JUDGING has taken place in the Daily Echo School Awards 2017.

Hundreds of nominations were scrutinised before a shortlist of three was drawn up in each of the 11 categories.

All shortlisted candidates will now be invited, with a guest of their choice, to a glittering awards ceremony to be held at Bournemouth's Talbot Heath School on Friday March 17.

Representatives of dozens of schools have made it on to the shortlist.

Schools include St Mark's Primary, Lockyer's Middle School, Carter Community School, Ringwood School and Bournemouth School for Girls.

Also represented are The Bourne Academy, Henbury View First School, Bournemouth Collegiate School, Bishop Aldhelm's Primary School and Ferndown Upper School.

Tickets for the awards event, which includes a three-course gala dinner, are now available and cost £49 each or £450 for a table of 10.

Those interested in attending are urged to buy their tickets as soon as possible because they sold out last year, leaving dozens disappointed.

You can get tickets by contacting Anna on 01202 411233.

School Business Services has been announced as a partner for the occasion and sponsors of individual categories include Blue Sky Financial Planning, Goadsby, Two Counties Cleaning Services Limited and the Bournemouth and Poole College.

The categories are:

Nursery/Primary Teacher of the Year

Middle School Teacher of the Year

Secondary School Teacher of the Year

PE Teacher of the Year

STEM Teacher of the Year

Newcomer of the Year

Supporting Staff Member of the Year

Art Creative Team Member of the Year

Teaching Assistant of the Year

Lifetime Achievement Award

Leadership Award