TEACHERS across the county are celebrating their success at the 2018 Essex Teaching Awards.

The annual awards, which are in their fifth year, took place at Hamptons Sports and Leisure Centre in Chelmsford.

The Essex County Council-run event celebrates excellence in education and highlights the outstanding work of teachers and other staff.

Helena Boast from Thomas Lord Audley School in Colchester won the Secondary Headteacher of the Year Award.

Highly commended were Carl Wakefield from Plume Academy in Maldon and Fiona Pierson from Colchester Academy.

Staff at Colchester Academy said they were proud to have received so many awards throughout the night.

Headteacher Fiona Pierson said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this level of recognition in an area with so many good and outstanding schools.

“This acknowledgement of merit builds on the school’s recent successes in both the summer examinations and the new Progress 8 rankings and will help us to continue moving forward on an upward trajectory.

“Huge congratulations to all our teachers who were shortlisted.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Sue Crotty, from Clacton County High School.

Three Highly Commended awards for New Teach of the Year were given to Alexandra Wilkinson from Colchester Academy, Dean Gilder from New Rickstones Academy in Witham and Emma Bailey from Shorefields School in Clacton.

Team of the Year went to Friends not Foes at Colchester Sixth Form College - a student run refugee committee.

The team said on their Facebook page: “We just want to say a massive thank you to the teachers for doing so much for us, and making all of this possible.

“We can’t put into words how much we appreciate all you do and how much you help us so we hope this award helps to show you that.”

Highly commended awards were given to the education and guidance team at Clacton Coastal Academy, and the Steam team at the Gilberd School in Colchester.

Primary School Teacher of the Year was given to Jackie Trapp from Elmstead Primary School in Elmstead Market.

Secondary School Teacher of the Year went to Sarah Cross from Harwich and Dovercourt High School.

Highly commended awards were given to Caroline Woodburn from Colchester Academy and Louise Woolnough from Alec Hunter Academy in Braintree.

Special School Teacher of the Year was awarded to Adam Dean, from Market Field School, Elmstead Market.

Gary Smith, headteacher at Market Field, said: “Adam is simply one of those dedicated individuals whose strength of commitment and purpose just shines through. He is great to work with.”

Cindy Taylor from Colchester Academy was highly commended for Teaching Assistant of the Year, as was Bev Wrobel from St Helena School in Colchester and Claire King from Shorefields School, Clacton.

The student choice award went to Diane Paton at Colchester Academy. James Cooper and Sarah Rimbaut from Plume Academy were given highly commended awards.

Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education, said: “Schools in Essex do an excellent job, with about 94 per cent rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted and pupils continuing to achieve fantastic results.

“Teachers and other school staff have obviously played a vital role in those successes and hearing about the difference our award winners have made to the lives of young people in the county is always one of the main highlights of my year.

“I am very proud of their achievements and these awards are a great way of recognising their hard work and commitment.”