A CELEBRATION of exceptional North-East students and staff honoured outstanding achievements and academic success across the region.

The third annual Northern Echo Schools Awards, held at the Xcel Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, on Thursday saw ten awards dished out to deserving students, schools and staff from a pool of 26 finalists.

The Northern Echo’s deputy editor, Chris Lloyd, compered the afternoon after chairing a panel of judges and sponsors who shortlisted the nominees.

The Academy of Shotton Hall, in Peterlee, was named School of the Year after producing a list of ten reasons why the academy was the deserving winner.

The school, which has 1,250 pupils, was put in the top five per cent of schools across the country for the number of children achieving five A* to C grade GCSEs, including English and Maths.

The Head Teacher of the Year title was awarded to Julie Davidson who assumed the role of Darlington’s Red Hall Primary School’s leader in September 2013.

During her acceptance speech, Ms Davidson said: “It was the best decision I’ve ever made to move to Red Hall. It’s been truly wonderful so far.”

And the prize-giving saw Stanley’s North Durham Academy student, Azariah Smith, crowned as the Inspirational Pupil of the Year.

Azariah was praised by her teachers and peers for being a “real shining star” for her efforts to improve the school and her own abilities.

She was joined by Inspirational Teacher of the Year and Ox Close Primary School’s special educational needs co-ordinator, Laura Smith, who encouraged a pupil with ADHD to realise his potential at the Spennymoor school.

The Overcoming Adversity Award was presented to Aysgarth School’s Charlie York, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis four days after his first birthday.

Now 11, Charlie, from the school in Bedale, completed a fundraising walk less than three months after a bi-lateral lung transplant in 2014.

The School Support Staff Member Award went to Staindrop C of E Primary School’s caretaker, Michael Scott, who “continually goes the extra mile.”

Reid Street Primary School, in Darlington, was given the Healthy Living Award for its healthy school dinner initiative.

And Greenland Community Primary School earned the Active Community Award for supporting Stanley police officers with their own mini-police force.

Sedgefield Community College was given the Innovation Award after being named the North-East’s only “Advanced Thinking School” by The University of Exeter.

The Go Green Award for innovative plans to develop environmental awareness went to Wilton Primary School, in Middlesbrough.

*A souvenir supplement of The Northern Echo Schools Awards 2016 will be in Tuesday's (March 15) newspaper.