JUDGES have chosen the winners of this year's Worcester Education Awards but, of course, the victors won't be announced until the night of the ceremony, Thursday June 20.

A panel of judges met at the University of Worcester's St John's Campus on Thursday to choose the winner and two runners-up in each of the 12 awards categories.

Those three finalists for each award will be revealed in a special supplement in the Worcester News on Thursday May 23.

Hundreds of nominations have been submitted since the January launch of the awards, which are organised by the Worcester News in partnership with the University of Worcester. That meant the panel of judges had the difficult decision of choosing just one winner and two runners-up from so many impressive entries.

One of the judges, Worcester News editor Michael Purton, said: "The standard of nominations was exceptional so we had a really tough job picking winners. Everyone who was nominated can be proud that someone considered them worthy of recognition."

The other judges were: Mike Foster, Worcester's former MP and now the CEO of the Energy and Utilities Alliance; Worcestershire LEP's Gary Woodman; Worcestershire Children First's Penny Richardson; the University of Worcester's Deborah Langston and Thomas Weaver; Worcestershire County Council's Denise Hannibal; Babcock Prime's Liz Holt; and the Worcester News' Sue Griffiths and Dale Godliman.

Now in their third year, the awards celebrate excellence in education. Anyone could nominate their favourite individual or organisation, whether they were a pupil, member of staff, parent or friend.

Winners will be announced during an awards dinner at the University Arena in Worcester on Thursday June 20.

For more, see worcesternews.co.uk/awards/worcestershire_education_awards/news