NOW is your last chance to enter Cumbria's premier education and learning awards.

Entries to the 2017 Golden Apple Awards, brought to you by CN Group, must be submitted by 5pm today.

A bumper crop of nominations has already made its way to award administrator Megan Norwood.

Community leaders in one part of Carlisle have hosted sessions to help people submit nominations.

Pennine Way Primary School and its Community Development Centre at the Harraby Community Campus, Edgehill Road, recently offered facilities free of charge for people to submit nominations online.

Sue Blair, who leads the school, won the Golden Apple Award for headteacher of the year in 2015.

There are 20 award categories to choose from this year including Best Student, Against All Odds, and Lifetime Achievement.

Awards to be presented include ones of primary and secondary schools, further and higher education providers and work-based training providers.

Employers and businesses offering continued professional development opportunities and training in the workplace can enter categories such as "Best Employee Development Programme" and "Best Use of Technology".


Golden Apple Awards logo. Inspira and the University of Cumbria are the associate sponsors of this year's Golden Apple Awards.

The woman who will reveal the names of the winners in October says she can not wait to join in the celebrations with those "who perform small miracles every day".

Former broadcaster and journalist Julie Clayton is returning as host.

Now working in the NHS, Julie is a supporter and champion for teaching, learning and skills across the county.

She has seen her three children education in north Cumbria and is a primary school governor.

Julie grew up in Carlisle and went to Kingmoor School before moving up to Trinity School.

She went on to study to postgraduate level and later went back to night classes at Carlisle College before lecturing in journalism at the University of Cumbria.

Her career has included senior roles at CN Group, working on its titles across the region including The Cumberland News, and BBC Radio Cumbria.

Julie, 44, is a governor at Cummersdale School, near Carlisle.

She said: "So often in Cumbria people just get on with their jobs, continuing to go that extra mile for their students and their schools and colleges and other centres, performing small miracles every day but do not think they are doing anything special.

"The Golden Apple Awards are a chance to really celebrate some of the fantastic people, places and projects we have in Cumbria. They're about sharing new ideas too and really promoting all the great things that are already happening in Cumbria."

Julie will be the compere on October 6 at a ceremony taking place at The Cube, on the University of Cumbria's Fusehill Street campus in Carlisle.

"One of the best things about the night itself is that you can see people being inspired by the stories they're hearing and you know great things are going to come out of it," said Julie.

Judges will carefully consider the entries and shortlist finalists next month. Finalists will be revealed in September.

To submit nominations and for full details visit www.gaawards.co.uk or email goldenapple@cnmedia.co.uk or ring 01228 612231.


Here are all the categories of this year’s Golden Apple Awards. You can vote for your favourite:

  • Best Early Years Provider
  • Best Primary School
  • Best Secondary School
  • Best Further Education Provider
  • Best Learning, Development And Training Provider
  • Best Support Staff
  • Best Teaching Assistant
  • Best Education Profession Newcomer
  • Best Teaching Professional
  • Best Education And Learning Leader
  • Best Student

Best Apprentice

Best Community Initiative

Best Inclusion Initiative

Best Use Of Technology

Best Employee Development Programme

Best Marketing Campaign

Best Industry Engagement Initiative

Against All Odds Award

Lifetime Achievement