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Unsung Heroes consistently go the extra mile
Every school has them. The people who quietly make things better for everyone around them. They might not seek the spotlight, but their impact is felt every day.
The Unsung Hero Award celebrates those who go above and beyond their role to make a genuine difference in the lives of those in their school community; They work quietly behind the scenes keeping things running smoothly, always with a positive attitude. This is your opportunity to shine a light on your school community’s everyday hero.
Who can enter?
- Open to all staff working in state or independent schools and FE colleges providing full-time compulsory education. This includes, but is not limited to, office staff, caretakers, support staff, school business managers, lab technicians, and others who play a vital role in school life.
- Entries for teachers are accepted, but should focus on the impact they have beyond their classroom practice. Please ensure your entry is submitted to the most appropriate category.
Nominator Guidance
Unsung Hero – Nominator Guidance.
What makes a good entry?
Thank you for taking the time to nominate your colleague for Unsung Hero. Your nomination plays an important role in helping judges understand the impact your nominee has on those around them.
Awards criteria
A well-structured entry is key. Start with a brief summary that highlights the main reasons for the nomination. Use clear, jargon-free language, and ensure each criterion is addressed thoroughly. Organise the content with headings and sub
headings.
Include details about how the nominee overcomes the most challenging aspects of their role. It’s important that the entry is written by someone who truly knows the nominee, or that the nominator has consulted with those who do.
Evidence and impact
Evidence of impact is the most important aspect of your entry. Our judges look for clear, concise examples that demonstrate the nominee’s impact on students, colleagues, and the broader education community—whether on a regional or national scale. If, for instance, a Headteacher is credited with turning a school around, it’s important to show exactly how this was achieved.
Impact on Learners: Provide specific examples of their direct influence on learners. Highlight practical evidence of high-quality, inspirational teaching that encourages a love of learning and demonstrates excellent classroom skills. For
teaching assistants and school leaders, include evidence of inspirational support, leadership, and creative approaches that engage and motivate both children and staff.
Impact on Colleagues: Describe how the nominee has positively influenced their colleagues. Have they supported others or helped them improve? Consider their role within the staff community beyond the classroom or staffroom. Have they boosted morale or consistently uplifted those around them in some way? Our judges love hearing about these contributions, no matter how big or small.
Impact on the Wider School Community: Highlight the nominee’s overall contribution to the life of the school and the community.
Wider Impact: Where a nominee has shown impact further afield, locally or nationally, please detail this and the impact of that work.
Personalised details are what make your nominee truly stand out.
Bring the entry to life
Written statements and quotes provide a much more compelling narrative than data – especially comments from parents or pupils whose lives have been positively impacted by the nominee. These are most effective when they reference something specific, for example, ‘Ms X made a huge difference to me when she… the effect this had was …’
Where relevant, you could include supportive quotes from a broad range of sources, such as senior leaders, businesses, health or social care agencies, and local community voices. These perspectives highlight the nominee’s impact beyond the classroom.
It’s essential that someone who knows the nominee well writes the entire entry, not just detailing what they do but also providing specific examples and the impact of their work. Personalisation is key.
That special something
Put simply, if your nominee isn’t shortlisted, what would our judges be missing out on? Share the values and truly unique examples of practice that set your nominee apart—something related to their role that has made a real difference to children’s lives. Our judges are particularly keen to see initiatives or approaches that are unprecedented in the school or unlikely to be found elsewhere, especially when they demonstrate innovation and determination, rather than just long
working hours. What makes this nominee a National Award winner, and how could showcasing their exceptional practice inspire and benefit other educators across the UK?
Wider contribution
Highlight how your colleague has made a significant contribution beyond their core responsibilities. Consider areas such as their involvement in extra-curricular activities, community engagement, or initiatives that enhance the wider school
environment.
You could examples such as:
- Leading or supporting clubs or events
- Organising or participating in fundraising activities or community outreach programmes or any achievements they have contributed to that reflect their broader impact within the educational community
- Championing eco-friendly initiatives, such as Eco-Schools or sustainability projects or contributing to the development of children through other enrichment activities
Provide clear examples to demonstrate how their efforts have gone above and beyond, enriching the school experience and making a positive impact.
Personal journey and inspiration
To help our judges understand the nominee as a whole, beyond their role, please share what has shaped their personal and professional journey. Were there key influences from their own education, a significant person, or a defining event in their life? What inspired them to pursue a career in education? Your insight into their motivations and background will help our judges appreciate the individuals behind the educators.
What to avoid when writing your entry?
Data
Unless the criteria specifically request this, although we expect to see some pupil progress or attainment data, or recognition by external agencies to show your nominee’s impact on pupils, our judges prefer this to be kept to a minimum. They carry out due diligence if your entry reaches shortlisting stage. At this point they can obtain data / Ofsted reports.
We want to emphasise the importance of submitting unique, personalised nominations that reflect the individual / team you’re celebrating.
Entries that are not unique
Recently, we’ve noticed that AI-generated or AI-assisted entries often contain repetitive or generic statements that simply echo the criteria without offering real insight. These entries lack the personal touch and specific details that make a nomination truly stand out. If you choose to use AI for support, please ensure your entry still reflects your own voice, includes specific examples, and offers personalised evidence or testimonials that highlight the nominee’s unique impact. Remember—it’s the details and authentic stories that truly bring your nominee to life!
Links
You can submit up to 3 additional evidence files along with your written entry. Hyperlinks to other documents, videos, social media etc should be classed as additional evidence and not part of the entry.
Specific guidance for this category
1 Making a difference
Use this section to describe the real difference your nominee makes to the lives of others. Focus on how children, young people, families or colleagues are better off because this person is there. This might be through small, consistent actions or headline initiatives. Strong entries often show how the nominee creates calm, reassurance, stability or kindness that others rely on.
Judges are interested in tangible impact, but this does not have to be data-driven — lived experience, examples and stories matter here.
2 What makes them special?
Describe what they do beyond what is expected of their role, and why it matters. This might include stepping in when something needs doing, noticing things others miss, or quietly supporting people without being asked. Avoid listing tasks. Instead, explain what it is about this person that makes them truly unique in your school or setting.
3 Where does their motivation come from?
Judges want to understand the person behind the actions. What drives your nominee to keep going, especially when the work is demanding or unseen? Think about a commitment to children, pride in the school community, personal values or their own lived experience. Honest reflection is powerful here. Authenticity here really matters.
4 Supporting others
In this section show how your nominee looks after people around them.
Consider how they supporting colleagues through difficult moments, being a trusted presence for pupils, or helping families feel welcomed and understood. Judges are interested in how the nominee leads by example, showing care, empathy and responsibility in everyday ways. Does their behaviour influences others and help create a positive school culture.
General tips for a strong Unsung Hero entry
- Write with warmth and honesty. This category is about people, not processes.
- Use real examples.
- Quiet impact is powerful; let the story speak for itself.
- Remember this is about consistency. Judges value those who show up and make a difference day after day.
Judges will ask themselves
- Why would the school struggle without this person?
- How does this person quietly make life better for others?
- What shows their impact is real and sustained?
- Why does this person deserve to be seen and celebrated?
You can download this information here
Award Criteria
Please address each of these points in your entry, under the following headings.
Making a difference
How has your colleague improved the lives of children, young people, and their families? How have they inspired colleagues or strengthened the school community? Share examples of their work and its tangible impact.
What makes them special?
Many people in education go the extra mile, and an Unsung Hero does that, and more. They will do their main job skilfully and comprehensively, but still have more to give. Highlight what it is that makes your nominee truly unique, above and beyond their primary job description. What sets them apart from others?
Where does their motivation come from?
Working in education is demanding. What drives your unsung hero to keep giving their best? What inspires them, keeps them motivated, and fuels their dedication to others? What gets them out of bed in the morning and fills their cup with ideas and passion to give their all?
Supporting others
How has your nominee shown care, empathy, or leadership in helping others? Give examples of how they’ve supported colleagues, pupils, or the wider community, leading by example and showing how small actions can make a big difference. How do they influence others to be good citizens, leading by example?
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