THE Education Awards are a great way of highlighting the great work being done in Bradford's schools, according to the councillor in charge of children's services at Bradford Council.

Councillor Ralph Berry, executive for Children's Services at the council, was one of the speakers at the awards evening earlier this year, where he said it was important for good news about schools to "wash through all of Bradford." Of the evening he said: "This is probably one of the best nights of the year for anyone involved in Bradford.”

He also said that as well as schools as a whole, it was important to celebrate the achievements of individual pupils, teachers, leaders and other members of staff as well as volunteers.

He is eager for this year's event to be just as successful. Cllr Berry said: "These awards are a great way of showing the good practice happening in our schools and educational centres so other people can pick up and learn from it.

"There are some extremely inventive things going on in our schools, and these nominations help bring forward all these ideas.

"One of the best things about it is that the nominations aren't coming from higher up, nominations are coming from pupils, parents and fellow staff members.

"Last year's awards were a great way of highlighting the best of what was going on. We need to highilght these achievements and learn from them to help put our best foot forward.

"There is a lot still do do to improve things in our school, but a lot of great things are being achieved and they need to be recognised as good practice."

Last year the main winner was He said last year's event was Tracey Askham, a teacher at Immanuel College who died last August. She won Secondary Teacher of the Year, with the award accepted by her daughter Chantelle Aleksander. Cllr Berry said this made the ceremony particularly poigniant.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Schools Awards Categories

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Schools Awards Nominations