Families and schools in Kent and Medway have been given more time to vote for unsung classroom heroes.

The deadline for nominations for the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards has been extended to Tuesday, March 8.

Organisations backing the event are calling for parents, pupils and school staff to put forward their stars including teachers, volunteers, support staff and teams for an award.

Neil Lakeland of CXK Limited, a charity that helps young people improve their educational and career prospects, is supporting the Careers Advisor category.

He said: “We’re looking for inspirational people that are really bringing the subject to life and want to inspire and educate those people of tomorrow to go into the careers they really wish to do.

“We want nominations in of those people that have helped you succeed, that have helped you get on somewhere in life or are helping the pupils that they come into contact with on a daily basis.”

Award categories cover primary, secondary, and newly qualified teachers and include a range of teaching subjects such as art, drama, maths, geography, history, science, literacy and sport.

A celebratory dinner organised by the KM Charity Team and hosted by Leeds Castle in May will name the district and overall winners. The prestigious event will honour more than 50 staff and schools.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team said: “Don’t miss out on the chance to give that special person at your school a big pat on the back. All you need to do is fill in a short form on the awards website.”

The judging panel will include representatives from Social Enterprise Kent, Kent Sport and Physical Activity Service, SELT, Medway Council, Kent County Council, Kreston Reeves, Salus, Loop CR Ltd, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, 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.

Submit one nomination or more at www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk before March 8.