Schools across the region have been honoured at the prestigious Educate Awards 2017 ceremony on Friday 17 November.

The awards, in partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, is now in its sixth year and is the biggest celebration of education in the North West.

We caught up with all 21 award winners on the night to find out what winning an Educate Award means to them and their school community.

Winners’ reactions

1 | The Communication Award
Winner: Gateacre School

“We’re absolutely delighted that Gateacre has been recognised for its commitment to communication. Communication is at the heart of everything that we do to keep the community, parents, students and stakeholders informed of all the great work that we do,”

Gina Kane, business development & communications manager.

2 | Eco School Project of the Year
Winner: Calderstones School

“We’re in shock. We cannot believe that we have won this award. We feel extremely privileged to even be here tonight. To hear our name read out as the winner was absolutely amazing,”

Emma Taylor Johnson, English teacher.

3 | Spirit of Enterprise Award
Winner: Bebington High School Farm

“I’m ecstatic. It’s great to get the recognition for all of the staff, students and volunteers involved,”

Peter Fearon, land-based sciences coordinator.

4 | SEND Provision Award
Winner: Finch Woods Academy

“It’s been a great journey that we’ve been on as a school and we’re over the moon to have won. I can’t believe it,”

Laura Dickinson, headteacher.

5 | Innovative and Creative Literacy Award
Winner: The District CE Primary School

“We’re absolutely delighted with this award. We do everything for our children and we accept it on behalf of them and the entire District family,”

Heather Wright, English lead.

6 | STEM Project of the Year
Winner: Mosslands School

“This award is a fantastic recognition of all the hard work that our staff and students have been doing. We’re just delighted that the boys and the staff have done so well. I’d like to thank the sponsors for nominating us,”

Adrian Whiteley, headteacher.

7 | Outstanding Arts in Primary School
Winner: Riverside Primary School

“Words fail me. I’m just so proud. I’ve got the best team and the best school. I’m overjoyed – it’s amazing to have won this award,”

Christina Lahive, headteacher.

8 | Outstanding Arts in Secondary School
Winner: Archbishop Blanch School

“It feels absolutely incredible to have won this award. I’m so proud of the girls who really deserve this,”

Ms Nikki Oztuna, music teacher.

9 | Career Aspiration Award
Winner: St Margaret’s CE Academy

“It means everything this award. As a former student of the school it means so much to be able to create the opportunities for our young people to go on and further themselves,”

Greg McLean, careers and data manager.

10 | Community Partnership Award
Winner: Alsop High School

“This award is a fantastic achievement, not just for the school, but for the whole community,”

Peter Bull, head of RE.

11 | Outstanding Teaching of Life Skills
Winner: Netherton Moss Primary School

“It’s very exciting to have won this award. The teaching of life skills, giving the children not just the subjects that we teach in the curriculum but creating whole people who can carry themselves forward into the future is a vital thing that schools need to provide. We’re just so proud of all the children that we teach,”

David Hird, assistant headteacher.

12 | Innovation in Education Award
Winner: Evelyn Community Primary School

“I’m absolutely thrilled to bits – I’m ecstatic! I’m so proud of all our team…and me!”

Maxine Formby, history teaching assistant.

13 | Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Primary School
Winner: Plantation Primary School

“It feels amazing to have won this award. It’s a great credit to everyone at the school. Everything we’ve done this year, we’ve done for the children and they absolutely love PE. I couldn’t have done it without every single staff member in our school so I really appreciate everything they have done for me. It’s been a great year for the school and I’m made up that the Educate Awards has recognised that,”

Kevin Sanders, PE coordinator.

14 | Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Secondary
Winner: Rainford High

“I’m elated. We’ve won this award previously so we didn’t really expect win to it again. I’m extremely delighted and honoured,”

Gary Makin, curriculum leader for PE.

15 | Leadership Team of the Year
Winner: Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School

“It’s a great honour to have won this award. I didn’t expect us to win it. It’s a testament to all the hard work of our students, governors, trustees, staff, parents, leadership team and community – it’s a collective effort. I think the award is a recognition of all work which has been put in by those stakeholders. It’s a tremendous accolade,”

Mubaaruck Ibrahim, principal and chief executive.

16 | Teacher of the Year
Winner: Ruth Partington, The Academy of St Nicholas

“I’m gobsmacked! I didn’t think I was going to win it because all I do is my job. I think the children will be delighted…or will they be? They might just say ‘oh, it’s just Miss!’. I’m absolutely thrilled!”

Ruth Partington.

17 | School Support Star
Winner: Sara Mitchell, New Park Primary School

“I didn’t even know I was nominated! They did it as a surprise and I only found out when I was shortlisted. Everything I do is for the children at New Park and I genuinely think they deserve the best. They say that I support everybody at the school but I couldn’t do it without the support of two people, Karen and Rob – without them I couldn’t do my job,”

Sara Mitchell, New Park Primary School.

18 | Most Inspirational 16-18 Education Provider
Winner: St John Rigby College

“It feels fantastic to have won this award. What a privilege to be awarded with the most inspirational 16-18 provider. We do have an inspirational group of staff but it’s nice to collect this on behalf of our students because it’s them who inspire us to be the best that we can be each and every day,”

Peter McGhee, principal.

19 | Most Inspirational Secondary School
Winner: Formby High School

“I’m delighted. I think it’s good recognition for all the great work that goes on at Formby High School. It’s not just the staff – the students are wonderful, they turn up everyday full of beans, they are great kids to teach, they respond really well and it makes it a spot-on place to work,”

Dominic Mackenzie, headteacher.

20 | Most Inspirational Primary School
Winner: Eldon Primary School

“It feels absolutely amazing to have won. We thought we had an outside chance but we’re just thrilled. We’ve had a superb year this year. We’ve just been inspected and we received Outstanding in all areas so this just the cherry on the top,”

Azra Butt, headteacher.

21 | WOW Recognition Award
Winner: The Hollins Technology College

“I’m absolutely delighted. The project has been ongoing now for 18 months – the boys have been out on tour and they’ve made a huge impression on lots of people working along the lines of the ‘Beyond Labels’ project. This award is a fitting tribute to the hard work of Waqar Ahmed, our extended services coordinator, and the time and effort that all the lads have put in,”

Steve Campbell, headteacher.