Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, school and trust leaders, governance professionals, and – most importantly – the educators and operational teams who keep our system moving forward every single day: good evening. It is an honour to welcome you to the National School Awards here at the House of Lords, a place that has witnessed the shaping of our nation’s most important decisions. Tonight, it stands witness to something equally significant – the celebration of excellence, dedication, and transformative impact in education across the United Kingdom.
Tonight, we gather not only to recognise outstanding work, but to reflect on what makes that work possible. Across thousands of schools, in bustling cities and remote rural communities, remarkable people are doing remarkable things. They are shaping futures, expanding opportunity, and nurturing the talent, resilience, and compassion that our country needs for the decades ahead.
But excellence – true, sustainable, organisation-wide excellence – does not happen by accident. It is built on foundations. And at the heart of our most successful schools and trusts, we consistently see five pillars that support everything they do: Culture, People, Productivity, Systems and Data, and Continuous Improvement.
Culture is the first pillar – for good reason. It is the heartbeat of every school and trust. It is the sense of belonging that pupils feel when they walk through the gates each morning. It is the professional pride that teachers carry into their classrooms. It is the clarity of purpose that leaders model, day after day, even in the toughest circumstances. Tonight, we celebrate organisations that have built cultures of aspiration, kindness, inclusivity, and courage. Cultures where both children and adults can thrive. These cultures don’t just happen; they are crafted – carefully, deliberately – by the leaders and teams we honour tonight.
The second pillar is People. Education is, and always will be, a people-powered endeavour. We celebrate the teachers who ignite curiosity, the leaders who provide direction, the support staff who create safe environments, and the governance professionals whose guidance ensures accountability, clarity, and stability. Governance professionals – often unsung, yet indispensable – are the stewards of organisational integrity. They hold the long view while the rest of us manage the day-to-day. Their skill ensures that strategy remains anchored, that compliance is robust, and that decisions are informed, transparent, and ethical.
The third pillar – Productivity – is not about squeezing more out of already stretched teams. Rather, it’s about enabling people to do their best work. It is about reducing friction, clarifying priorities, and ensuring that energy is directed where it matters most: the pupils. Schools that master productivity create space – for innovation, for creativity, for wellbeing. They recognise that efficiency, when rooted in humanity, is liberating.
Then there is the fourth pillar: Systems and Data. These days, the complexity of running a school or trust rivals that of many major organisations. Budgets, safeguarding, curriculum pathways, estates, HR, SEND provision, risk management – the list is long, and it grows each year. Strong systems provide stability. Good data provides truth. Together, they allow leaders to see clearly, act confidently, and measure impact meaningfully. They transform chaos into coherence. And they enable teams to shift from firefighting to future-building.
Finally, the fifth pillar: Continuous Improvement. The countries and organisations that succeed – truly succeed – are those that refuse to stand still. Continuous Improvement is not a slogan; it is a mindset. It is the willingness to reflect, to learn, to adapt, to iterate. It is the humility to accept that no matter how well we are doing, we can always do better. In schools across the UK, from small primaries to large trusts, CI is taking root: through coaching cultures, robust self-evaluation, professional development, and collaborative networks. It is the engine of long-term excellence.
But these pillars – culture, people, productivity, systems and data, and continuous improvement – do not stand alone. They are held upright by the people who animate them every day. And among those people, we must acknowledge a group whose contribution is absolutely vital, yet often overlooked: our operational professionals.
Operations teams are the invisible architecture of our education system. They ensure our buildings open, our budgets balance, our safeguarding is watertight, our procurement is secure, and our technologies function. They manage complexity with calmness, navigate regulation with expertise, and create the conditions in which teaching and learning can flourish. Without operational professionals, no school – or trust – could function. They are not peripheral. They are not secondary. They are central to the strength and success of the entire system. Tonight, we honour them too.
As we celebrate the finalists and winners this evening, let us also recognise the truth that their achievements reflect something deeper: leadership that is principled, teams that are united, governance that is wise, and operations that are dependable. Each award represents countless hours of committed work and countless acts of service – many of which will never be publicly seen, but are deeply felt by the communities they support.
And to those leaders here tonight: your work is not easy. In fact, at times it can feel impossibly difficult. You carry the weight of responsibility for children’s wellbeing, staff welfare, community trust, and organisational performance. But you carry it with dignity, compassion, and a determination that inspires us all. Thank you for your resilience, your creativity, your integrity, and your relentless focus on what matters.
To your teams: thank you for your energy, your professionalism, and your unwavering belief that every child deserves the chance to thrive. Whether you're teaching phonics, coaching early career teachers, designing curricula, managing attendance, or ensuring safeguarding is robust, you are shaping life chances, one decision, one action, one relationship at a time.
And to governance professionals and trustees: thank you for your far-sighted stewardship, your tireless commitment, and your role in ensuring that schools and trusts remain not only effective, but ethical, transparent, and mission-driven. You are the guardians of strategic clarity and public trust.
As we celebrate tonight, let us also look ahead. Our education system faces both challenges and opportunities. It faces shifting landscapes, rising expectations, and ongoing pressures. But it also holds extraordinary potential. With strong leadership, empowered teams, effective governance, and the five pillars that underpin organisational success, we have everything we need not merely to navigate the future – but to shape it.
Tonight is a reminder that excellence already lives among us. It is in this room. It is in every story we will hear. It is in the examples we will celebrate. And it is in the quiet, determined, everyday actions of the people who make our schools places of hope, safety, and opportunity.
So let us celebrate generously. Let us recognise boldly. And let us leave tonight inspired – knowing that the future of education in this country is bright, because the people who lead it are exceptional.
Thank you – and congratulations to all of our finalists and winners. Let the celebrations begin.