The winners of the third annual Daily Echo School Awards in association with United Taxis were announced today following an influx of over 700 nominations.

The awards were created to recognise and celebrate the incredible work going on in schools across the area.

Tracy Hayden, director of advertising at Newsquest, told us: “It is important we pay tribute to the winners as well as acknowledging the hundreds of people who were nominated by our readers including the worthy shortlisted nominees who were announced last week”.

The winners of the awards are:

Bournemouth Echo:

Secondary Teacher of the Year (sponsored by BCP Council): Amanda Leach – Queen Elizabeth School

Bournemouth Echo:

Further Education Award (sponsored by Lewis Manning):– Bob Salter – Lytchett Minster School

Bournemouth Echo:

Leadership Award:- James Lumber – Kingsleigh Primary School

Bournemouth Echo:

Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Harvest Fine Foods):- Neil Cornick - Corfe Hills School

Bournemouth Echo:

Newcomer of the Year Award (sponsored by Breeze Suzuki): Carol Clothier – Stourfield Infants School

Bournemouth Echo:

Nursery School Team Member of the Year (sponsored by Bournemouth Airport):- Stephanie Parrett – All Saints Nursery

Bournemouth Echo:

Online Teacher/Teaching Assistant of the Year (sponsored by Goadsby): Mrs Charlotte Harris – Avonwood Primary School

Bournemouth Echo:

Primary School Teacher of the Year (sponsored by Supply Tree Recruitment): Liz Gadsby – Winton Primary School

Bournemouth Echo:

STEM Teacher of the Year (sponsored by NMSB):- Andrew McVean - Glenmoor and Winton Academy

Bournemouth Echo:

Supporting Staff Member of the Year (sponsored by United Taxis):- Elizabeth Parkin – Glenmoor & Winton Academy

Bournemouth Echo:

Teaching Assistant of the Year (sponsored by the Lighthouse):- Chloe McGoldrick – Livingstone Academy

Angela Boyer, who organised the awards, said: “The awards are about the staff who play such an important role in the development of children and young adults. From support staff to headteachers, we were able to get a sense of how much passion and enthusiasm there is for children’s education across the conurbation from the hundreds of nominations we received”.

Those that won in the eleven different categories were quick to highlight that they were part of a team, with Liz Gadsby of Winton Primary School stating: "I want to say a huge thank you to the support staff in all schools".

Elizabeth Parkin, who won the Supporting Staff Member Award, said: "I work with an amazing team at Glenmoor and Winton Academy".

Stephanie Parrett of All Saints Nursery wanted all her team included in the photo that appeared in the shortlist supplement, and upon winning the Nursery School Award said: "I see this very much as a reward to the hard work, skill and dedication of the whole team here at the Nursery."

Many of the winners also cited the children and families they work with, with Bob Salter of Lytchett Minster School mentioning the "fantastic group of students" he teaches.

Carol Clothier, who won the Newcomer of the Year Award, talked about how she has been made so welcome in her first teaching post, not only by the staff but the children and parents.

Thank you again to our headline sponsor, United Taxis and all our other category sponsors who helped make these awards possible.

The Daily Echo would also like to thank all those that took the time to nominate all the fantastic people who are working with our children and young people in the local area to ensure they get the education they deserve.