THE finalists for the 2016 Golden Apple Awards are revealed today.

As students and those in the world of education prepare for the start of the new academic year, many will be receiving invitations to the CN Group Education and Learning Awards next month.

The winners will be revealed at a glittering gala dinner evening at Carlisle Racecourse.

More than 200 guests will be invited to the event on October 7.

Ulverston Victoria High School is shortlisted for three awards - support staff of the year, the inclusion award and secondary school of the year.

Lindal and Marton Primary School is up for two awards on the night - sporting achievement and outstanding new teacher. Sam Proctor has been nominated for the latter award.

GSK Ulverston has two apprentice of the year finalists in Jemima Armstrong and Kai Athersmith.

Barrow Sixth Form College's Robyn Holden is also on the shortlist for two awards, learner of the year and against all odds.

Susan Gill, of Sandside Lodge School, Ulverston, is a finalist in the headteacher/principal of the year category and Furness Riding for the Disabled Association is shortlisted for the community involvement award.

Val Ritchie, of St Bernard's Catholic High School, in Barrow, is shortlisted for support staff of the year and Inspira is up for the futures and employability award.

Barrow's Professor Peter Strike, who retired as vice-chancellor of the University of Cumbria this summer, has been nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award.

Lakes College, at Lillyhall near Workington, tops the list and is in the running for six awards.

Schools which were worst hit in the December floods feature heavily in this year’s shortlist of finalists. Newman Catholic School in Carlisle appears four times while Ayesha Weston, head of Crosby-on-Eden’s village school - the only primary school affected, features in the against all odds category following its recovery.

There are 19 categories in this year’s Golden Apples to reflect and recognise excellence and achievement in a range of formal and informal learning settings.

The awards are sponsored by the University of Cumbria and personal development and career guidance organisation Inspira.


CN Group Education and Learning Awards 2016 Shortlist

Learner of the Year - Vincent Rourke, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Sarah Jackson, West Lakes Academy, Egremont, Robyn Holden, Barrow Sixth Form College

Support Staff of the Year - Sarah James, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle, James Jackson, West Lakes Academy, Egremont, Val Ritchie, St Bernard's Catholic High School, Barrow, Admin Staff, Ulverston Victoria High School

Community Involvement - Footprints of our Fathers, North Allerdale Development Trust, Wigton, Norman Street School, Carlisle, Rock Challenge Team, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle, Judith Stitt, Furness Riding for the Disabled Association

Technology in Learning - University of Cumbria, Energy Coast UTC, Lillyhall, Fab Lab, Cockermouth

Teaching Assistant of the Year - Tess Richardson, West Lakes Academy, Egremont, Deborah Dent, Warwick Bridge Primary School, Debra Capstick, Penruddock Primary School

Award for Enterprise - Stephanie Walker, The Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton, Tracey Hill, William Howard School, Brampton, Bright Sparks, Centre for Leadership Performance, Cockermouth

Sporting Achievement - Lindal and Marton Primary School, Cumbria SPAAF & Story Homes, Carlisle, Cumbria School Games

Award for Youth - Carlisle Youth Zone, South Workington Youth Partnership. The Rock, Currock, Carlisle

Against All Odds - Gayle McCrickerd, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Ayesha Weston, Crosby on Eden CE School, Robyn Holden, Barrow Sixth Form College

Apprentice of the Year - Jonathan Rowell, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Sam Meagan, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Jemima Armstrong, GSK, Ulverston, Kai Athersmoth, GSK, Ulverston

Inclusion Award Lisa Postlethwaite, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle, The Engagement Centre, Ulverston Victoria High School, Wreay CE School, Wreay near Carlisle

Outstanding New Teacher Sam Proctor, Lindal and Marton Primary School, Danielle Cross, Solway Community College, Silloth, Natasha Spencer, Lakes College, Lillyhall

Teacher/Lecturer of the Year - Katie Olley, St Patrick's School, Cleator Moor, Fiona Dixon, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Emma McCormick, Ullswater Community College, Penrith

Headteacher/Principal of the Year - Nicola Corfield, Wiggonby CE School, near Wigton, Susan Gill, Sandside Lodge School, Ulverston, Derek Kay and Sheila Johnston, Trinity School, Carlisle, Valerie Bairstow, Kirkbride Primary School

Early Years - Sarah Cooper, Crosby Nursery, Crosby-on-Eden, Emmy Sealey, Ravenscar, Carlisle, Alison Allen, Abacus Nursery, Dalston

Primary School of the Year - Valley Primary School, Whitehaven, Kirkbride Primary School, Brampton Primary School, North Lakes School, Penrith

Secondary School of the Year - St Benedict's RC High School, Whitehaven, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle, Richard Rose Morton Academy, Carlisle, Ulverston Victoria High School

Futures and Employability Award - Inspira Ruth Buxton, Western Lakes Teaching School Alliance (based Keswick School), Samantha Addison, HIT Training, Penrith, Careers and Employability Service University of Cumbria

Lifetime Achievement - Professor Peter Strike, University of Cumbria.

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