The search has started for Argyll and Bute’s brightest education stars as local people are called upon to nominate top teaching professionals and schools in the area for recognition at the Scottish Education Awards 2013.

The awards, which celebrate hard work and innovation in Scottish classrooms, are now open for nominations after Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell launched the awards this week.

Mr Russell said: “It's a great pleasure to once again be launching the Scottish Education Awards.  These Awards give us all an opportunity to recognise, share and celebrate the fantastic work that is going on in our schools and across the Scottish education sector. I hope schools, parents, pupils and teachers in Argyll and Bute will be inspired to think about  all of the great things that they are doing that could be shared with others through these awards.”

Lead Councillor for Education and Lifelong Learning at Argyll and Bute Council Michael Breslin added: “I am always impressed by the imagination and inspiration that is demonstrated by teaching professionals and the superb projects that are undertaken by pupils in the area.

“Argyll and Bute Council has been very successful at these awards in the past and won 2 last year. One for Port Ellen Primary School for Learning through Technology and another for Alison Robertson at Furnace Primary School who won Educational Supporter of the Year. We are all very proud of the work that goes on in our schools and those efforts should be highlighted across the country.  We would like to encourage local people to nominate their education stars for an accolade at the Scottish Education Awards 2013.”

Bill Maxwell, Education Scotland CEO, said: “I'm delighted that Education Scotland is now playing a key role in promoting these prestigious Awards. The nominees will come from all over the country, put forward by other individuals who have noticed how much of a difference their efforts are making to the lives of our young people.   The Awards recognise innovation, persistence and achievement in our education system, and they celebrate the contribution of individuals who go the extra mile in what are sometimes the toughest of circumstances. Taken together, they are symbolic of the huge commitment of our highly professional education workforce and the learners they serve, a national asset in which all of Scotland can feel pride.”

The awards are open to all publicly funded schools, including secondary, primary, nursery and special schools. There are also categories to recognise and reward the dedication of teachers, head-teachers and support staff across Scotland as well as parents as partners in learning.   

Do you know a local school that shines within the community or an exemplary teacher who motivates and nurtures pupils to become confident learners?  If so, this is the opportunity to ensure that deserving schools and education stars in Argyll and Bute are recognised.  

For further information and to make a nomination visit www.scottisheducationawards.org.