2024 Award Winners & Runners Up
A huge congratulations to all our 2024 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
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:
Mark O’Brien
Marjory Kinnon School
The runners up for the School Business Leader of the Year award were:
Catherine Franchi
Selborne Primary School
Sharon Marsh
Freelance School Business Manager
Leadership Team of the Year Award
Sponsored by Capita Entrust
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:
Northern Counties School
(Percy Hedley Foundation)
The runners up for the Leadership Team of the Year award were:
Acorn School
Broadbridge 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:
Cardinal Pole School
The runners up for the School of the Year award were:
Avon Park School
Red Oak Primary School
Masefield Primary School
Phoenix Bay School
EdTech Innovator of the Year Award
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:
Goldsmith Primary Academy
The runners up of the EdTech Innovator of the Year Award were:
Adam Webster
Caterham School
James McNaughton
LVS Ascot
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 estate throughout the pandemic and beyond.
The winner of the Estates Management of the Year Award is:
Jason Smart
St Augustine’s Academy
The runners up of the Estates Management of the Year Award were:
Anne Alsop
Cheltenham Bournside School
Mo Millar
Acer Trust
Phil Whittall
Leigh Academies Trust
MAT of the Year Award
Sponsored by RM Education
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:
Diocese of Ely Multi Academy Trust
The runners up of the MAT of the Year Award were:
Life Education Trust
Vine Schools Trust
Ivy Learning 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:
Clare Greenhalgh
DRET Schools
The runners up of the Governor of the Year Award were:
Brian Main
Birchwood Junior School
Lily Man
Selly Park Girls School
School Resource Management of the Year Award
Managing your school’s resources effectively can have a massive impact on improving pupil outcomes. Driving value out of existing resources by managing current staff, estates and funds can ensure efficiencies and a better school environment. Therefore, this award recognises individuals, teams or schools for their excellent management of resources throughout the year.
The winner of the School Resource Management of the Year Award is:
River Learning Trust
The runner up of the School Resource Management of the Year Award was:
STEP Academy Trust