FOUR St Helens schools have made the shortlist for the prestigious Educate Awards 2018 - recognising the fantastic work by teachers across the North West.

The awards, in partnership with Copyrite Systems and Ricoh, is now in its seventh year and is the largest education awards in the North West.

Queen’s Park CE/URC Primary School is up for the Eco School Project of the Year Award after improving their grounds through many projects, including the ‘School Grounds Planter Challenge’ competition and children planting their own saplings on the school field. The school has also planted 2,637 trees in their school grounds and fostered an ‘Eco Ethos’ throughout the school.

The St Helens primary is also in contention for the Innovative and Creative Literacy Award after their poem entry explaining “We’re sharing a passion our teachers instil, We’re creating a culture, Because Writing’s a skill!”

Billinge St Aidan's C of E Primary School has been shortlisted for ‘Most Inspirational Primary School’.

The school has been recognised for its dedicated support towards its pupils’ mental and physical wellbeing.

This year has been a difficult year for the school, having lost a pupil who was fighting a brain tumour.

Staff and pupils went above and beyond to help the family, and raised money when needed.

The school also regularly welcomes therapy dogs which help pupils from all walks of life, as well as an aroma therapist who teaches ways in which the children can relax.

Hope Academy and Rainford High are also shortlisted for the Outstanding Sport in Secondary School accolade.

Physical Education and school sport is at the heart of Hope Academy, with an emphasis on ‘PE for all’.

The school prides itself on its elite performers and mass participation, with students taking part in a wide range of extra-curricular sports including rugby, trampolining, badminton, athletics and table tennis. Sporting success also continues to grow, with its boy’s and girls’ teams excelling in St Helens and Merseyside.

Last year’s Outstanding Sport winners, Rainford High, are in contention again for its inclusive and aspirational approach to PE & Sport. The school has achieved outstanding team and individual success within a wide range of local, regional and national competitions. It has also focused on breaking down traditional gender participation barriers through increasing the number of girls in school football and rugby teams and doubling the number of boys participating in cheerleading and dance clubs.

Kim O’Brien, founder of the awards, says: “We are delighted to finally reveal the shortlist ahead of the awards ceremony in November. This year’s shortlist includes schools and colleges from all across the region.

“The awards recognise the arts, careers, sport, literacy, STEM and so much more – we believe it’s so important to celebrate all aspects of school life and champion the teachers and school support stars who bring learning to life. Many congratulations and good luck to the shortlisted schools in St Helens.”

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, on Friday, November 16 at Liverpool Cathedral.

THE FULL SHORTLIST

The Communication Award

Alsop High School, Liverpool

Pontville School, Ormskirk

St Peter’s CE Primary School, Bolton

Eco School Project of the Year

Queen’s Park CE / URC Primary School, St Helens

Heswall Primary School, Wirral

Booker Avenue Junior School, Liverpool

Spirit of Enterprise Award

Neston High School, Neston

Morecambe Bay Community Primary School, Morecambe

St Oswald’s CE Primary, Sefton

Wirral Hospitals’ Schools, Wirral

SEND Provision Award

Gateacre School, Liverpool

Alsop High School, Liverpool

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, Liverpool

Leasowe Primary School, Wirral

Innovative and Creative Literacy Award

Halewood Academy, Knowsley

Bishop David Sheppard CE Primary School, Southport

Queen’s Park CE / URC Primary School, St Helens

STEM Project of the Year

Sandbach High School, Cheshire

Rudston Primary School, Liverpool

Beamont Collegiate Academy, Warrington

Outstanding Arts in a Primary School

Lister Junior School, Liverpool

Riverside Primary School, Wirral

Netherton Moss Primary School, Sefton

Outstanding Arts in a Secondary School

Archbishop Blanch CofE High School, Liverpool

Hillside High School, Bootle

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, Liverpool

The Belvedere Academy, Liverpool

Career Aspiration Award

All Saints Sixth Form College, Liverpool

Canon Slade School, Bolton

St Damian’s RC Science College, Greater Manchester

Community Partnership Award

Bickerstaffe CE School, Ormskirk

Academy @ Worden, Leyland

Northwood Community Primary School, Knowsley

The Hollins, Accrington

Outstanding Teaching of Life Skills

Abbot’s Lea School, Liverpool

Archbishop Blanch CofE High School, Liverpool

Middlefield Community Primary School, Liverpool

Innovation in Education Award

Eldon Primary School, Preston

Mayfield School, Chorley

The Hollins, Accrington

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in a Primary School

Plantation Primary School, Liverpool

St Aloysius Catholic Primary School, Liverpool

Saughall All Saints Primary School, Chester

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in a Secondary School

Hope Academy, Newton Le Willows

Rainford High, St Helens

Ridgeway High School, Wirral

Leadership Team of the Year

Archbishop Blanch CofE High School, Liverpool

Gateacre School, Liverpool

Kings Leadership Academy, Liverpool

Teacher of the Year

Peter Kelly, Lister Junior School, Liverpool

Stephen Hill, St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Oldham

Jay Bradley, The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, Liverpool

Suzanne Gardner, Academy @ Worden, Leyland

Margaret Banks, St Damian’s RC Science College, Greater Manchester

School Support Star of the Year

Elizabeth Jones, St Damian’s RC Science College, Greater Manchester

Julie McNally, St Oswald’s CE Primary, Liverpool

Judith Bowden, St John Bosco Arts College, Liverpool

Most Inspirational 16-18 Education Provider

All Saints Sixth Form College, Liverpool

Cardinal Langley RC Sixth Form, Greater Manchester

Formby High School, Sefton

Gateacre School, Liverpool

Most Inspirational Secondary School

Gateacre School, Liverpool

Ormiston Chadwick Academy, Cheshire

Archbishop Blanch CofE High School, Liverpool

Most Inspirational Primary School

Billinge St Aidan’s CofE Primary School, Wigan

Kentmere Academy Primary School, Rochdale

Summerhill Primary, Liverpool

Wow Recognition Award

Halewood CofE Primary School, Knowsley

Mayfield School, Chorley

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, Liverpool

The Hollins, Accrington