The county’s best educators, school volunteers and support staff were celebrated at the 12 annual Kent Teacher of the Year Awards last night.

Fifty six finalists attended a glittering awards dinner at historic Leeds Castle, Maidstone where the district and overall winners were revealed.

Historian David Starkey, guest of honour at the event, said all of the winners “play a vital role” in the community.

He added: “You hear stories of history teachers who dress up in 18 century costume or charge around like knights in armour and they of course are the ones who have the commitment, the ability to excite – those extraordinary personalities.”

The awards were organised by the KM Charity Team in partnership with the KM Group and members of the public, pupils and colleagues were invited to nominate the best teachers in Kent and Medway.

Sean Maher from St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Gravesham was one of the success stories of the evening receiving the award for Head Teacher of the Year 2015.

Mr Maher said: “The one thing we do need is inspirational teachers in the classroom and as leaders in schools we need to ensure that we are training teachers so that they are inspiring children.”

Gillian Cawley, director of education quality and standards at Kent County Council, attended the event and congratulated the winners.

She said: “Education is very important and we are delighted to celebrate the very best practice amongst teachers, support staff and volunteers in Kent’s schools.”

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team said the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards aim to give top teachers a well deserved pat on the back.

“Our winners go above and beyond the call of duty for their pupils and their schools benefiting the community for years to come,” he said.

Mr Dolby praised the event’s sponsors for all their support including CXK, Kent Sport, Southern Educational Leadership Trust, Brachers Law, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Social Enterprise Kent, Project Salus, William Giles Chartered Accountants, Kent County Council, Medway Council, Canterbury Christ Church University, Marlowe Theatre, Leeds Castle, and the following departments at the University of Kent: Politics and International Relations; Psychology; Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences; Physical Sciences; Biosciences; European Culture and Languages; and History.

Organisations wanting to support the 2016 awards should contact Mr Dolby on 07989 164 752 or email sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk.

A gallery of photographs of the event will be available soon at www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk

Fact File

• More than 400 nominations were submitted for categories including primary, secondary and newly qualified teacher as well as a team award.
• Learn from the best by downloading the awards programme from this link http://sforce.co/1ScEd3c to read the judges’ comments for each winner.
• More than 100 of the nominees who did not win an award will receive highly commended certificates to acknowledge the special contribution they make to their schools.

The Overall Winners

Pastoral Care of the Year 2015

Caroline Blythe, The Abbey School, Swale

Teaching Assistants of the Year 2015

Cheryl Maw and Deborah West, Sheldwich Primary School, Swale

Non-Teaching Member of Staff of the Year 2015

Kevin Douglas, Sandwich Technology School

Volunteers of the Year 2015

Caroline Da Costa and Jan Holden, St Peter-in-Thanet Church of England Junior School

Newly Qualified Teacher of the Year 2015

Hannah Boyd, Ifield School, Gravesham

Careers Teacher of the Year 2015

Gillian McNulty, Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesham

Sports Teacher of the Year 2015

Sarah Rye, The Brent Primary School, Dartford

Drama Teacher of the Year 2015

Tannis Kelley, Greenacre Academy, Medway

Literacy Teacher of the Year 2015

Luke Bennett, Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Dartford

Foreign Language Teacher of the Year 2015

Bhavna Chambers, Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Dartford

History Teacher of the Year 2015

Emily Beaney, The Malling School

Maths Teacher of the Year 2015

Ellie Lockey, Stone St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Dartford

Early Years Foundation Stage Leader of the Year 2015

Sue Yeates, Ashford School

Team of the Year 2015

Keep Learning Going Team: Donna McGuirk and Lizzie Stedman, Sandwich Junior School

Bio Science Teacher of the Year 2015

Richard Fulford, Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone

Physics Teacher of the Year 2015

Gareth Williams, Cornwallis Academy, Maidstone

Politics Teacher of the Year 2015

Giovanni Saputo, Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone

Psychology Teacher of the Year 2015

Charlotte Paterson, Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School

Senior Leadership Team of the Year 2015

Executive Team: Tom Wilding, Richard Yeates and Neil Cufley

Primary School Teacher of the Year 2015

Andrew Stapley, Brabourne Church of England Primary School, Ashford

Secondary School Teacher of the Year 2015

Nikki Myers, Tonbridge Grammar School

Head Teacher of the Year 2015

Sean Maher, St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Gravesham