of primary schools play a vital part in nurturing our children and future generations.

So it is no surprise that the primary school of the year category in the annual Golden Apple Awards is always a hotly contested one.

The county boasts a huge range of primary schools - in the region of 300 - and each one is proudly unique.

Often they are the beating hearts of their communities, offering much more than education for children up to the age of 11.

Cumbrian primaries range from small and village schools - some with a pupil roll in single figures - to large city one with more than 400 pupils.

Each one - and the dedicated staff and volunteers who work in them -seek to develop and inspire our youngest and future residents and offer them life-changing and life-shaping opportunities.

Being shortlisted and even named primary school of the year is therefore no mean feat.

Furness College in Barrow is sponsoring this category.

It has close links with its local primary schools as it is widely recognised that a large number of children will enrol as students there in the future.

The college works hard to engage with children from a young age to help show them the opportunities and careers available to them.

The college offers a range of opportunities for its 2,750 students. It also helps to train a further 750 first-year apprentices who work for BAE.

Furness College's state of the art £47 million campus at Channelside largely focuses on delivering high-quality professional and vocational training while a strong A-level and academic base is offered at its Barrow Sixth Form campus at Rating Lane.


Primary school of the year is one of the most anticipated announcements to be made when the annual awards are presented.

For last year's winner, the award helped kick off a memorable year.

Kirkbride School is celebrating its 40th anniversary year, picking up its primary school Golden Apple award last October.

Dawn Maxwell took over as headteacher of the 80-pupil school earlier this year from Val Bairstow, who retired.

Mrs Maxwell said: "The award really brought the school into the forefront of the community. With that and our 40th anniversary, it has been a real year of celebration for us.

"It is a really nice title of have and great for the teachers and staff. They feel valued for their efforts."

The school has also seen a boost in its numbers since picking up the award, with 11 new pupils joining since January including five who will start on Monday.

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A word from award sponsor Furness College

The Golden Apple Awards recognise excellence and reward people doing a fantastic job, according to the principal and chief executive of Furness College.

Andrew Wren says he supports the awards because they provide wider recognition for winners and finalists right across the county.

Mr Wren said: "The awards are very well respected and people are absolutely delighted to receive them.

"I love the awards night when you see the young people being creative and performing to seeing the impact it has on some of the winners who are being honoured and you hear how they've overcome barriers to achieve.

"It is wonderful to hear what people have done, how they've achieved and getting the recognition for it."

Furness College has also enjoyed numerous successes at previous Golden Apple award ceremonies.

They include the lifetime achievement award in 2014 which was presented to Mr Wren's predecessor Anne Attwood.

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Primary school of the year will be one of 20 awards presented on October 6 at The Cube at the University of Cumbria's Fusehill Street campus in Carlisle.

Anyone can put forward a nomination for the awards, which are free to enter.

The 2017 Golden Apple Awards are sponsored by the University of Cumbria and Inspira.

They are brought to you by CN Group, which publishes the North West Evening Mail.

The categories will reward excellence across all areas of education and training.

Categories range from awards for excellence in schooling through to higher education and categories to reward some of the very best vocational and applied learning on offer.

Awards for individuals, professionals, volunteers and community awards are available.

Entries are open and nominations will be considered by a panel of judges after entries close on July 28.

To enter go to www.gaawards.co.uk, email goldenapple@cnmedia.co.uk or call Megan Norwood on 01228 612231.