The best teachers, support staff, and school volunteers the county has to offer were celebrated at the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards 2017 on Friday (May 19).

Now in its 14 year, the awards event was staged by the KM Charity Team at new venue the Mercure Great Danes Hotel, Maidstone. Fifty finalists from across Kent, Medway and Bexley attended the glittering evening, which was hosted by Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, and Nicola Everett, news editor for KMFM.

Mr Dolby said: “It gives me great pleasure to showcase the excellence and achievement taking place in the classroom and behind the scenes every day. These awards are a big pat on the back to those going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure their pupils enjoy learning, build in confidence, and achieve their best.”

A record 700 nominations were received and the winners were thrilled and humbled to be nominated for their efforts by members of their own community including pupils, parents and colleagues.

Katie Martin from The Rowans Pupil Referral Unit, Chatham was recipient of the Secondary School Science Teacher of the Year Award. She said: “We’ve heard fantastic stories about people that are changing lives and helping pupils to achieve next steps in life. There are champions of champions here and children need those in their everyday lives.”

One aim of the event is to spread best practice to all schools and to this end the organisers have published and circulated a booklet containing details of each award win. To view and download the booklet, click HERE.

Mr Dolby thanked the partnership of organisations without whom the event would not be possible. These include Mercure Great Danes Hotel, IMP, University of Kent, Project Salus, CXK Services, Social Enterprise Kent, Kent Libraries, Kent Sport, Canterbury Christ Church University, School of Physical Sciences, Beanstalk, LoopCR Ltd, Trust Careers, Kreston Reeves, Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Kent County Council, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment and the KM Group.

For full details of the winners and to see photographs of the event, click HERE.

Organisations interested in supporting the 2018 awards should contact Mr Dolby at sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk or by calling 07989 164 752.

The KM Charity Team provides a range of green travel and literacy services for schools. Find out more at www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk or www.bustersbookclub.co.uk. Schools have until July 1 to receive a 20% discount when signing up to schemes including Active Wow and Active Bug for the next academic year.