Top teachers in Kent and Medway are being supported by distinguished historian and television presenter David Starkey at the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

For the second year in a row he is backing the annual event, which is now open to nominations from the public until March 1.

Award categories include standard curriculum subjects such as Geography Teacher of the Year along with Primary Teacher, Secondary Teacher and NQT. Volunteers and non teaching members of staff such as dinner ladies, caretakers and office staff are also eligible for an award.

Mr Starkey said: “Education is the most important thing we can give our children. This is why I’m delighted to be involved with the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards, which aims to make good teaching even better.”

Pupils and parents can cast their votes at www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk and co-workers from the same school can nominate their colleagues.

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

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team, which is organising the event, said: “We’re delighted David Starkey is supporting excellence in teaching and look forward to celebrating the champions of the classroom.

“I hope everyone decides to say a big thank you to their favourite teacher by making a nomination.”

More than 50 staff and schools will be recognised at a prestigious awards dinner at Leeds Castle this May.