2025 Winners & Runners Up
A huge congratulations to all our 2025 Award Winners & Runners-Up!
There were 8 different award categories, each one specifically designed to reward hard-workers, innovators and exceptional school leaders across the education sector.
Below are the award nominees & winners for each award category:
School Business Leader of the Year Award
Sponsored by Access Education
This award celebrates an exceptional school business leader who has radically reinvented the perception of the traditional school business manager within not just their own setting but across their local region and is a trailblazer for projecting professionalism.
They will also show an exceptional ability to for delivering excellent resource management across their own school, ensuring financial viability whilst still improving pupil outcomes.
The winner of the School Business Leader of the Year award is:
The runners up of the School Business Leader of the Year award were:
Steve Parkinson
The Vale Federation
Dawn Boyes
United Learning
Lisa Tupman
Synergy Education Trust
Leadership Team of the Year Award
Sponsored by Capita
This award celebrates individuals/schools that are driving the strategic direction of their school, through joined-up leadership across the SBP, Headteacher and Chair of Governor in developing a strategic plan for the school and developing appropriate budgets and long-term planning to facility these plans.
The winner demonstrates a positive impact on securing the sustainability of the school, whilst improving pupil outcomes.
The winner of the Leadership Team of the Year Award is:
Stanhope Primary School
The runners up of the Leadership Team of the Year Award were:
Atlas Primary School
Freshfield Primary School
School of the Year Award
Sponsored by Reed
This award will celebrate a school that has delivered huge improvements for their pupils’ outcomes, improved year-on-year through its exam results, introduced a new and innovative curriculum that has provided tangible results, overcome a challenging period or simply worked tirelessly to ensure the successful running of their school and general wellbeing of the staff and pupils at the school.
The winner of the School of the Year Award is:
Beaumont Leys School
The runners up of the School of the Year Award were:
Stanhope Primary School
The Lakes School, Windermere
EdTech Innovator of the Year Award
Sponsored by VenturEd Solutions
This award celebrates an individual or school who has helped to introduce new EdTech into their school setting for the benefit of pupils and staff or the general efficiency of their school.
The winner of the EdTech Innovator of the Year Award is:
Woodland Academy Trust
The runners up of the EdTech Innovator of the Year Award were:
Crosthwaite C.E. Primary School
The Hastings Academy
Estates Management of the Year Award
Sponsored by MAC Construction Consultants
A school estate is one of the most critical parts of a school’s success and the management of school buildings and infrastructure is often an overlooked aspect of day-to-day school life. As such, this award will recognise those who have continued to manage and improve their schools’ buildings and estates.
The winner of the Estates Management of the Year Award is:
Lee Rushforth
Wickersley Partnership Trust
The runners up of the Estates Management of the Year Award were:
Endeavour Learning Trust
Terry Bland
Elevate Multi Academy Trust
MAT of the Year Award
Sponsored by Phone Locker
This award celebrates a MAT that has successfully turned around their schools or has managed to grow whilst maintaining or increasing positive pupil outcomes. The MAT can be any size and should show examples of using innovation and imagination to improve their schools.
The winner of the MAT of the Year Award is:
Kings Group Academies
The runners up of the MAT of the Year Award were:
E-ACT
Wade Deacon Trust
Governor of the Year Award
Governors play a vital role in the smooth running and management of a school and the relationship with the senior leadership team is critical to ensure positive pupil and staff outcomes. As such, this award celebrates school Governor that has performed above and beyond their role in providing exceptional advice, leadership and guidance in the running of their school.
The winner of the Governor of the Year Award is:
Vicky Bayley
Eastfield Academy
The runners up of the Governor of the Year Award were:
Shaun Flynn
The Gainsborough Academy
Jeffery Lough
Northern Counties School
SEND Leader of the Year Award
SEND practice continues to be an incredibly challenging but crucial part of the education sector and a domain which requires the full support of a school and/or trust. We are looking for a SEND leader who consistently strives to improve educational outcomes and provide the highest quality support for their pupils, both through their own endeavours and through collaboration with their leadership team.
The nominees of the SEND Leader of the Year Award are:
Robert Bell
Consillium Academies
The runners up of the SEND Leader of the Year Award are:
Zoey Shelley
Acorn School
Melissa Hendry
Red Gates School Croydon
Special Recognition Award
Our Special Recognition Award honours an individual whose exceptional dedication, impact, or contribution has gone above and beyond within the education community. This award celebrates outstanding commitment that has made a meaningful difference to pupils, colleagues, or the wider school environment.
The winner of the Special Recognition Award is:
Mathew Smith
Sheringham Woodfield School