Further education is set to receive extra recognition at this year’s Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

There are three special awards for the sector – including one new for 2020, and the judging organisation leading the search for winners in those categories is urging the public to submit nominations for them immediately.

Kent Further Education (KFE) director Mark Hill said: “We are running three key categories for further education.

“Those will be for best higher education teacher, best further education technical and vocational teacher, and a new award for best academic support staff member.”

KFE is a partnership organisation championing institutions across Kent and Medway, including Canterbury, Sheppey, Broadstairs, Folkestone, West Kent, Hadlow and North Kent colleges.

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the awards aim to showcase the dedication and innovation of benchmark educators from across Kent and Medway.

KM Charity Team acting general manager Karen Brinkman said: “I cannot emphasise enough that the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards are not just for schools.

“Our FE colleges play such an important role in providing technical and vocational training, and supplying employers across the county with young people equipped with the right skills to succeed in the modern workplace.

“So it’s absolutely vital that as many people as possible submit nominations for the inspirational staff and volunteers who work in Kent’s colleges.”

The Kent Teacher of the Year winners will be revealed at a ceremony at the Ashford International Hotel in mid-May.

There will be separate awards for the county as a whole and for its different districts, for primary, secondary and further education, and in categories ranging from head teachers and school business managers to support staff and volunteers.

The other judging organisations for the awards include the University of Greenwich, Kreston Reeves, Kape HR, Thinking Schools Academy Trust, KCS, The Education People, Loop CR, Streetspace, Canterbury Christ Church University, Diggerland, Salus, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment and Specialised Sports Products.

Nominations must be submitted by 11.59pm on March 1. To do so, or to find out more about the awards, visit KentTeacheroftheYear.co.uk.

And watch a video in which Mr Hill talks about the awards here: