Looking for the one who puts the care into caretaker

Pupils, parents and school staff across the county are being asked to nominate their favourites for the county council's annual award ceremony, Caretaker of the Year.

Councillor David Elkin, County Council lead member for learning and school effectiveness, said: "The success of any school obviously depends on many factors, not least its teaching staff and its leadership.

"But no-one should under-estimate the importance of the school caretaker. They are the people who keep schools ticking over. They ensure our children have the chance to learn in a safe, clean school.

"They keep the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer, yet so often they remain in the background. We want to celebrate their work and these awards are one way of doing that.

"We want to recognise and applaud the great work of our caretakers.

"It may be they deserve our thanks for long service, or maybe a time when they went beyond the call of duty."

Last year Ken Trigwell, of Burwash Primary School, took home the Caretaker of the Year Award.

This year, for the first time, there will be two awards: one for primary school caretakers, and another for secondary and special schools.

The awards will judged by Matt Dunkley, director of children's services at the County Council, and will be presented at the caretaker's annual meeting later this month.

All members of the school community can help to contribute to the nominations and pupils, teachers, parents and governors are invited to submit photos, poems, stories and artwork to headteachers who can use the information to support their proposal.