The full list of finalists for this year’s Herts Advertiser School Awards have been announced before the gala awards ceremony tonight.

The 2014 awards proved the most popular to date, with more than 140 nominations across all of the different categories.

A panel of judges spent hours going through each and every submission to select the finalists, and eventual winners, for this year’s competition.

Whether recognising pupils who are top of the class academically, sporting heroes or the teacher who is an inspiration to all of their students, the Herts Advertiser School Awards are the chance to give them the recognition they deserve.

As an extra incentive, the school with the highest number of winning entries will win £2,000 worth of building work courtesy of Oaklands College, which will also be hosting the gala awards ceremony in the beautiful grounds of the Smallford campus.

Oaklands principal Zoe Hancock said “Oaklands College is proud to be hosting the fourth School Awards. We are very fortunate in our district that we have so many valued and talented individuals in schools, and it’s important we recognise and celebrate these individuals. It’s going to be a fantastic night and a great way to round-up the school year.”

Herts Ad editor Matt Adams added: “Out of all the events I attend as editor throughout the year, this is the one I always look forward to the most. Not only am I pleased that the Herts Advertiser School Awards have grown in support and popularity over the past four years, but I also enjoy listening to the remarkable stories of achievements and success within our schools community.”

Teacher of the Year Primary

Geraldine Muncer - Alban City School

Elaine Bridle - Fleetville Junior School

Sara Head - Heathlands School for the Deaf

Stephanie Nye - High Beeches School

Cindy Impey - Sandridge School

Teacher of the Year Secondary

Jane Pearson - Beaumont School

Jess Lancaster - Nicholas Breakspear School

Andrew Cracknell - Sandringham School

Paul Kershaw - St Albans Girls’ School

Laura Howard - St George’s School

Pupil of the Year

Jonathan Light - Beaumont School

Thomas Martin - Beaumont School

Carol Ann Knight - St Albans Girls’ School

Holly Simons - St Albans Girls’ School

Toby Hughes - St George’s School

Sporting Achiever

Beaumont Girls under 15s Rugby Team- Beaumont School

Holly Brando - Beaumont School

Nick Isiekwe - Nicholas Breakspear School

Sandringham Yr 10 Basketball Team - Sandringham School

Kesi Oludyi - St George’s School

Innovation / Project

Teaching and Learning Team - Beaumont School

Piers Casimir - Beechwood Park School

Heathlands Harmony Choir (Sarah Brinsden / Lesley Reeves-Costi) - Heathlands School

Dragon’s Apprentice - St Albans Girls’ School

STAGS in Colours - St Albans Girls’ School

School of the Year Primary

Alban City School

Samuel Ryder Academy Primary School

High Beeches Primary School

Redbourn Infant & Nursery School

Wheatfields Infants and Nursery School

School of the Year Secondary

Beaumont School

Sandringham School

St Albans Girls’ School

St George’s School

Verulam School

Support Staff Member Award

Lewis Wynne - Beaumont School

Jake Awe - Gardens Field School

Margaret Southgate - Sandringham School

Rahena Choudhury - St Albans Girls’ School

Tracey Elliot-Brown - St Albans Girls’ School

Special Recognition Award

Beatriz Coehlo - Nicholas Breakspear School

Jodie Evans Webb - Sandringham School

Carol Ann Knight - St Albans Girls’ School

Unsung Hero

Daniel Angus - Beaumont School

Sue McKinnon - Sandringham School

Sarah Balmer - St George’s School

Sue Allen - St Peter’s School

Sue Stevens - The Lea Primary School & Nursery