THE Community Pride Awards are an "excellent opportunity" to celebrate the hard work of schools across the city according to an education recruitment agency.

Work With Schools, which is based in York, is sponsoring two categories in this year's prizegiving - School of the Year and Teacher of the Year.

The School of the Year prize aims to honour a primary or secondary school that has had a positive impact on its pupils and the wider community.

Ellis Campbell, educational recruitment consultant at Work With Schools, said: “Work with Schools are thrilled to sponsor the Community Pride Awards and recognise the work of schools who really make a difference to our local communities.

"The School of the Year award is an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to all the hard work and effort schools make not just in school but on a daily and lasting basis.

"Coming from a teaching background and seeing at first hand the difference schools actively engaged in the community can make, I know awards such as these are greatly appreciated and celebrated.”

The winner of last year's School of the Year award was Tang Hall Primary, whose teachers were praised by parents for their positive attitude and their teaching methods.

The school’s head teacher Catherine Precious said: “We work hard, we look after our families. They are the centre of everything we do. This award is a huge boost for morale. I am very proud to be the head of Tang Hall Primary.”

Clifton Green Primary School was also shortlisted for going the “extra mile” to help pupils and parents, while Yearsley Grove Primary School was chosen as a finalist after making a difference in the local community.

The Community Pride Awards are run by The Press in partnership with City of York Council and the primary sponsor is York-based healthcare organisation Benenden. All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York Council area. Three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October, when the winners will be revealed.

Entries can be posted to York Community Pride Awards, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN. Or submit your nomination online at yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride. The closing date for entries is July 27.

Nominations must include a supporting statement and may include a photograph, which unfortunately we will be unable to return.