TONIGHT Cumbria's biggest awards celebrating all things education will take place in Kendal - with worthy winners and finalists set to take centre stage.

Hundreds of nominations have been whittled down by a panel of esteemed judges to create the shortlist for this year's Newsquest Golden Apple Awards.

The awards are once again being hosted by Newsquest Cumbria in partnership with the University of Cumbria.

Speaking following the judging of the awards, Dr Ruth Harrison-Palmer, Director of the University of Cumbria’s Institute of Education, Arts and Society, said: “It is always an honour to judge these county-wide awards and together as a panel we continue to enjoy reading the nominations, of which there has been a record-breaking number this year.

Here are your 2024 Newsquest Golden Apple Awards finalists:

Against All Odds Finalists sponsored by NRL

  • Nikolla Taylor- Walford, University of Cumbria
  • Robson Mair, Autin Friars
  • Clare Dawson, The Whitehaven Academy

Best Apprentice Finalists sponsored by Lakes College

  • Lola Henderson, Eden Valley Hospice
  • Oksana Pereima, William Howard Secondary School
  • Lisa Ellis, Carlisle College

Best Early Years Provider Finalists

  • Little Monkey’s Day Nursery and Pre School
  • Littler Learner’s Nursery
  • Mother Goose Day Nursery

Best Education And Learning Leader finalists sponsored by Furness College

  • Andrew Keep, St Bees School
  • Matthew Squires, Inglewood Junior School
  • Nigel Youngman, Whitehaven Academy

Best Education Professional Newcomer finalists sponsored by Carlisle College

  • Evie Askew, Mayfield School
  • Patrick Relph, Cockermouth School
  • Lucy Hayward, Energy Coast UTC

Best Inclusion Initiative finalists sponsored by BAE

  • The Hive, Ormsgill School
  • Rebecca Morrison, Jigsaw Children’s Hospice
  • Carlisle College, Our Community is Your Community

Best Industry Engagement Finalists

  • Engineering Skills Academy at Lakes College
  • Whitehaven Academy, Raise Cumbria and The Knotted Project
  • Energy Coast UTC

Best Primary School finalists

  • Inglewood Junior School
  • Mayfield School
  • Clifton Primary School

Best Secondary School finalists sponsored by Carlisle College

  • Richard Rose Morton Academy
  • Mayfield School
  • Chetwynde School

Best Student Finalists sponsored by Cumbria Education Trust

  • Nathan Lee Cheong, Chetwynde School
  • Layney Nicholson, Workington Academy
  • Louisa De Freitas, Carlisle College

Best Support Staff finalists sponsored by Energy Coast UTC

  • Tracy Morland, Tebay Primary School
  • Ruth Wood, Ullswater Community College
  • Clifton Primary School Support Team

Best Teaching Assistant finalists

  • Helen Green, Ivegill CE Primary School
  • Louise Burton, Holme Primary School
  • Tess Bleasdale, West Lakes Academy

Best Teaching Professional finalists sponsored by University of Cumbria

  • Helen Finlay, Arlecdon Primary School
  • Alannah Savage, Workington Academy
  • Becki Cosh, Cockermouth School
  • Fran Dumant, Energy Coast UTC

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by University of Cumbria – Winner announced on the evening.

This year's Golden Apple Awards will be held tonight, October 10 at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal.