Edufuturists Awards 2025: The rebels, risk-takers, and revolution-makers

By StopPress

10 Jul 2025

Website
Edufuturists_Uprising.png.png

30,000+ votes Cast as the Wolfpack celebrates those who give a damn about education’s future

The Edufuturists Awards 2025 just wrapped up in Manchester, and we’re still buzzing from celebrating the absolute legends who are tearing down the factory walls of education and building something extraordinary.

More than 150 members of our passionate Wolfpack Community gathered for the Edufuturists Uprising ceremony - and let’s be honest, ‘ceremony’ doesn’t quite capture the energy. This was more like a rally for everyone who refuses to accept that learning has to stay ordinary.

Seven years in, and we’re not slowing down. If anything, we’re picking up speed.

With over 30,000 votes cast across 19 categories, the global education community has spoken loud and clear: they’re done with mediocrity and ready to champion the people actually making change happen.

The game-changers taking home the gold

This isn’t your typical corporate back-slapping exercise. These winners are the real deal - the rebels with a cause, the innovators with integrity, the visionaries who’ve got the expertise to turn their dreams into reality.

Fiona Aubrey-Smith snagged the flagship Edufuturist of the Year award (cheers to Senso for sponsoring).

She joins an absolutely stellar lineup including Deb Millar (2024), Al Kingsley (2023), and our inaugural winner Aftab Hussain (2019). This isn’t just about what you’ve done - it’s about where you’re taking education in the next 20 years.

Professor Rose Luckin claimed the Outstanding Achievement award (massive thanks to Xentra for backing this one). Her work in educational technology and AI research isn’t just impressive on paper - it’s actually changing how kids learn across the globe.

 The institutions refusing to play it safe

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill schools ticking boxes and playing it safe. These are the places where magic happens:

  •  University of Sheffield (AMRC Training Centre) - University of the Year (Let’s Thrive sponsoring)
  • Bradford College - College of the Year (Kami backing excellence)
  • XP School, Doncaster - Secondary School of the Year (Canva supporting innovation)
  •  Whitefield Primary School, Liverpool - Primary School of the Year (NetSupport championing young minds)
  •  Cottesmore School - Independent School of the Year (C-Learning investing in futures)
  •  Minerva’s Virtual Academy - Online School of the Year (ParentPay supporting digital transformation)
  • Woodland Academy Trust - Multi-Academy Trust of the Year (Clever recognising collective impact)
  • The Greenhouse Hyflex Curriculum - Diversity & Inclusion Champion (Happy2Host Education celebrating belonging) 

The Individuals changing the game

These are the people in the trenches, day in and day out, refusing to settle for “that’s how we’ve always done it”:

  •  Rachel Tomlinson (Barrowford Primary School) - Educational Leader of the Year (Skolon sponsoring leadership excellence)
  •  Kirsty Rogers - Educator of the Year (Lead IT backing brilliance)
  •  Chris Goodall - AI Pioneer (Teesside University supporting innovation)
  •  Corianne Gjertsen - Accessibility Champion (Everway championing inclusion)
  •  Gary Henderson - Outstanding IT Professional (ANME recognising tech excellence)
  •  Clare McGrath - Skills Development Champion (Canopy investing in futures)
  •  Louisa Rose - Wellbeing Champion (Six Connections supporting student flourishing)

Breaking new ground

2025 brought us a game-changing new category because, let’s face it, if we’re not preparing kids for the climate reality they’re inheriting, what the hell are we doing?

Dr Leigh Hoath - Sustainability Champion (StopPress sponsoring the future of our planet)

Design4SDGs won Most Innovative Educational Project (massive shoutout to Portsmouth: The Digital City for sponsoring - and yes, they’re a former winner themselves). This is what happens when education tackles real-world challenges instead of theoretical bollocks.

 Why this matters (and why we’re not stopping)

“The 2025 awards showcase the incredible diversity and innovation happening across education,” says Ben Whitaker, Director of Edufuturists.

“From AI pioneers transforming how we think about learning, to sustainability champions addressing climate challenges, to schools and colleges redefining what excellence looks like - these winners represent the future of education being built today.”

Steve Hope from Edufuturists added: “With over 30,000 votes cast this year, we’ve seen unprecedented engagement from the global education community.

"This, combined with expert assessment from our judging panel, ensures our winners truly represent excellence recognised by their peers.”

The Wolfpack keeps growing

We’re not just handing out awards and calling it a day. The Edufuturists movement is building something bigger - a global community of educators, leaders, and innovators who are actively transforming educational practice in their own settings.

Through our podcast, events, and WhatsApp Community, we’re connecting the people who refuse to accept ordinary.

As education faces challenges that would make your head spin, the Edufuturists Awards continue to shine a spotlight on those who are building solutions, inspiring others, and proving that extraordinary education isn’t just possible - it’s happening right now.

About the Edufuturists Awards

We celebrate rebels, innovators, and visionaries who are transforming education for the better. Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s necessary.

Our awards combine the democratic voice of the global education community with expert assessment to find the people who are genuinely shaping the future of learning.

Ready to see what education looks like when vision meets expertise? Check out the full ceremony here

 

Enjoyed this? Read more from StopPress

Latest news

1

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes Royal Bowland Park street scene NEW.jpg.jpg

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes

29 Oct 2025

2

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth - Representatives from the University's Business School, local SMEs and the IOEE

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth

29 Oct 2025

3

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire BAE Typhoon ECRS Mk2 Radar

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire

28 Oct 2025

4

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold The Mill at Conder Green

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold

28 Oct 2025

5

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm

27 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
28 Oct 2025 - 18 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

16:46 - 16:45

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The AI Lab: E-commerce
Ai Lab ecommerce (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin