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

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.