The county's most inspirational Information Technology boffins will be rewarded at the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards.

And it’s up to individuals and schools to put forward the educators most worthy of the accolade IT Teacher of the Year 2016. But hurry, the deadline for nominations is noon on Tuesday (March 8).

Richard Langshaw of East Malling’s LoopCR Ltd, is championing the IT category.

“We like to support this because of the good work teachers and support staff are doing and the help they’ve given us over the years. This is our way of giving something back so they can continue to develop IT within the schools,” he said.

Other key partners of the awards include Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Canterbury Christ Church University, Leeds Castle, Marlowe Theatre, Social Enterprise Kent, Kent Sport and Physical Activity Service, Southern Educational Leadership Trust, Project Salus, Medway Council, Kent County Council, CXK, Kreston Reeves and the following departments at the University of Kent: Politics and International Relations; Physical Sciences; Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science; Biosciences; European Culture and Languages; and History.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team, organising the awards, said: “Computer science is a key skill in the modern world, demonstrated by the fact that children as young as five are now learning about IT in school.

“Help us to reward individuals bringing a passion for programming into the classroom and standing pupils in good stead for the future.”

Award categories include standard curriculum subjects for primary and secondary schools as well as newly qualified teacher, headteacher, team, non-teaching member of staff and volunteer.

A glittering awards dinner to congratulate around 50 staff and schools will be staged at Leeds Castle this May.

Members of the public - including fellow members of staff, parents and pupils - can submit nominations using the short online form at www.kentteacheroftheyear.co.uk until the deadline of noon on Tuesday (March 8).