A HIGHLY successful south Cumbria school picked up one of the biggest awards of the night at the county's premier education gongs.

Ulverston Victoria High School was crowned Secondary School of the Year at the CN Group Education and Learning Awards - best known as the Golden Apples.

The award recognises the role UVHS is playing on the education scene locally and nationally.

As well as being one of Cumbria's most successful secondaries, UVHS is a leader in its field nationally. The awards judges described the school’s entry as a strong all-round package which highlighted the pioneering teaching that takes place there. Its standards are such that it has been highlighted at a national level by Prince Charles through The Prince's Teaching Institute.

UVHS assistant headteachers Alessandra Desbottes and Andy Nayler said it was the “icing on the cake” of an amazing year for the popular 1,300-pupil school which employs around 150 people.

Speaking at the ceremony, held at Carlisle Racecourse, Mrs Desbottes said: “Our headteacher Denis Fay says that we should treat every child if they were our own and that is our starting point every time.

“It isn’t just things like our results, this is about the whole school community. We’ve got fantastic relationships with our parents and governors. Teachers are amazing and go over and above for all our children, whom we mustn't forget in all of this. They are simply going to love this.”

Mr Nayler said: “This is just fantastic and we’ve had such a good year. This is the icing on the cake.

“We’ve had our best GCSE results and we’ve now got our largest sixth form ever - 291 students.

“In the summer for GCSE 30 per cent of the grades in maths were A* or A and 88 per cent of our students achieved A*-C in maths. We also had our largest ever uptake in triple science and they still got a 100 per cent pass rate.”

Lindal and Marton Primary School won the Sporting Achievement Award and teacher Jennifer Hair collected the trophy.

Ms Hair, a former secondary school PE teacher who now teaches primary aged children, said: “This is great for the children at school. They will be so pleased. We’re only a very small school; we have 84 children and we want to progress with our sporting endeavours this year.”

The accolade for Apprentice of the Year went to Jemima Armstrong, of Ulverston GSK.

The third year engineering apprentice, who studies through training provider Gen2, is also a finalist in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2016.

Jemima has achieved excellent results, shown great commitment and she is an ambassador for promoting STEM careers.

James Higgins, editor of CN Group’s North West Evening Mail, described Friday’s awards ceremony as “uplifting” and “inspirational”.

He said: “In society, there are certain professions that the public at large will generally take for granted. Right at the top of the list, in my view, are the individuals who put their heart and soul into doing everything they can to ensure the educational journey of our children and young adults is as fulfilling as possible.”

The 2016 Golden Apples were supported by the University of Cumbria and Inspira.

More than 200 finalists and guests enjoyed a three-course meal and live sets from Carlisle College music students and singers from Razzamataz Carlisle.

Former broadcaster Julie Clayton was compere for the evening.

Other supporters were Lakes College, BAE Systems, Burnetts, nucleargraduates, Furness College and Barrow Sixth Form College, Riverside, and West Cumbria Works.

The North-West Evening Mail is published by Cumbrian Newspapers, part of CN Group.

2016 CN Group Education and Learning Award winners

Learner of the year - Vincent Rourke, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Workington Support staff of the Year - Sarah James, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle

Community Involvement - Footprints of our Fathers, North Allerdale Development Trust, Wigton

Technology in Learning - University of Cumbria

Teaching Assistant of the Year - Deborah Dent, Warwick Bridge Primary School

Award for Enterprise - Stephanie Walker, The Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton

Sporting Achievement - Lindal & Marton Primary School, Lindal-in-Furness

Award for Youth - Carlisle Youth Zone, Carlisle

Against All Odds - Gayle McCrickerd, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Workington Apprentice of the Year - Jemima Armstrong, GlaxoSmithKline, Ulverston Inclusion - Wreay CofE School, Wreay

Outstanding New Teacher - Danielle Cross, Solway Community School, Silloth

Teacher/Lecturer of the Year - Fiona Dixon, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Workington

Headteacher/Principal of the Year - Derek Kay and Sheila Johnston, Trinity School, Carlisle

Early Years Award - Sarah Cooper, Crosby Nursery, Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle

Primary School of the Year - Kirkbride Primary School, Kirkbride Secondary School of the Year - Ulverston Victoria High School, Ulverston Futures & Employability Award - Inspira

Lifetime Achievement Award - Professor Peter Strike, University of Cumbria

Judges' special award - Rock Challenge, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle

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