Tonight is the night when Cumbria celebrates its heroes of education, training and skills.

Hundreds will gather at the University of Cumbria's Fusehill Street campus in Carlisle for the 2017 Golden Apple Awards.

There are 20 categories this year to honour a range of people, places and partnerships and their achievements and excellence across a wide range of areas.

Top awards will include the lifetime achievement honour for Carlisle early years expert Emmy Sealey and the categories of best primary and best secondary schools.

Finalists include West Lakes Academy in Egremont, which finds itself shortlisted in three sections - best secondary school, best student and best support staff.

Barrow's Furness Academy is also in the running for three awards in the categories of best secondary school, best marketing campaign and best employee development programme.

Meanwhile Silloth Primary School is hoping it will scoop the best primary school award for a second time after having won the title back in 2013.

Its headteacher Rachel Ingrams is also one of the finalists in the category of best education and learning leader.


Golden Apple Awards The awards are staged by CN Group in association with the university and career and personal development organisation Inspira.

CN Group publishes titles including The Cumberland News, Times & Star, The Mail, Whitehaven News and News & Star.

Other sponsors include BAE, Lakes College, Furness College, United Utilities, and Sellafield.

Those not on tonight's guest list will not miss out.

There will be coverage online and across CN Group titles next week.