Award categories
Awards are presented in 11 categories.
Excellence in early years education
This award recognises an early years practitioner who:
- shows passionate and enthusiastic commitment to the outcomes of children's learning, physical and emotional development
- has innovative, inspiring and creative ideas
- engages and makes a difference to the whole early years setting and the wider community
- supports the mental health and well-being of children and peers
This award is open to early years settings, child minders and early years practitioners in schools.
Newcomer of the year
This award recognises an early years practitioner or teacher who:
- inspires and engages children and young people to help them reach their full academic and social potential
- creates a climate for learning in the setting or classroom that is characterised by enthusiasm for teaching and learning, high expectations and outstanding results
- draws creatively on a wide range of teaching and learning approaches
- contributes beyond the immediate learning environment to the life of the education establishment
- shows a continuing commitment to their own professional learning and personal development
This award is open to early years practitioners and teachers who have been in the profession for fewer than 3 years.
Teaching and school support of the year
This award recognises a team or individual who:
- has made an outstanding contribution in supporting children, young people and colleagues in their education setting and wider community
- is an asset to the teachers and staff they support
- actively engages and collaborates with others – for example, parents, teachers and other professionals – in supporting pupils' learning and social development
- is a shining example to pupils, parents and colleagues, and makes a real difference to the life of the children and the whole community
This award is open to all non-teaching staff who work in an education establishment – for example, teaching assistants, administration staff, caretakers.
Excellence in English or science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM)
This award recognises a team or individual who:
- helps children and young people develop English or STEM skills and applies these across the curriculum
- innovates and engages the whole educational establishment, with measured successes and outcomes
- has developed effective and imaginative approaches to learning
- has created a sense of enthusiasm among the children and young people for their subject
The nomination should include examples of how they have shared the understanding of their approach and involved the children, parents, carers and ultimately raised attainment of their pupils.
This award is open to early years settings, primary schools, secondary schools and post-16 providers.
Excellence in sport or the creative arts
This award recognises a team or individual who:
- uses sport or the creative arts to develop opportunities to improve outcomes
- through their dedication has promoted innovation for all learners to expand their sporting or creativity skills
- develops opportunities for sport or creative arts to be used across the curriculum
- has led projects that have benefited the whole setting, school or college, targeted groups of children and young people, and the wider community
We would like you to show how these ideas have benefited either the whole education establishment, targeted groups of pupils, or the wider community.
This award is open to early years settings, primary schools, secondary schools and post-16 providers.
Inclusive opportunities for skills development
This award recognises any education establishment, team, individual teacher or local business partner who:
- promotes the value of skills and practices for learning, life and work for all children and young adults, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- implements new ways of providing information to pupils at an early age, and their parents or carers, about future career opportunities
- to work with partners to promote opportunities to encourage independence from a young age
- has developed skills across all curriculum areas, making parents and carers aware, and understand the value, of skills for lifelong learning
- has actively promoted initiatives to stimulate interest in career pathways
- has developed innovative and inclusive projects to promote work experience, apprenticeships, university and other career pathways
In this nomination we would like you to include work that has supported SEND children and young adults to develop lifelong skills.
This award is open to nominations from early years settings, primary schools, secondary schools, post-16 providers and local businesses partners.
Mental health and well-being champion
This award focuses on making sure effective practice and provision is in place that promotes the emotional well-being and mental health of both staff and pupils. It recognises an individual, a team or a whole education establishment that:
- has shown commitment to promoting mental health as part of the life of the setting
- has had input to the development of a whole-setting strategy for improving the well-being of children and young people
- engages with the whole community to promote the in the importance of mental health, capturing the views of parents, pupils and colleagues on mental health and well-being issues
We would like you to detail projects led by the whole education establishment, teams or individuals that have supported staff, pupil and parents during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This award is open to early years settings, primary schools, secondary schools and post-16 providers.
Teacher of the year – primary
This award recognises a primary school teacher who:
- has engaged students and developed new ways to support learning and engaged with parents and the local community
- brings learning to life by engaging and inspiring young people to fulfil their potential
- is tireless in their efforts and encouragement
- has patience, passion, dedication and energy
- shows innovation, imagination and effort to develop children in ways that go beyond the league tables
In your nomination, tell us how the teacher has supported students, developed new ways to support learning, and engaged with parents and the local community.
Teacher of the year – secondary, including post-16
This award recognises a secondary school or post-16 teacher who:
- has developed new ways to support learning and engaged with parents and the local community
- brings learning to life by engaging and inspiring young people to fulfil their potential
- is tireless in their efforts and encouragement
- has patience, passion, dedication and energy
- shows innovation, imagination and effort to develop children in ways that go beyond the league tables
In your nomination, tell us how the teacher has supported students, developed new ways to support learning, and engaged with parent and the local community.
Education leader of the year
This award recognises a governor, governing board or trust, early years practitioner or teacher in a leadership role – including middle leaders, senior leaders, head teachers and chief executive officers – who:
- is an inventive and inspirational leader or governor with a clear vision of what they want to achieve
- motivates and involves staff, students and parents in teaching and learning, inspiring both staff and children and young people to reach their full potential
- has made significant contributions to improve outcomes of children and young people, overcoming challenges, working collaboratively with parents, colleagues and the wider community
- has created a truly happy and successful setting
Nominations should include details of achievements, successes, and may include independent testimonials of up to 100 words.
This award is open to members of leadership teams from early years settings, primary schools, secondary schools and post-16 providers.
Going the Extra Mile (GEM) award
This award is to recognise a team or individual who:
- has 'gone the extra mile' by their example, acting as a role model, inspiring and engaging others
- has made a significant contribution to their education establishment and the local community and has had a positive impact on day-to-day life of the children and young people
- has shown dedication and commitment to improving the life-chances of our children and young people
- works tirelessly behind the scenes to support staff, children and their parents
- has a 'can do' attitude that has overcome unprecedented challenges and had a positive impact on the education establishment and the wider community
This award is open to teaching and non-teaching staff in early years settings, primary schools, secondary schools and post-16 providers.