A GLITTERING trophy gives teachers a constant reminder of just how far their hard work took their once-struggling Barrow school.

With the deadline fast approaching for nominations for this year’s Golden Apple Awards, Mary Page, headteacher at St Bernard’s Catholic High School, said her staff were thrilled to win secondary school of the year at last year's event.

The award came after 18 months during which they went from being described by Ofsted as ‘inadequate’ to being praised as ‘good’ with outstanding features.

Mrs Page said: “It was lovely recognition for all the staff and all their hard work because, Ofsted come around and they scrutinise, and they go around with their clipboard, and at the end of the day they go away and you get a report on a website. But actually having something on display, it was something a little bit more real than just a paper report. It was tangible proof of the improvements the school had made.”

Mrs Page is now hoping to make some Golden Apple nominations before Friday’s closing date for the 2016 prizes.

She added: “It’s wonderful that we got external recognition but, more importantly, community recognition. That was the thing that made it a bit more special. It reinforces the teachers’ feelings about the school and reflects the journey we’ve been on.”

Run by the CN Group, including the Evening Mail, the annual awards are sponsored by Inspira and the University of Cumbria. There are 19 categories of accolades for individuals, teams, institutions and businesses, and organisations. A lifetime achievement award will also be presented at October’s gala dinner in Carlisle.

Visit www.cneducationawards.co.uk or email megan.norwood@cnmedia.co.uk to enter. Nominations can also be posted to Megan Norwood, CN Group Education and Learning Awards 2016, CN Group Ltd, Newspaper House, Dalston Road, Carlisle, CA32 5UA.