TEACHERS, heads, support staff and community volunteers will be among those at a glittering awards ceremony waiting anxiously to find out whether they have won a Worcester News Worcestershire Education Award.
The 36 finalists will join special guests and sponsors at the black-tie event held in Worcester on Wednesday evening.
We teamed up with the University of Worcester to create the awards - the first of their kind - which celebrate the hard work quality, passion and dedication we know exist among the many people who work with children and young people in our community.
Our judges have created a shortlist of three people for each of our 12 categories.
The winner and two runner-ups will be announced after a drinks reception and dinner at the University of Worcester's Severn Campus in Hylton Road.
Peter John, editor of the Worcester News, said: "This is the first time we have run the awards and we've been staggered by the response from our readers, many of whom shared their experiences of how the nominees have made a real difference to their families.
"We've heard inspiring stories from the cub leader who who gave a shy eight-year-old the gift of confidence, to the chef who has nourished an entire school and the teacher whose students wanted to tell the world how inspirational she was.
"Each of the names on our shortlist has had a positive influence on our community.
"Thank you to them, and to you for helping us shine a spotlight on their work."
Here are the finalists for each of the categories:
College, post-18 provider
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association
The Training Academy
Worcester Sixth Form College
Community Involvement
Jane Wilson, 9th Worcester Cubs
Lynne Matthews, Worcester Sixth Form College
Paul Harding and Helen Lee, Discover History
Fit for Life
Andy Taynton, Pershore High School
Jamie Boswell, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Women on Wheels
Primary School of the Year
Hollymount School
Sytchampton Endowed Primary School
Upton Snodsbury CE First School
Headteacher/Principal of the Year
Chris Allen, Bowbrook House School
Pete Hines, Perryfields Primary Pupil Referral Unit
Samantha Roach, Tudor Grange Academy Worcester
Special Education Needs
Cally Rees, Pershore High School
Julia Wright, Hanley Castle High School
Julien Cantin, Regency High School
Teacher/Lecturer of the Year
Dan Boatwright, Worcester Sixth Form College
Georgie Lott, Nunnery Wood High School
Zinnia Wilkinson, Malvern St James
Support Staff of the Year
Inclusion Team, Birchensale Middle School
Laura Dean, Pershore High School
Sandie Roskelly, Pershore High School
Newcomer of the Year
Hannah Corteen, Regency High School
Samantha Chance, Perrywood Primary School
Zoe Harris, Museum of Royal Worcester
Unsung Hero
Dennis Simpson, Stourport High School and Sixth Form
Jamie Boswell, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Sharan Gledhill, Tudor Grange Academy Worcester
Secondary School of the Year
Bowbrook House School
Nunnery Wood High School
Tudor Grange Academy Worcester
Early Years Education
Avril Aldous, Mucky Munchkins
Cornmeadow Early Years and Families
Sunbeams Pre-School
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