THURROCK'S education heroes were honoured at a special evening at the Civic Hall in Grays on Friday (29 November) evening – an event widely acclaimed as the best in the six year history of the awards.

Eleven awards were handed out to schools and staff who were whittled down to short lists of four in each category from an overall entry of more than 430 nominations.

The awards attracted a wide range of sponsors, whose representatives stepped up to praise the efforts of teachers, support staff, volunteers, governors and administrators. At the very end of the evening, Success Popoola, chair of Thurrock Youth Cabinet, rounded off the event with a tribute to all the people in education in the borough who change the lives of young people.

After a performance by the Star Thurrock Gospel Choir the evening was opened with a speech from interim director of children's services Roger Harris who said: "I am delighted to be working with you all, supporting our educational settings to achieve the high aspirations we all have for the young people in the borough.

"Congratulations to everyone who has been nominated and shortlisted and I would like to thank DP World London Gateway and Greenergy, who are our main event sponsors, along with all out other sponsors for their continued support for education in Thurrock and for making this celebration event possible."

Cllr Hames Halden, portfolio holder for education and health at Thurrock Council said: "I would like to thank you for joining me in celebrating the excellence of our dedicated and hard-working colleagues in education across the borough."

The award winners (and short-listed nominees) were:

Excellence in early years education

WINNER: Nicola Barrett – Benyon Primary School

• Tracey Butcher and Tracey Richardson – Ortu Corringham Primary School
• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Team – Harris Primary Academy Mayflower
• Victoria Lennon Humphrey – Play 2 Learn Day Nursery

Newcomer of the year

WINNER: Hannah Lebeze – St Clere's School

• Sam Morley – Arthur Bugler Primary School
• Cieran Hellis Tatum – Ortu Gable Hall School
• Harry Walker – Ortu Hassenbrook Academy

Teaching and school support of the year

WINNER: Jackie Shepard Ashby – The Olive AP Academy

• Megan Davis – Treetops School
• Kristie Gibbs and Dawn Webster – Ortu Corringham Primary School
• Mel Pitcher – Chadwell St Mary Primary School

Excellence in English or science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM)

WINNER: Year One Team – Arthur Bugler Primary School

• Stacey Dixon – Ortu Gable Hall School
• Dimi Gospodinova – Dilkes Academy
• Adam Guilbert – The Olive AP Academy

Opportunities in skills development

WINNER: Yuen-Man Yau – The Consultancy Home Counties (TCHC) group

• Greg Perry – Harris Primary Academy Chafford Hundred
• Heather Westrop – Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
• Work Experience Team – USP Palmers College

Excellence in creative arts or culture

WINNER: Cross-Curricular Team – William Edwards School

• Jenny Hill – The Gateway Academy
• Performing Arts Team – Ortu Gable Hall School
• Gemma Waters – Ortu Hassenbrook Academy

Mental health and well-being champion

WINNER: Well-Being Team – Belmont Castle Academy

• Lorraine Barnes – Dilkes Academy
• Stuart Holmes – Abbots Hall Primary Academy
• Jean Nancolas – Stanford-le-Hope Primary School

Teacher of the year – primary

WINNER: Nadia Kemel – Harris Primary Academy Chafford Hundred

• Fiona Carter – Beacon Hill Academy
• Lucy Chipperfield – Arthur Bugler Primary School
• Mark Jepson – Benyon Primary School

Teacher of the year – secondary

WINNER: Mark Harvey – Ortu Hassenbrook Academy

• Adam Guilbert – The Olive AP Academy
• Maxine Murray – Treetops School
• Leanne Nancolas – Ortu Gable Hall School

Education leader of the year

WINNER: Laura James – Abbots Hall Primary Academy

• Ian Broyd – Warren Primary School
• Rhys Latham – Dilkes Academy
• Katie Thwaites – USP Palmer's College

Unsung hero

WINNER: Bev Bennett – Ortu Corringham Primary School

• Charlotte Harman – Proximity: Church
• Andy Melbourne – Willow Garden Day Nursery
• Kerry Willis – North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT)

You can see all of the awards being announced, plus the evening's speeches and see and hear the Star Thurrock Gospel Choir perform at our Facebook page - click 'additional link' below.