Actor and comedian Hugh Dennis will be hosting this year’s TES School Awards, it was announced today.

The television and radio star, who plays a history teacher and beleaguered father in the BBC 1 sitcom Outnumbered, will take to the stage at the awards ceremony in central London on July 4.

Dennis, who was brought up in London and went to Cambridge University, has been nominated twice for a BAFTA for the his work on the series, which began in 2007. He also appears on Radio 4‘s The Now Show and television’s Mock the Week.

The TES School Awards honour schools and staff who have shown extraordinary innovation, dedication and hard work.

The winner of last year’s lifetime achievement award, Peter Sheppard, of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, in Wiltshire said: “It is a privilege to play some small part in helping young people reach their potential, which is reward enough in itself, but this award has made it all the more wonderful.”

The shortlist for each of the 16 categories was announced earlier this month. 

As well as primary, secondary and special school of the year, there are also awards for subject areas and other cross-curricular aspects of teaching including English, maths, enterprise and community, and use of educational technology. Contributors of teaching resources to the TES Connect website will also be recognised.