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Friday 11th July 2025

Welcome to the
Milton Keynes Education Awards

This year’s host will be announced soon

2024 Winners

Amanda Brown

Lifetime Achievement Award – Queensbury Consulting
“The winner of this award has dedicated their life to the enhancement of education. They have proven their long-term efforts have made a real difference to students, colleagues and the wider community. They go above and beyond their normal duties for the wellbeing and safety of students, families and staff.”

Denbigh School

Secondary School of the Year – SH Pratt Group
“The winner of this award met all the criteria, demonstrating innovation, imagination and efforts to develop children in ways that go beyond the league tables. They put emphasis on students becoming well-rounded, value-driven and determined adults.”

Holne Chase Primary School

Primary School of the Year – Kip McGrath
“The judges were very impressed by the winner’s exceptional performance. They believed the nominations showed unity within the school and demonstrated the staff’s dedication. The judges said that all the staff should be congratulated on what they have achieved.”

David Killic

Headteacher of the Year – Tick Education
“The leadership, dedication and passion for education of this winner stood out in the nominations. The winner has helped inspire and transform their school’s ethos and environment. Their achievements so far have been outstanding.”

Jade Carter

School Business Manager of the Year – Neves
“The winner of this award embodies professionalism and goes above and beyond her normal duties. She has shown a passion for improving the outcome for pupils and the wider community as well as keeping the business aspects of the school running smoothly.”

Stuart Adamson & Team

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion – All Things Business
“The winner of this award has demonstrated a huge impact on the entire school. They embody inclusivity and have shown their commitment to promoting understanding and celebrating diversity by ensuring that all students feel seen, heard and valued.”

Gayle Jones

Unsung Hero – GIANT
“The judges found this category incredibly humbling. The winner of this award demonstrated that they had a true impact on the whole school. They are dedicated to improving students’ wellbeing and have shown they are making a profound impact without seeking recognition. The winner’s humility, passion and commitment to students make them a true unsung hero.”

Janelle Harrier Wilson

STEM Award – SMC Corporation (UK) Ltd
“The winner of this award shows an extraordinary commitment to STEM in school and the wider community. They are dedicated to inspiring children through innovative teaching and highlighting the importance of STEM.”

Slated Row School

SEND School of the Year – Creating Tomorrow College
“The judges found this category very difficult as they were in awe of all finalists. But they could only choose one winner, and that is a school that has demonstrated that nothing is ever too much. The judges described them as a school Milton Keynes can be proud of.”

Outdoor Learning Team

Environmental and Sustainability Award – Apertus Group
“The winner of this award has inspired future generations by creating opportunities for young people to engage and learn about the importance of the environment. The judges thought the winners’ project was outstanding and demonstrated a commitment to engaging within education and with the wider community.”

Daniel Bennett

IT Champion – Aiimi
“The winner of this award empowers students and educators by fostering innovation to introduce new technologies for the benefit of educational outcomes. With a positive ‘I can do it and you can too’ approach and endless enthusiasm, they are an inspiration to students and colleagues alike.”

Dave Dowse

Sports Award – MK Preparatory School
“The judges were blown away by the winners’ commitment to the school by going above and beyond their normal duties. The winner has exceeded all the criteria for this award. They have demonstrated a real passion for inspiring the entire community through sports.”

Denbigh School Maths Faculty

Maths Team/Teacher of the Year – Xero
“The judges found this category very difficult, describing the finalists as ‘all brilliant’ but they could only choose one winner, and one finalist stood out. The judges were impressed by how they had demonstrated collaborative learning with a hands-on approach and unwavering commitment to students’ development.”

Susan Marshall

English Team/Teacher of the Year – Sign In App
The winner of this award stood out for her ambition and drive to help her students achieve excellent results. She has demonstrated an infectious enthusiasm that has rubbed off not only on her students but her colleagues as well.”
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Award Categories

The Independent Judges

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Debbie Dymock

Debbie is the founder and owner of Northamptonshire Careers and as a multi-award-winning CV Writer and Career Development Practitioner, works with educational establishments and professional organisations across the UK to support career education.

With qualifications in Adult Education and Career Guidance & Development and being a founding board member of the British Association of CV Writers, Debbie works with senior leaders in both business and education delivering a range of consultative services and building a business with a reputation for positivity, empathy, friendliness and success.

Debbie is involved with Wellingborough schools as a governor and an Enterprise Advisor providing strategic support in school policy and governance as well as bridging the gap between career education and the world of business.

She has a keen interest in developing the future talent pipeline for the careers sector and works with the Career Development Institute as an Assessor for the level 6 Career Leaders and Career Guidance & Development qualifications.

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Susan Popoola

Susan runs Mosaic Fusions Ltd, a Leadership organisation through which she works with purpose-driven leaders to navigate complexity and create impact, fulfilment, harmony and legacy for the benefit of self, the workplace and wider society. She has extensive cross-sector and international experience working with organisations and delegates from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, China and the US. She is also a Royal Society of Arts fellow, Good Work Guild member, and former Fellow of Windsor Castle’s Society of Leaders. She was also declared a Black Female Pioneer of Milton Keynes in 2023.

Having previously served on a school board for 10 years and as a youth worker, Susan runs Mosaic Wise, a CIC supporting young people who have been in care.

Susan is the author of Touching the Heart of Milton Keynes: A Social Perspective, Consequences: Diverse to Mosaic Britain, and most recently, Male Perspectives on The Value of Women at Work.

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Shammi Rahman

With over 20 years of experience in leadership, teaching, and leading religious education, Shammi is now a distinguished Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) consultant, advisor, and keynote speaker at HFL Education. She supports schools to address racial inequalities and improve outcomes for Black, Asian and ethnically minoritised pupils and staff. She has skills in teaching, project management, and research that enable her to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and deliver effective solutions.
She is an Advisory Board member for the Children’s Commissioner for England and a leader in other organisations that align with her mission and expertise in promoting inclusion in education and the wider community. As Vice President for MK Community Foundation, she supports local charities and community groups to tackle social issues and improve lives. Shammi’s publications, awards, and credentials demonstrate her impact and influence in her field. Shammi is motivated by the vision of creating a more inclusive, respectful, and compassionate world for all.

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Ian Pryce CBE

Ian Pryce CBE was Chief Executive of The Bedford College Group from 1988 to 2024, overseeing one of the largest educational groups in the UK, comprising seven colleges across Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the South East Midlands, including Bedford College, Tresham College and the National College for Motorsport.

He is also chair of the Regulation Compliance Committee and a Syndic at the leading research, teaching, learning and assessment organisation Cambridge University Press & Assessment; and works as a mentor for senior leaders within the Department of Education.

In 2023, Ian was awarded the Contribution to Northamptonshire Award at the Northamptonshire Education Awards.

See the Judging Process CLICK HERE