Staff and pupils at a Carlisle school which was devastated by last winter's floods are celebrating after scooping two prestigious awards tonight.

Newman Catholic School saw administration assistant Sarah James win the support staff of the year category at the 2016 CN Group Education and Learning Awards, better known as the Golden Apples.

She has been part of Newman's backroom team for just 18 months but in that time has made a massive impact, getting involved in all aspects of school life.

The school's Rock Challenge team was also honoured with a judges' special award.

The surprise award, supported by West Cumbria Works, was in recognition of the resilience and determination Newman School's staff and pupils had shown in light of what they faced in the aftermath of Storm Desmond.

West Cumbria Works helps unemployed and underemployed people in Copeland and Allerdale acquire new skills, behaviours and experience to find work.

Judges were impressed at how Rock Challenge had provided the school with a positive focus and helped it forge closer links with its community in the wake of the floods.

All of the contents of Newman School were lost when it was plunged under water in the aftermath of Storm Desmond.

The secondary school had to relocate from the city centre and move into the shell of an old primary school in Harraby which had just been vacated days earlier, with the site earmarked for development.

Children were initially taught using books and items donated from schools and companies from across the country while new supplies and temporary classrooms and facilities were secured.

Despite the upheaval, pupils insisted that staff pushed ahead with the Rock Challenge scheme.

The 2016 competition was the first time that Newman School had entered the popular performing arts competition which runs across the UK.

Lakes College, at Lillyhall near Workington, was also another big winner at the glittering gala event at Carlisle Racecourse.

It saw two students and a lecturer pick up individual awards - bricklayer Vincent Rourke was named learner of the year, Fiona Dixon was named lecturer of the year and mature student Gayle McCrickerd was winner of the against all odds category.

The seventh annual awards ceremony, supported by the University of Cumbria and personal development organisation Inspira, honoured local education, training and skills heroes from across all areas of learning and community life.

All 19 categories sought to highlight the range of lifelong learning opportunities on offer locally as well as showcase excellence and achievement in traditional academic and vocational fields as well as community and voluntary efforts.

Tributes were also paid to all the staff, individuals and teams who dedicate themselves to supporting and helping learners and children succeed.

Barrow-born Professor Peter Strike, who was vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria for five years until his retirement at the end of July, received the lifetime achievement award.

More than 200 finalists and guests were at the event, which was hosted by former broadcaster Julie Clayton.

Judging took place in August.

Mark Bowman, chief executive of Inspira; Dr Jackie Moses, director of the institute of education at the University of Cumbria; Kelly Pattison, education reporter at the News & Star; Marie Whitehead and Megan Norwood, from cnevents, were on the judging panel.

Other supporters of the 2016 awards were Lakes College, BAE Systems, Burnetts, nucleargraduates, Furness College, Riverside and West Cumbria Works.

2016 CN Group Education and Learning Award winners

  • Learner of the year - Vincent Rourke, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Workington
  • Support staff of the year - Sarah James, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle
  • Community Involvement - Footprints of our Fathers, North Allerdale Development Trust, Wigton
  • Technology in Learning - University of Cumbria
  • Teaching Assistant of the Year - Deborah Dent, Warwick Bridge Primary School
  • Award for Enterprise - Stephanie Walker, The Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton
  • Sporting Achievement - Lindal & Marton Primary School, Lindal-in-Furness
  • Award for Youth - Carlisle Youth Zone, Carlisle
  • Against All Odds - Gayle McCrickerd, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Workington
  • Apprentice of the Year - Jemima Armstrong, GlaxoSmithKline, Ulverston
  • Inclusion - Wreay CofE School, Wreay
  • Outstanding New Teacher - Danielle Cross, Solway Community School, Silloth
  • Teacher/Lecturer of the Year - Fiona Dixon, Lakes College, Lillyhall, Workington
  • Headteacher/Principal of the Year - Derek Kay and Sheila Johnston, Trinity School, Carlisle
  • Early Years Award - Sarah Cooper, Crosby Nursery, Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle
  • Primary School of the Year - Kirkbride Primary School, Kirkbride
  • Secondary School of the Year - Ulverston Victoria High School, Ulverston
  • Futures & Employability Award - Inspira
  • Lifetime Achievement Award - Professor Peter Strike, University of Cumbria
  • Judges' special award - Rock Challenge, Newman Catholic School, Carlisle

* See Monday's News & Star for further coverage and photographs from the 2016 CN Group Golden Apple Awards.