A BBC TV presenter paid tribute to teachers throughout Cheshire for helping pupils come to terms with recent tragic events such as the terror attacks in Manchester and London.

Dianne Oxberry, familiar to millions of TV viewers as the weather presenter on BBC North West Tonight, was speaking at the third Trinity Mirror Cheshire Schools Awards ceremony, sponsored by Excell Supply Limited, held at The Queen Hotel in Chester on Wednesday (June 28).

She said: “Teachers have had an increased role in safeguarding children and protecting them from the news of such tragedies, getting their reactions and helping them to cope.

“The role of teachers is really developing all the time and today we are here to celebrate what you have done.”

Dianne hosted the ceremony for the third time at what has become a major celebration of the hard work, dedication and achievements of schools throughout the county, the children who attend them and especially the staff who inspire them.

Cheshire Schools Awards 2017 logo
Cheshire Schools Awards 2017 logo

In his opening address, Trinity Mirror Cheshire weeklies executive editor Michael Green said: “In previous years, I have described education as being used as a political football by successive governments and I think it is fair to say that situation has not changed as we reach the half way point of 2017.

“Amid the chaos which can be caused by such political whims, it is headteachers, teachers and their support staff who have to try to make sure the focus remains on the most important people of all – the children who are making their way through the education system in the hope of improving their prospects for the future.”

Dianne then took everyone through each award in turn, with the winners invited to the stage to collect their trophies, many of them accompanied by children from the winning schools who attended the event.

The TV presenter concluded the ceremony by once again paying tribute to the exceptional work carried out by everyone who entered this year’s awards before announcing the final prize of the night: the winner of the general knowledge quiz who was Harrison Dunn of Leighton Academy who went home clutching a bag full of sweets!

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

School Achievement Award:

The winners of the Cheshire Schools Awards 2017 School Achievement Award were Eaton Bank Academy
The winners of the Cheshire Schools Awards 2017 School Achievement Award were Eaton Bank Academy

Winner: Eaton Bank Academy

Runners-up: Saughall All Saints; Sandbach High School

Best School Newspaper or Website:

Host Dianne Oxberry with the winners of the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards School Newspaper/Website of the Year - Frodsham C of E Primary
Host Dianne Oxberry with the winners of the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards School Newspaper/Website of the Year - Frodsham C of E Primary

Winner: Frodsham School News, Frodsham CE Primary School

Runners-up: Congleton High School website; The Blazer, The King’s Junior School

School Support Staff of the Year:

Vanessa Stockton of St Clare's Catholic Primary School in Lache celebrates winning the School Support Staff of the Year title at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards
Vanessa Stockton of St Clare's Catholic Primary School in Lache celebrates winning the School Support Staff of the Year title at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards

Winner: Vanessa Stockton, St Clare’s Catholic Primary School

Runners-up: Julie Capewell, Westlea Primary School in Upton; Mel Plant, The Grange at Hartford; Kerry Prendergast, St Werburgh’;s and St Columba’s, Hoole

Active Community Award:

Helsby High School were the winners of the Active Community Award at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards
Helsby High School were the winners of the Active Community Award at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards

Winner: Helsby High School

Runners-up: Frodsham Manor House Primary School; Eaton Bank Academy, Congleton

Inspirational Teacher of the Year:

The Inspirational Teacher of the Year at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards was Greg De Souza from Congleton High School
The Inspirational Teacher of the Year at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards was Greg De Souza from Congleton High School

Winner: Greg De Souza, Congleton High School

Runners-up: Fiona Weston, Neston High School; Shane Richardson, Queen’s Park High School, Handbridge

Primary School Head Teacher of the Year:

Kathryn Oates of St Werburgh's and St Columba's Primary School in Hoole was named Primary School Headteacher of the Year at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards
Kathryn Oates of St Werburgh's and St Columba's Primary School in Hoole was named Primary School Headteacher of the Year at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards

Winner: Kathryn Oates, St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s, Hoole

Runners-up: Rob Golding, Neston Primary School; Gill Barker, Lostock Gralam CE Primary School

Secondary School Head Teacher of the Year, sponsored by NCS:

Lyndsay Watterson of Queen's Park High School in Handbridge is presented with her Secondary School Headteacher of the Year award at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards by Phil White, relationships manager at sponsors National Citizen Service
Lyndsay Watterson of Queen's Park High School in Handbridge is presented with her Secondary School Headteacher of the Year award at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards by Phil White, relationships manager at sponsors National Citizen Service

Winner: Lyndsay Watterson, Queens Park High School, Handbridge

Runners-up: John Murray, Chester Catholic High School; Julie Brandreth, The County High School, Leftwich

Primary School of the Year, sponsored by Excell Supply:

Jon Everall of executive sponsors Excell Supply Ltd presents the Primary School of the Year award to Meadow Community Primary School of Great Sutton at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards
Jon Everall of executive sponsors Excell Supply Ltd presents the Primary School of the Year award to Meadow Community Primary School of Great Sutton at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards

Winner: Meadow Community Primary, Great Sutton

Runners-up: Leighton Academy, Crewe; St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s, Hoole

Secondary School of the Year, sponsored by Excell Supply:

Jon Everall of executive sponsors Excell Supply Ltd presents the Secondary School of the Year award to Sandbach High School at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards
Jon Everall of executive sponsors Excell Supply Ltd presents the Secondary School of the Year award to Sandbach High School at the 2017 Cheshire Schools Awards

Winner: Sandbach High School

Runners-up: Alsager School; Chester Catholic High School