Finding maths teachers with the X factor is one of the aims of the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards 2015.

Tutors inspiring a love of arithmetic are helping pupils to maximise their life chances say organisers of the annual event.

The sentiment is echoed by the Government-supported Your Life campaign which highlights the influence of teachers on pupils who go on to study maths at A-level and enjoy better career prospects as a result.

According to the campaign, maths is the only A-level proven to increase earnings in later life by an average of 10 per cent.

One business keen to find the county’s exceptional maths teachers is Sittingbourne based firm of chartered accountants William Giles Limited, which is supporting the Maths Teacher of the Year award category.

Alyson Howard, director at William Giles, said: “I feel strongly about the importance of a good maths education. Everyone from every walk of life has to do maths whether it’s part of their job or simply to keep their expenses in order.

“We’re looking for maths teachers who connect with their students. The teachers I remember with affection are the ones who took the time to explain the concepts until I understood how the numbers related to each other. Maths is a life skill and encouraging it to be enjoyable is as important as understanding the basics.”

Simon Dolby from the KM Charity Team, which organises the awards, said good maths teachers help the next generation to maximise their life chances and make a positive contribution to Kent’s communities.

He added: “I am thrilled that William Giles are backing this award and I urge parents, pupils and teaching colleagues to take the time to nominate their school’s teaching stars.”

A number of other organisations have announced their support of the awards including CXK, Brachers Law, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Social Enterprise Kent, Project Salus, Kent Sport, Southern Educational Leadership Trust, Kent County Council, Medway Council, Christ Church University, the Marlowe Theatre, Leeds Castle, and the following departments at the University of Kent: Politics and International Relations; Psychology; Physical Sciences; Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science; Biosciences; European Culture and Languages; and History.

Award categories include primary, secondary and newly qualified teachers, as well as volunteer and non-teaching staff. The winners will be announced at a prestigious awards dinner at Leeds Castle in May.

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