Guardian Education Awards 2025 for Mid Cheshire – here’s how to enter

It’s time to celebrate everything that makes the schools and colleges of Northwich, Knutsford, Winsford and Middlewich so special.

Ten awards will recognise schools, nurseries and colleges across the town, honouring pupils and students, teachers and teaching assistants, and classes and teams.

We want to highlight everything that’s good about Mid Cheshire’s educators, shining a spotlight on innovation and best practice across the town.

Who should win one of our 10 awards for 2025?

Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 winner was Alison Lawson

There’s pupil of the year for primary and secondary, class or team of the year and headteacher of the year as well as awards for teachers and teaching assistants.

We will also be handing out a lifetime achievement award and an innovation award.

Entries are invited from teachers, parents, governors, pupils and anyone with knowledge of a particular school or education establishment.

All schools are welcome to enter as long as they are based in Mid Cheshire.

Individuals or institutions can enter more than one category, but this should be made clear on the entry form.

Richard Duggan, group editor Newsquest Cheshire/Merseyside, said: “We want to highlight the brilliant work carried out by our dedicated teachers and everyone involved in education in the borough, as well as shining a spotlight on innovation and best practice across the area.

“Our education awards will aim to recognise the outstanding achievements of pupils and students, including those who may have overcome the odds or battled adversity to succeed in their studies or extracurricular activities.

“These will be our third education awards and we aim for this now to be an annual awards the education sector can look forward to.”

Darnhall Primary School had two winners in 2024 - Kelly Cavanagh was our Teaching Assistant of the Year and Olivia Grannell was our Primary School Pupil of the Year

You have until November 30 to enter and the children and teachers, support staff and students, headteachers and lecturers will be honoured in an in paper supplement and online in January 2025.

The awards would not be possible without support from sponsors. If you would like to be a sponsor of these awards please contact Nicola Whinnett on 07732 601766.

To enter visit https://forms.office.com/e/ePXVHHKK4h?origin=lprLink or use the QR code below:

Use the QR code to make a nomination (Image: Newsquest)

The categories

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award is for a member of the school community who has shown a commitment to the sector over many years. It could be for a leader, teacher or member of support staff. Evidence must be provided of how the lives of pupils have been affected by their work.

Secondary School Pupil of the Year

The Secondary School Pupil of the Year award will go to a young person who has achieved something beyond expectations in education over the past 12 months.

This will not necessarily be about the highest academic achiever - it could be about the way an individual has developed themselves personally, through sheer determination to do better.

Head Teacher of the Year

Does this head teacher provide outstanding leadership with a clear and compelling vision for success? This award will go to an inspirational head teacher who has shown exceptional leadership, management, teaching skills and commitment to their school or college.

School of the Year

This will be awarded to the school who in the opinion of the judges has had an outstanding academic year. This may be improvements in attendance levels, parent engagement or examination results. You may have made or built upon partnerships in the local or business community, achieved new green credentials, or achieved competition success.

Secondary Teacher of the Year

Does this teacher inspire and engage pupils in order to help them achieve their full academic and social potential? This award will recognise a Secondary teacher who inspires and engages students to

fulfil their potential and makes an exceptional contribution to the life of their school.

Primary School Pupil

Has applied themselves to every task and sets a good example to other pupils. Has a fun-loving personality and is able to get along with teachers whilst being respectful.

Has a sense of responsibility and can be trusted. Plays an active role in all areas of school life and is always willing to lend a hand.

Primary Teacher of the Year

Does this teacher inspire and engage pupils in order to help them achieve their full academic and social potential? This award will recognise a teacher who inspires and engages students to fulfil their potential and makes an exceptional contribution to the life of their school.

Teaching Assistant of the Year

Does this Teaching Assistant raise the aspirations of pupils and help them to reach new heights?

An award for a teaching assistant, who always give exceptional service and make a real difference to their pupils learning through their work.

Digital Innovation

This award recognises excellence in the use of digital technology. Judges will be looking for evidence that the technology has had a positive impact on educational outcomes of students.

Class/Team of the Year

Do you know a class or team that deserves to be rewarded for their hard work? It may be a sports team that has gone the extra mile, an after-school club or school choir that has carried out outstanding work in the community, or a class of primary or high school pupils that have excelled in their studies or on a special project.