The search is on for the county’s top teachers and school support staff. The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards are organised by the educational charity KM Charity Team and this week members of the judging panel gathered to formally launch the drive for nominations.

Award categories include primary, secondary and newly qualified teachers, non-teaching staff such as dinner ladies and caretakers, and a volunteer award which includes members of parent-teacher associations and governors.

A panel of judges will select winners from each local authority area and the results will be announced at a prestigious awards dinner and presentation ceremony in May staged at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel, Maidstone. There are top prizes on offer in addition to a limited edition trophy for every overall winner.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards celebrate the vital contribution that teaching staff, support staff and school volunteers make to our community every day.

“I’d like to thank the organisations joining the judging panel for enabling us to reward the expertise, enthusiasm and commitment of school staff in the county.”

He added: “If you know someone who is going above and beyond for their school why not show your appreciation by submitting a nomination?”

A KM Group-led collaboration of organisations has been staging these awards for more than a decade and this year the event has attracted a record number of supporters with the University of Kent joining as the headline sponsor for 2017.

Organisations joining the judging panel include Kent County Council, Christ Church University, CXK, Kent Sport, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Social Enterprise Kent, Project Salus, Kreston Reeves, LoopCR, Trust Careers at Medway Youth Trust, Hornby, Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Kent Libraries, the Mercure Great Danes Maidstone, Beanstalk.

For more information or to nominate, visit www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk.