The county’s flagship educators, support staff and school volunteers gathered earlier this week for an evening of success and celebration.

The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards – designed to showcase those going above the line of duty to provide children with the best quality education – were staged at Maidstone’s historic Leeds Castle on Thursday, May 19 in which fifty one finalists from across Kent, Medway and Bexley were commended for their service.

Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Viscount De L’Isle MBE served as a guest speaker at the prestigious event. He said: “We all know just how important a good education is, and it provides the firm foundation for Kent’s broad knowledge economy. The individuals and groups honoured here at the awards are an integral part of building upon this structure.”

Escape to the Country and Wanted Down Under presenter Nicki Chapman – herself a Kent native – also offered praise after recording a special message for the event finalists.

The awards were organised by the KM Charity Team in partnership with the KM Group and members of the public, pupils and colleagues were invited to nominate the best teachers in Kent, Medway and Bexley.

Maidstone’s Invicta Grammar School was one of the evening’s success stories after claiming three awards in the Maidstone District category. Secondary Teacher of the Year winner Abigail Cooper said: “To be here at the awards is a real privilege, but to win is truly humbling. Teaching is a greatly rewarding job anyway, but for our work to be recognised and celebrated is just wonderful.”

Meanwhile, Stavros Savva from Goodnestone CEP School, Canterbury was named Primary Teacher of the Year in the Canterbury District category. He said: “I am delighted to be receiving this award and so grateful to my pupils, co-workers and parents who took the time to nominate me. Events like this are a firm reminder why teaching is such a vital and heartfelt profession.”

Recipients of the awards were provided to those established in school roles, and those very new. Paul Blake from The Leigh UTC, Dartford claimed the Science, IT and Technology Teacher of the Year Award in the Dartford and Gravesham area just twelve months after qualifying for the role. He said: “I worked as a computer engineer for over 20 years before I even considered teaching, so to say I’m an older NQT would be an understatement! But I am so honoured to be named a winner, and I’m ever-thankful to my Year 12 group who put me forward for nomination.”

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team was quick to praise the county’s hard-working school staff. He said: “Our finalists are gleaming examples of great teaching in our county. Spreading best practice and going the extra mile to ensure the highest quality of learning is something worthy of celebration. Schools and pupils will forever benefit from a good education, so we believe it is important to say thank you.”

Mr Dolby also praised the event’s supporters for helping to make the evening such a success. They included Kent County Council, Medway Council, Leeds Castle, Southern Educational Leadership Trust (SELT), Kent Sport and Physical Activity Science, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Kreston Reeves, Canterbury Christ Church University, KM Group, Marlowe Theatre, Loop CR Ltd, Project Salus and the follow departments at the University of Kent: Politics and International Relations; Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science; Biosceiences; European Culture and Languages; and History.

Organisations wanting to support the 2017 awards should contact Mr Dolby on 07989 164 752 or email sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL EVENT GALLERY

FULL WINNERS LIST

OVERALL WINNERS

Kent Pastoral Care Team of the Year 2016 – Family Team, Drapers Mills Primary Academy, Margate

Kent Teaching Assistant of the Year 2016 – Sue Holland, Sandwich Technology School, Sandwich

Kent School Bursar of the Year 2016 – Carole Rough, Ifield School, Gravesend

Kent School Volunteer of the Year 2016 – Mick Strevens, Stone St. Mary’s CEP School, Dartford

Kent Careers Advisor of the Year 2016 – Sarah Kendrick-White, The Canterbury Academy, Canterbury

Kent Sports Teacher of the Year 2016 – Julie Sutherland, Holy Trinity CEP School, Dartford

Kent ICT Teacher of the Year 2016 – Adam Brewer, Newlands Primary School, Ramsgate

Kent Drama Teacher of the Year 2016 – Stacy Golding, King Ethelbert School, Birchington

Kent Literacy Teacher of the Year 2016 – Helen Adams, Cliftonville Primary School, Cliftonville

Kent History Teacher of the Year 2016 – Colm Murphy, St. John’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Gravesend

Kent Maths Teacher of the Year 2016 – Mel Williams, Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, Hythe

Kent NQT of the Year 2016 – Robyn Fuller, Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, Hythe

Kent Biosciences Teacher of the Year 2016 – Carey Noble, Strood Academy, Strood

Kent Physical Sciences Teacher of the Year 2016 – Samantha Payne, Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone

Kent Politics Teacher of the Year 2016 – Jonathan Joyce, Ursuline College, Westgate-on-Sea

Kent Early Years Foundation Stage Leader of the Year 2016 – Karen Marco, Swingate Primary School, Chatham

Kent Team of the Year 2016 – Brent Lewis and Andrea Taft of The FAR Academy, Canterbury

Kent Primary Language Champion of the Year 2016 – Zara Mashallah, West Borough Primary School, Maidstone

Kent Primary Teacher of the Year 2016 – Stavros Savva, Goodnestone CEP School, Canterbury

Kent Secondary Teacher of the Year 2016 – Abigail Cooper, Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone

Kent Head Teacher of the Year 2016 – Kate Love, St. Martin’s CEP School, Folkestone

DISTRICT WINNERS

ASHFORD & FOLKESTONE: NQT of the Year: Robyn Fuller (Brockhill Park Performing Arts College); Pastoral Care Provider of the Year: Siobhan Tucker-Bailey (St. Mary’s CEP School); School Caretaker of the Year: Robin Simmons (Ashford School); Secondary Teacher of the Year: Mel Williams (Brockhill Park Performing Arts College); Head Teacher of the Year: Kate Love (St. Martin’s CEP School)

BEXLEY & BROMLEY: Work Experience Organiser of the Year: Mary Alexander (Beths Grammar School); Secondary Teacher of the Year: James Hubball (Newstead Wood School); Design Technology Teacher of the Year: Susan Griffin (Blackfen School)

CANTERBURY: Team of the Year: Brent Lewis and Angela Taft (The FAR Academy); Careers Advisor of the Year: Sarah Kendrick-White (The Canterbury Academy); Secondary Teacher of the Year: Louise Dekker (The Community College Whitstable); Primary Teacher of the Year: Stavros Savva (Goodnestone CEP School); Sports Teacher of the Year: Nicole Hyett (Westmeads Community Infant School)

DARTFORD & GRAVESHAM: Science, IT and Technology Teacher of the Year: Paul Blake (The Leigh UTC); Early Years Foundation Stage Team of the Year: Panna Nagar and Sue Munday (Northfleet Nursery School); Secondary Teacher of the Year: Colm Murphy (St. John’s Catholic Comprehensive School); Sports Teacher of the Year: Julie Sutherland (Holy Trinity CEP School); School Bursar of the Year: Carole Rough (Ifield School); Volunteer of the Year: Mick Strevens (Stone St. Mary’s CEP School)

DOVER: Science Teacher of the Year: Nikki Gravell (Castle Community College); School Bursar of the Year: Maggie Excell (Sandwich Infant School); Secondary Teacher of the Year: Phil Vella (Previously of Sandwich Technology School); Teaching Assistant of the Year: Sue Holland (Previously of Sandwich Technology School)

MAIDSTONE: Science Teacher of the Year: Catherine Beadle (Brunswick House Primary School); Secondary Teacher of the Year: Abigail Cooper (Invicta Grammar School); Chemistry Teacher of the Year: Samantha Payne (Invicta Grammar School); Primary Teacher of the Year: Ann Cripps (St. Francis Catholic Primary School); Mathematics Teacher of the Year: Lindsay Mitchell (Sutton Valence School); Head Teacher of the Year: Julie Derrick (Invicta Grammar School); Primary Learning Leader of the Year: Zara Mashallah (West Borough Primary School)

MEDWAY: Pastoral Care Provider of the Year: Leanne Walters & Faith Roberts of The Partnership Team (Rivermead School); Primary Teacher of the Year: Karen Marco (Swingate Primary School); Literacy Team of the Year: Emma Woods and Snowy Mahomed of the English Department (Thomas Aveling School); Science Teacher of the Year: Carey Noble (Strood Academy); Senior Leadership Team Champion of the Year: Julia Knight (Delce Academy); Team of the Year: Leanne Gale and Mal Antoncini on behalf of Whole Team (The Rowans Pupil Referral Unit); History Teacher of the Year: Thomas Finch (The Robert Napier School)

THANET: Secondary Teacher of the Year: Johnathan Joyce (Ursuline College); ICT Teacher of the Year: Adam Brewer (Newlands Primary School); Drama Teacher of the Year: Stacy Golding (King Ethelbert School); Pastoral Care Provider of the Year: Sheila Todd and Scott Wilson of The Family Team (Drapers Mills Primary Academy); Primary Teacher of the Year: Helen Adams (Cliftonville Primary School); Sport Teacher of the Year: Lisa Barratt (Upton Junior School); Volunteer of the Year: Wendy Carr (Upton Junior School)

SWALE: School Secretary of the Year: Sally Tinsley (St. Edward’s Catholic Primary School); Head Teacher of the Year: Diane Browning (South Avenue Primary School)

WEST KENT: Head Teacher of the Year: Joanna Stratton (Hever CEP School); Science Teacher of the Year: Rob Hardy (The Skinners School); Literacy Teacher of the Year: Caroline Beverley (Hever CEP School); Primary Teacher of the Year: Georgina Scott (Slade Primary School); NQT of the Year: Stephanie Cook (Ightham Primary School)