THE best of the Bolton school community have been given a chance to shine.

Behind classroom doors are thousands of teachers, pupils and staff working hard every day to bring top class education to the community.

And here we honour the achievements of those people and places that make up all that’s good in the borough’s schools at the second Bolton News School Awards.

Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Bolton College: Carol Brooking

A REAL sport — that's the winner of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Carol Brooking, who has recently retired, has spent her 37-years of teaching motivating young people into sports and bringing prestigious competitions to Bolton.

Mrs Brooking spent 27-years of her career at Canon Slade School in Bradshaw, the last five years of which she was head of the PE department.

Colleague Simon Rees, who nominated her said: "There are hundreds of pupils who have had help, advice, support and encouragement from Carol and the time, dedication, effort, enthusiasm, expertise and skill she has shown over the years have made her one of the very best.

"She was always available for pupils to come and talk to, and she encouraged them to do their best regardless of the opposition or the weather.

"I don't think there is any part of England she hasn't been to with one of the many teams she has been involved with.

"She will be greatly missed — both as a superb teacher but also as a colleague.

"I am sure we will see her standing on a touch line or in the gym keeping fit, or dare I say it, supporting the team who play at the Macron Stadium.

"We all owe her a great debt of gratitude for all she has done and achieved."

Mrs Brooking's achievements have included teams enjoying national success and thanks to her Canon Slade have always had a girls team in the English Schools finals of the cross country championships.

She has been team manager for Bolton cross Country for years and in 2006 she was asked if Canon Slade would host the English Schools Cross Country finals — and she hosted it again in 2012.

Mrs Brooking also hosted the School International Athletic Board Cross Country Home Championship in 2014.

She has also been involved with athletics, producing teams which have won the local Bolton Schools Town Championships and gone on to the national finals.

During the last ten years she introduced the Bi-athlon to pupils at Canon Slade and was rewarded with success as the girls were national champions on two occasions.

It is not surprising the school's PE department was given outstanding and highlighted as best practice nationally.

The school was rated in the top 10 state schools for sport in 2014 and continues to be in the top 20.

Mrs Brooking said: "Not much has change since I started in education, everything comes round full circle.

"It is not far off 40 years in eduction for me, from primary right through to secondary.

"I feel very humbled to achieve this award and have come here tonight with Simon Rees who I have worked closely with for 27 years and my colleague Sue Manning.

"Without people who support you so well it is very difficult to achieve anything and I have been totally supported by these two."