THE winners of the 2015 Lancashire Telegraph Schools Awards have been decided.

Judges met across two days this week to deliberate over the short-listed entries for 11 categories, including Inspirational Teacher, Unsung Hero and Lifetime Achievement.

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Nominations were received from all over East Lancashire, with the Unsung Hero category proving the most popular this time.

In many cases, the entries showed pupils achieving highly in the face of adversity.

In helping to choose the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Mebz Bobat, head of service in education partnership services at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said one of the nominees had “made a difference to kids’ lives”.

In the Secondary School Pupil of the Year category, judges from Nelson and Colne College, North Lancs Training Group and Cartridge World, described the entries as “incredible”.

Lancashire Telegraph editor Kevin Young said: “Once again, the process proved that we have some outstanding schools and pupils right across East Lancashire.

“I’d like to thank the sponsors for their input and insight, and guest judge Sir Bill Taylor.”

The winners will be contacted this week and will be announced in the Lancashire Telegraph ahead of a ceremony at Stanley House Hotel, Mellor on June 25.

Awards sponsors are Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Just Teachers Ltd, Nelson and Colne College, Accrington and Rossendale College, BAE Systems, Twin Valley Homes, Key Stage Teacher Supply, The Heights Alternative Provision and Eden BESD Free School, First Class Learning, North Lancs Training Group, and Cartridge World.