The benchmark of excellence
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The Education Excellence Awards celebrate the people, businesses and organisations doing exceptional work. Explore the categories and help recognise someone shaping the future through their achievement, leadership and impact.
Education Excellence Awards
Headteacher of the Year Award
The leader who turned a school into a place where everyone thrives.
About this category
This award recognises a headteacher, principal or head of school whose leadership has raised standards, strengthened the school community and supported staff. Judges look for the leader's own decisions and their effect on pupils, staff and families.
Eligibility
- Open to headteachers
- Principals
- Executive heads and heads of school
Judging criteria
- Improvement in outcomes
- Culture and ethos
- Staff development and wellbeing
- Inclusion
- Community engagement
Qualitative criteria
- Vision
- Integrity and the trust of the school community
Metrics
- Outcomes and progress
- Attendance
- Staff retention
- Inspection outcomes and parent feedback
Additional criteria
Entries should include a concise case study, supporting figures and, where possible, feedback from pupils, students, parents or colleagues. Never include names, images or any detail that could identify a child, pupil or student: describe work in anonymised terms and give results as percentages or ranges. Nothing in an entry is shared beyond the judging panel. Judges consider the size and context of the setting, so small schools and providers compete on equal terms.
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