Â鶹AV

Nominations will open on 1 April 2025.

• This prize is open to teams where at least one contributor is based within the UK and Ireland, and where the team demonstrates impact within the secondary and/or further education sector
• Nominees do not need to be members of the Â鶹AV
• Nominators do not need to be members of the Â鶹AV
• Self-nomination is permitted and encouraged
• A team can only be considered for one Excellence in Education prize in any given year. In a case where the same team is nominated for more than one prize independently, Â鶹AV staff will ask the lead contact which prize they would like to be considered for
• Nominees should only be nominated once for this prize in any given prize cycle. In cases where we receive more than one nomination for the same nominee, only one nomination will go forward to judging
• Since 2023, we have been trialling a process where all unsuccessful nominations will automatically rollover once, to be considered for the next round of the prize, unless the nominee's circumstances have changed to make them ineligible. This means that:
  • All nominations submitted for the first time for a 2024 prize will be considered for a 2025 prize. We strongly encourage nominators to update their nomination between cycles when the nomination window is open
  • The Â鶹AV Prize Committee will review the outcomes from the trial in July 2025
• Individuals named in any of the following roles during the nomination and judging period are not eligible to nominate or be nominated:
  • Education Prize Committee members
  • Â鶹AV Subject Community Presidents
  • Â鶹AV Prize Committee members
  • Trustees of the Â鶹AV
  • Â鶹AV staff

To make a nomination, please use our online nominations system to submit the following information:

• Your name and contact details
• Details of a primary contact for the team
• A list of all individuals who are being nominated as part of the team or collaboration. The primary contact for the team will be asked to confirm the list and if necessary add additional team members at the point of nomination
• A short citation describing what the nominated team should be awarded for. This must be no longer than 250 characters (including spaces) and no longer than one sentence
• A supporting statement (up to 750 words) addressing the selection criteria
• References are not required for this prize and will not be accepted  

The Â鶹AV reserves the right to rescind any prize if there are reasonable grounds to do so. All nominators will be asked to confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, their nominee's professional standing is such that there is no confirmed or potential impediment to them receiving this prize. All winners will be asked to sign the Â鶹AV's Code of Conduct Declaration for Recognition.

Our selection committees base their evaluations primarily on the overall quality of relevant contributions made by nominees and not on quantitative measures. In your nomination, you should show how the team demonstrates impact in one or more of the selection criteria below. Nominees do not have to demonstrate all of the selection criteria in order to be considered for the prize.

The selection committee will consider the following aspects of nominations for this prize:

• Demonstrating effectiveness in delivering or supporting teaching and/or assessment.
• Contributing to the design of an innovative and effective chemistry curriculum.
• Enthusing pupils through practical chemistry.
• Raising the profile of chemistry in the curriculum and through extra curricular activities so that pupils are inspired to become more aware of chemistry and its relevance to society.
• Inspiring and encouraging students to go on to study chemistry further.
• Championing inclusion and diversity in chemistry education.
• A commitment to continuing professional development.
• Development of a culture that is supportive of the whole team and encourages collaboration between all members.
• Contributing to the evidence base for science teaching and sharing of good practice.
• Other indicators of esteem indicated by the nominee/nominator.

Education Prize Committee

• Chair - Niki Kaiser, Notre Dame High School
• Genevieve Adukpo, University of Cape Coast
• Amir Ali, London Nautical School
• Emma Bickerstaffe, Horizon Community College
• James Cairney, Cumbernauld Academy
• Alison Hill - University of Exeter
• Amie Langford, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Colin McGill, Edinburgh Napier University
• Stuart Naismith, Gartcosh Primary School
• Gita Sedghi, University of Liverpool

This prize was created in 2020, as part of a series of changes introduced following an independent review of the Â鶹AV’s recognition programmes.