Canterbury Christ Church University is calling for top mark teachers for the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards 2017

Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who are top of the class are being sought by the county’s annual teaching awards.

The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards, open for nominations at www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk, will honour the county’s best school staff from valiant volunteers to outstanding teachers.

A key partner of the event has called for members of the public to submit at least one nomination before the March 1 deadline.

Head of Partnerships at Canterbury Christ Church University, Kerry Jordan-Daus says she is championing the award because “We want to celebrate the amazing achievements of Newly Qualified Teachers. They are our future. Support of the NQT Award is our way of showing that we acknowledge the tremendous hard work, dedication and commitment of our new teachers who are transforming children's lives in our schools across Kent and Medway.”

Categories ensure that anyone making a difference at a school can be nominated. These include primary, secondary, team and volunteer - such as members of the PTA or governors - as well as non-teaching member of staff ranging from secretaries to dinner ladies.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team, organising the awards, said: “These teachers are just starting out in their careers so what better way to show them how well they’re doing than to nominate them for an award? A nomination is a real pat on the back for enthusiastic individuals who will be changing young lives for the better for many years to come.”

Organisations joining the judging panel include University of Kent, Kent County Council, 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.