Nominate sports teachers going the extra mile says a key partner of the county’s annual awards event to reward inspirational school staff.

The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards, which offers a ring side seat to teaching excellence, is now open to nominations from families and schools.

Carolyn Dool of Kent Sport and Physical Activity Service said: “We’re looking for as many passionate teachers as possible within sport and physical activity, but also those that go the extra mile and show really good practice that can be shared across the county.”

She added: “Sport plays such an important role; not just within the P.E. element of the curriculum but it also has wider benefits across the school environment.”

Other award categories include primary teacher, secondary teacher, NQT and volunteer. Non teaching members of staff such as secretaries, caretakers and dinner ladies can also be nominated.

The judging panel will include representatives from Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Kent County Council, Medway Council, Canterbury Christ Church University, Social Enterprise Kent, SELT, Project Salus, Leeds Castle, Marlowe Theatre, CXK, Kreston Reeves, Loop CR Ltd and the following departments at the University of Kent: History; Biosciences; European Culture and Languages; Politics and International Relations; Physical Sciences; and Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team, which is organising the event, said: “The ball is in your court to decide who deserves to win a Teacher of the Year award. It is so easy to nominate and a wonderful way to say thank you to all those extra special people at your school.”

A glittering awards dinner will be staged at Leeds Castle in May to honour more than 50 staff and schools.

Members of the public can submit one nomination or more using the online form at www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk before the March 1 deadline.