THE first entries are in for the 2016 Golden Apple Awards which seek to reward Cumbria’s heroes of education and learning.

In Barrow a marketing officer is making a huge impact on the pupils at Furness Academy.

The academy’s multimedia and marketing officer Amy Dempster has been nominated for the support staff of the year award for her efforts in helping individual pupils and playing a part in school life outside the remit of her usual role.

A flood-ravaged school which returned to its building this week, exactly six months after falling victim to the devastation of Storm Desmond, is among them.

Headteacher Ayesha Weston and staff at Crosby-on-Eden CofE Primary School have been nominated in the against all odds category of this year’s awards.

They have been praised for the way they have “banded together to get the school back up and running” as quickly as they could.

For the last six months pupils have been working in temporary buildings that were craned into the playground.

In Workington, supermum Bernadette Jones has been nominated in the early years category.

Mrs Jones, of South William Street, has six of her seven children still living at home and runs her own business - Yellow Bus Childcare - looking after 25 more. It employs two part-time assistants and a full-time apprentice.

A Whitehaven primary school which has seen significant improvements over the last three years has been nominated too.

Valley Primary School has been put forward in the primary school of the year category, which is one of 19 different sections in this year’s awards.

Half of the pupils at the Whinlatter Road school, in Mirehouse, are classed as disadvantaged and their entry levels when they start school are described as “incredibly low”, the nomination states.

Despite this, the school is having a dramatic impact on their aspirations and prospects. Data in 2015 showed that the vast majority of pupils are making progress greater than the expected rate.

The Golden Apple awards - supported by Inspira and the University of Cumbria - are free to enter and anyone can submit nominations.

The awards aim to recognise excellence and achievements in all fields of education, skills and learning, be it in formal or informal surroundings.

Categories include honours for pupils, apprentices, teachers, lecturers, headteachers, principals, support staff and primary and secondary schools.

There are also categories linked to community and youth work and efforts to help raise the aspirations of Cumbria’s young people and prepare them for the world of work.

Visit www.cneducationawards.co.uk for further information or to enter, or email megan.norwood@cnmedia.co.uk.

Nominations and supporting testimonials or information can also be posted to CN Group's Golden Apples Awards 2016, CN Group Ltd, Newspaper House, Dalston Road, Carlisle, CA32 5UA, marked for the attention of Megan Norwood.