THIS week we’re launching our popular Wirral Globe Schools Awards 2017 to celebrate all that's good in the borough’s schools.

The awards aim to seek out the best pupils, schools, teachers and other staff and, at the same time, highlight innovation and best practice across the area.

Wirral Globe:

Wirral-based Typhoo Tea are the award's main sponsor

Wirral has some fantastic schools rated "outstanding" by Ofsted and producing excellent exam results year after year.

And most of us can remember individual teachers who made a real difference to our school days.

They were the ones who particularly inspired us to explore, experiment and push ourselves.

But many feel the efforts of teachers and staff are frequently undervalued, so these awards aim to acknowledge and reward excellence.

Entries are invited from teachers, parents, governors, pupils and anyone with knowledge of a particular school.

All schools are welcome to enter – secondary, primary and specialist – as long as they are based in Wirral.

Individuals or institutions can enter more than one category but this should be made clear on the entry form.

The last date for receiving entries is Monday, April 24, and they can be e-mailed to caroline.jackson@nqnw.co.uk or posted to Wirral Globe Schools Awards, Editorial, Haymarket Court, Hinson Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 5BX.

Or click here to fill in a nomination form.

The winners will be presented with their awards and certificates at a special ceremony to be held at the Thornton Hall Hotel on May 17.

All applications will be considered and entrants using the official form agree to accept the judges' decision as final.

Some of our award sponsors are:

Typhoo Tea – Lifetime Achievement.

Capita Education Recruitment - Headteacher of the Year.

Magenta Housing - Unsung Hero.

Somnath Saha, Typhoo chief executive, said: “Being a large employer on Wirral, we are delighted to be able to support our local education establishments by sponsoring the Wirral Globe School Awards.

"We are passionate about education and believe the awards are an excellent opportunity to recognise the hard work and dedication of all contributors including students, teachers and support staff.

“We have an excellent local education system producing talented individuals in Wirral, and we at Typhoo Tea are proud to support this.

"We endeavour to continue supporting our local education establishments as much as possible to help develop the skills set in the Wirral and Merseyside region.”

It is the second year of our school awards – last year’s winners were…

• Class of the year: Wirral Grammar School for girls, class 9E

• Unsung heroes of the year: Gill Lewis, Gill Taylor and Jane Powell – the office team from Prenton Primary School.

• Primary School of the year – Woodchurch Church of England Primary School

• Secondary School of the year – Clare Mount Specialist Sports College

• Enterprising School of the year – Wirral Grammar School for boys

• Primary pupil of the year – Angela-May Hughes

• Secondary school pupil of the year – Nicole Lewtas

• Teacher of the year – Carolyn Hughes

• Headteacher of the year – Kate Brown

• Lifetime achievement award – posthumous award for Veronica Lee