TELEGRAPH & Argus editor Perry Austin-Clarke spoke to the audience at the Schools Awards about the “symbiotic” relationship between the local press and schools.

In his speech he addressed the relationship between newspapers and the education sector, highlighting the importance of newspapers in reporting how schools in the local community are faring.

He said that the awards, in their fourth year, had proven so successful that similar events were now being staged across the country by other papers.

Mr Austin-Clarke said: “Local newspapers are all about community - and education, of course, is the defining core of every community.

“Since time immemorial the pages of local newspapers have been filled with the stories that schools generate, from nativities to end-of-year proms, from sporting triumphs to the latest Ofsted.

“There is no medium better suited to recording the ups and downs, the triumphs and successes of local schools than local newspapers.

“It is a symbiotic relationship. We need to tell the community - our readers - everything that is going on in the community, and education, as is often said, is the foundation of all community life.

“Schools need that community to know how they’re doing, especially when they’re doing well.

“Of course there are bumps along the road. We have a duty to tell it how it is - good or bad - and it’s obvious that schools won’t always be happy when we report the downsides of the Ofsted regime.

“But at the end of the day, it’s absolutely essential that our community thrives and good education at all levels is the absolute key to that.

“We are very happy to organise this event every year to help reward and recognise some of the incredible work that goes on in schools every day, right across the district.

“When my colleagues and I dreamed up the idea of these awards, we were certain it was the right thing to do, and luckily when we approached Bradford Council and the University of Bradford they agreed immediately.

“They have been rock solid partners ever since.

“We see the nominees merely as representative of the amazing work being done in schools across Bradford and district every day.

“The sheer hard work and effort that goes into making our schools as good as they can be day in, day out throughout the year is, as we all know, immense.

“Bradford is not always the easiest place to be a teacher, a governor or even a dinner lady.

“But it is one of the most dynamic, innovative and fulfilling places to work, and one of the places where you can make the most difference.

“Tonight is about celebrating that and thanking those who create the very, very many positive stories of success and achievement that are taking place in classrooms across the district.”