The brilliant Lancashire schools, teachers & trusts that won big at the Educate Awards

A Lancashire teacher was named Teacher of the Year at the Educate Awards on Friday, 14 November, joining a local school and multi-academy trust among this year’s winners.

Stuart Hide from Runshaw College took home the highly coveted Teacher of the Year award.

Stuart’s inspirational leadership and unwavering commitment to student success have transformed one of the UK’s most technical post-16 qualifications into a nationally respected programme.

A former royal engineer, Stuart brings real-world experience, discipline, and compassion into his teaching, and his impact extends beyond the classroom.

He has raised over £15,000 for Claire House Children’s Hospice in memory of his daughter, Poppy, and was honoured by the Department for Education with an invitation to a Royal Garden Party.

Other winners include Burnley High School, which won the Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award.

The secondary school has built long-term partnerships with local organisations such as Ashmeade Residential Home, Pendleside Hospice, and Burnley Football Club, delivering projects that support intergenerational connection, cultural access, and charitable giving.

From food drives and environmental campaigns to mentoring and inclusive events, Burnley High School ensures that disadvantaged students and families are supported and empowered.

Endeavour Learning Trust also won Most Inspirational Multi Academy Trust, having been runners-up in the same category last year, for its unwavering commitment to creating schools where children and staff feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive.

The trust has expanded opportunities for families and communities by securing approval to open a new nursery and two SEND provisions; it has strengthened its support for communities by launching a free safeguarding academy and CPD networks for schools beyond the Trust; it also delivered 600 holiday food parcels to families in need and introduced Endeavour Open Networks to share best practices among over 200 educators.

This year’s awards was also opened by Endeavour Learning Trust, with an incredibly moving tribute to Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, two beloved pupils from Churchtown Primary School, part of the trust, who, along with Elsie Dot Stancombe, tragically lost their lives in the Southport attack last year.

Students from Endeavour Learning Trust’s secondary schools brought the tribute to life through a heartfelt monologue combined with expressive dance.

The Educate Awards said that their performance was a powerful reminder of the strength, compassion, and unity that continues to shine throughout the community.

What are the Educate Awards?

Now in its fourteenth year, the Educate Awards features 21 diverse categories and shines a spotlight on all aspects of education from sports and arts to literacy and the environment.

The shortlist recognises inspiring teachers, dedicated support staff and strategic leadership teams who continue to make a meaningful difference in their communities.

As the largest and most prestigious education awards in the region, the Educate Awards brings together schools, colleges and multi academy trusts from Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside for a night of celebration and recognition.

In partnership with ASL Group, the glittering ceremony took place at the Liverpool Cathedral and welcomed over 600 guests. The evening was hosted by broadcaster Simon ‘Rossie’ Ross.

Alongside the awards ceremony was a delicious three-course gala dinner and further show-stopping entertainment from the region’s schools, including students and staff from The Academy of St Nicholas, Liverpool, who took to the red carpet for a captivating fashion show that highlighted the environmental impact of fast fashion.

Bringing an end to the evening’s entertainment was West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral whoseudents delivered an electrifying performance from ‘Six: the Musical!’, which reimagines the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives, transforming them into bold, dynamic pop icons who take centre stage to reclaim their stories.

Associate sponsors of the Educate Awards 2025 include: All About Futures, Angel Solutions, Apprenticeships at Liverpool Hope University, CER, CPMM Media Group, Frank Field Education Trust, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Careers Hub, LJMU, LSSP, Portakabin, Satis Education and SENDSCOPE.

More information about the Educate Awards can be found here.

What has been said about the awards?

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, said: “Congratulations to Stuart Hide from Runshaw College, Burnley High School and Endeavour Learning Trust for their success at this year’s Educate Awards!

“A big well done to the runners-up and finalists, and thank you to everyone who took the time to enter. Each year, the judges’ job gets harder, and once again, the results were incredibly close.

“We’re incredibly proud that the Educate Awards continues to shine a light on the remarkable achievements of schools and colleges across the region. The dedication, creativity and care shown by staff and students never fails to inspire us.

“Entries for the 2026 awards will open in February, and we encourage schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts of all kinds to get involved.”

The Educate Awards 2025 winners and runners-up:

Most Impactful Communications Award, sponsored by CPMM Media Group

Winner: St Edward's College, Liverpool

Runner-up: Maghull High School, Sefton

Outstanding Commitment to the Environment & Sustainability

Winner: Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School, Manchester

Runner-up: Hope Academy, St Helens

Careers & Enterprise Award, sponsored by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Careers Hub

Winner: Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Wirral

Runner-up: Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Wirral

Outstanding SEND Provision in Mainstream School, sponsored by SENDSCOPE

Winner: Whitefield Primary School, Liverpool

Runner-up: Our Lady and St Swithin's Catholic Primary School, Liverpool

School Library of the Year, sponsored by Portakabin

Winner: St Hilda's CE High School, Liverpool

Runner-up: St Mary's Catholic Junior Academy, St Helens

Outstanding Commitment to STEM, sponsored by All About Futures

Winner: Wright Robinson College, Manchester

Runner-up: Whitefield Primary School, Liverpool

Outstanding Arts in Primary School

Winner: St Peter's C.E. Primary School, Bolton

Runner-up: Our Lady of Compassion RC Primary School, Sefton

Outstanding Arts in Secondary School

Winner: St John Bosco Arts College, Liverpool

Runner-up: Ormskirk School, Sefton

Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award sponsored by Frank Field Education Trust

Winner: Burnley High School, East Lancashire

Runner-up: Accrington St Christopher's CE High School, East Lancashire

Mental Health & Wellbeing Award

Winner: Locking Stumps Community Primary School, Warrington

Runner-up: Chantlers Primary School, Bury

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Primary School, sponsored by LSSP

Winner: Rowan Tree Primary School, Wigan

Runner-up: Cherry Tree Primary School, Bolton

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Secondary School

Winner: St James' Catholic High School, Stockport

Runner-up: Maghull High School, Sefton

Leadership Team of the Year

Winner: Archbishop Blanch School, Liverpool

Runner-up: Churchtown Primary School, Sefton

Teacher of the Year, sponsored by CER

Winner: Stuart Hide from Runshaw College, Leyland, Lancashire

Runner-up: Corie Higgins from Stockport Academy, Stockport

School Support Star of the Year, sponsored by Apprenticeships at Liverpool Hope University

Winner: Kellie Tisdale from The Birkenhead Park School, Wirral

Runner-up: Karla Taylor from SEE (Oldham) CIC, Oldham

Most Inspirational Multi Academy Trust, sponsored by Satis Education

Winner: Endeavour Learning Trust, Chorley

Runner-up: BePART Educational Trust, Wirral

Most Inspirational Specialist School

Winner: Abbot's Lea School, Liverpool

Runner-up: The Pendlebury Centre, Stockport

Most Inspirational Sixth Form & College, sponsored by LJMU

Winner: Ascent Autism Specialist College, St Helens

Runner-up: Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Wirral

Most Inspirational Secondary School

Winner: Burnage Academy for Boys, Manchester

Runner-up: Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Liverpool

Most Inspirational Primary School, sponsored by Angel Solutions

Winner: Churchtown Primary School, Sefton

Runner-up: St Peter's C.E. Primary School, Bolton

WOW Recognition Award, sponsored by ASL Group

Winner: Hillside High School, Sefton

Runner-up: Green Fold School, Bolton