Ashby residents are being encouraged to make nominations in a newly launched national Teacher of the Year competition.

There is £1,250 in Ashby Gift Cards as a possible prize for those who take part.

Led by Ashby BID, the Ashby Gift Card was launched in 2022 and can be spent with over 50 businesses in the town, including shops, restaurants, attractions and salons, giving people an easy way to support local.

All types of teachers are eligible to be nominated for the Teacher of the Year award, including those from primary schools, secondary schools, special educational needs, early years, teaching assistants and headteachers. 

To nominate, people simply have to give the teacher's name and a reason that they deserve to be the Teacher of the Year.

The person who receives the most votes will be crowned as Teacher of the Year and will receive a £500 Town & City Gift Card of their choice, such as the Ashby Gift Card. 

One person who nominated the Teacher of the Year will also win a £250 gift card, and there will be a £500 gift card for the school where the winning teacher works.

Lisa Roulston from Ashby BID said the Teacher of the Year competition is a chance to celebrate hard-working teachers in the area.

She said: "It's just a couple of months until schools close for the summer after another busy year.

"The Teacher of the Year competition is a chance for families to say thank you to the hard-working teachers who've taught their children all year through.

"It takes just two minutes to nominate a teacher and there is a fantastic prize on offer, with £1,250 in Ashby Gift Cards to be won to be spent across our amazing local businesses in Ashby."

The Ashby Gift Card is part of the award-winning Town & City Gift Card concept from fintech Miconex. 

Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex and said: "Schools, and teachers, are at the heart of our communities, and our Teacher of the Year competition is a celebration of the teachers who are going above and beyond to educate, help and inspire young people. We'll be telling the stories of the nominations as they come in, giving teachers the recognition they deserve."

Nominate a teacher in the Teacher of the Year competition HERE.

The closing date for entries is the 31st August 2024 at midnight.

The Teacher of the Year will be announced in September 2024.