Sponsored by The Pioneer Cadet Awards

Recognising inspirational school leaders whose role has led to significant and positive improvements in secondary school education by inspiring and facilitating the wider school team.

2025 Recipient:  Dawn Ferdinand - Willow School / Broadwaters Children's Centre, London

Under her leadership as Co-Headteacher of The Willow Primary School and Broadwaters Children's Centre, both institutions have achieved successive 'Outstanding' Ofsted ratings, most recently in 2022 and 2023. In December 2024, Dawn was recognised with the Gold Award at the Pearson National Teaching Awards, evidence of her exceptional dedication and transformative impact on students' lives. Beyond her roles at The Willow and Broadwaters, she mentors aspiring leaders, supports headteachers as a school improvement partner, and advocates for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

 

Highly Commended

Max Wakeman - Goldsmith Primary Academy, West Midlands

Headteacher at Goldsmith Primary Academy in Walsall, Max exemplifies outstanding leadership qualities. Under his guidance, the school fosters a 'You Can Do It' ethos, inspiring nearly 480 students aged 2 to 11 to achieve both academic and personal excellence. His commitment to excellence has led to significant improvements, earning the school recognition for its progress. Max's leadership extends beyond the school; he actively engages with the community, strengthening the bond between school and home to support student success. His dedication to fostering a positive learning environment has been acknowledged in educational circles, highlighting his impact on student achievement.

Lynn Williams - St. Peter's CE Primary School, Lancashire

Under Lynn's guidance, St. Peter's has achieved numerous accolades, including the prestigious Inclusion Quality Mark and recognition as the Bolton News School of the Year in 2022. Her dedication to data management and ensuring high-quality teaching practices has not only elevated the school's performance but also inspired both staff and students to strive for excellence. In 2024, Lynn's outstanding contributions were further acknowledged when she received the Pearson National Teaching Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award, underscoring her profound impact on the educational community.

 

Sarah Hanson - St. Barnabas C.E. Primary School, Worcester

Under Sarah's guidance, St. Barnabas emphasises individual growth, encouraging students to reach their full potential within a supportive community. She leads a dedicated team, including Assistant Headteachers Mrs. Cotton and Mrs. Spence, working collaboratively to maintain high educational standards. Her leadership has been instrumental in creating a positive atmosphere where both staff and students thrive, reflecting her dedication to holistic education and community engagement. She was recognised at the 2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards. 

 

Kate Trethewy - Longthorpe Primary School, Cambridgeshire

Kate's exceptional leadership skills help to provide an inclusive and supportive educational environment at Longthorpe. Under her guidance, the school has maintained a 'Good' rating from Ofsted, with inspectors noting that pupils "celebrate diversity and understand each other’s differences," preparing them to be good citizens. Her collaborative approach extends beyond the school, as Longthorpe is a founding member of the Peterborough Keys Academies Trust, reflecting her commitment to community engagement and shared educational excellence. 

2024: Presented to Amanda Wilson

Headteacher at St Alfege with St Peter’s CofE Primary School, Amanda’s inspirational journey encompasses over 25 years’ in education and leadership. She has a track record for supporting teachers in securing leadership roles, and after being appointed to her first heads position in 2019, she has since gone on to publish a book aimed at encouraging the next generation of Black school leaders.

2024 Nominees

Rizwana Mahmood-Ahmed - Carlton Junior and Infants School, West Yorkshire
Caroline Evans - Park Primary School, Leicester

2023: Presented to Nicky Donley Kirton Primary School

As executive headteacher, Nicky Donley has achieved sustained success in improving educational standards for children at Parliament Federation schools. As executive headteacher at Kirton Primary, her communication skills have enabled effective collaboration with organisations both inside and outside the school, which has become a pillar of the community. Academic success places Kirton in the top 2 per cent of schools for progress and her work to provide money management skills to pupils has been recognised through numerous awards along with the school’s initiatives to improve staff wellbeing.

2023 Nominees

Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson
Headteacher - Anderton Park Primary School, Birmingham

Born in the city, Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson has been educating in and around Birmingham since graduating in philosophy at Swansea University. She became head of Anderton Park in 2012 and since then has displayed exemplary leadership skills, particularly in 2019 when faced with protests against the school’s equalities education policy. Sarah is fully supportive of the pressures faced by teachers. As an active member of the NAHT, she has been critical of OFSTED and has spoken out regarding the difficulties of its inspection process. Despite this, one inspector’s feedback noted: “She’s meant to be a leader.”

Helen Stott
Headteacher - Allerton CE Primary, Leeds

After studying English and Inter-Arts at Leeds University, Helen’s 30 year teaching career took in a number of local schools before becoming headteacher at Allerton when it was established in 2007. Overseeing its growth from 200 pupils to nearly 700, her leadership skills and drive to promote inclusivity and diversity in a school where 50 different languages are spoken have been recognised in numerous awards. Former pupil, England footballer Micah Richards described his experiences at Allerton in a recent BBC documentary: “Supportive, understanding and free from prejudice”.