ENTRIES have started coming in for this year's The Bolton News Awards.

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

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

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

The Bolton News, along with its team of sponsors, is seeking out those who go above and beyond — from teachers, support staff and children.

The categories are Lifetime Achievement Award; Secondary School Pupil of the Year; Secondary Head Teacher; Secondary Teacher of the Year; Primary Teacher of the Year; Secondary Class of the Year; Primary School of the Year; Hayley Mathieson Fundraiser of the Year Award; Primary School Pupil; Teaching Assistant of the Year; Unsung Hero;Secondary School of the Year; and Primary Head Teacher and Primary Class of the Year

The winners will be presented with awards at a ceremony at The Holiday Inn, Bolton town centre on November 17 2016.

Entries are invited from teachers, parents, governors, pupils and anyone with knowledge of a particular school and can be submitted on the entry form (below) or on the full form which can be downloaded at theboltonnews.co.uk/school_awards.

All schools are welcome to enter as long as they are based in the borough.

The last date for receiving entries is Friday, September 23, 2016 and they can be emailed to: lisa.schofield@nqnw.co.uk or post to Education Awards, The Bolton News, The Wellsprings, Civic Centre, Bolton BL1 1AR

If you have any inquiries, please call 01204 537271.