Teachers and Schools Celebrated at the ACT Teaching Citizenship Awards 2025
ACT Citizenship Teaching Awards 2025 – celebrating a passionate and dedicated subject community.
The ACT Citizenship Teaching Awards 2025 took place on Tuesday 3 June, in the historic surroundings of the Churchill Room at the Houses of Parliament. Hosted by Chief Executive, Liz Moorse, ACT’s Chair of Trustees, Marcus Bhargava, and Chair of Council, Helen Blachford, the evening celebrated the hard work and achievements of teachers, schools and organisations committed to delivering outstanding Citizenship education.
We received a wealth of nominations across our categories this year, shining a light on the remarkable contributions of Citizenship teachers, school leaders and organisations from across the UK. A number of Special Recognition Awards were also presented, recognising those who have made a significant difference to Citizenship teaching and the ACT community.
This year is a key moment for Citizenship education, to shine a light on the importance of teaching for democracy, because all around us we see democratic values under attack. What we can do to address these challenges by working together, to use our voices and our actions to rebuild, revitalise and renew democracy and create a better, more just and equitable world, is more important than ever.
Liz Moorse
ACT Chief Executive
Our most prestigious award, the David Blunkett Award for Outstanding Contribution to Citizenship, was presented by ACT Honorary President, The Rt. Hon. Lord Blunkett and Vicky Foxcroft MP. The award was presented to Ryan Mason, Head of Citizenship and Humanities at Addey and Stanhope School. Ryan was recognised for his passionate commitment to Citizenship education, supporting other teachers through national CPD, contributing to curriculum development projects, and providing expertise to organisations including ACT and Pearson Edexcel.
Not only is Ryan an exceptional teacher and subject enthusiast, he excels as a model teacher in Citizenship education - working to train other teachers, playing a key role in national projects, as an ACT Citizenship Teaching Ambassador, and having presented regularly at national conferences including today.
Liz Moorse
ACT Chief Executive
Maryan Omar, a trainee teacher at Kingston University, was named Trainee Citizenship Teacher of the Year for her inspiring enthusiasm and skill in engaging students as active citizens. Mackenzie Dawson-Hunt of St Mark’s Academy received the Citizenship Mentor of the Year Award for his empowering mentorship, reflective practice, and outstanding subject leadership. Dame Alison Peacock of the Chartered College of Teaching joined us to present both awards.
Awarding bodies AQA and Pearson Edexcel once again sponsored their GCSE Citizenship Studies School of the Year categories and joined us to present their awards.
The AQA award went to Q3 Academy Langley, for its thriving GCSE programme and the Pearson Edexcel award went to Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys, who have used the GCSE to raise the profile of Citizenship education across the school. OCR’s award was presented to The Archer Academy, where Citizenship is embedded in the school’s ethos and active citizenship projects consistently engage students across year groups.
This year’s School Active Citizenship Award, sponsored by First Give and presented by their CEO Isaac Jones, went to Hendon School in north-west London for its sustained, impactful active citizenship opportunities. Local MP David Pinto-Duschinsky, joined us to help present.
Fair Futures, a Greater Manchester-based organisation providing educational and social opportunities for minority and refugee communities, was named Citizenship Organisation of the Year.
The Innovation in Citizenship Award, presented by Dr Patrina Law of the RSA went to Veritas Multi Academy Trust, recognised for placing active citizenship, climate education and sustainability at the heart of its Trust-wide curriculum.
Shubnam Aziz of Mount Stuart School, received Primary Citizenship Teacher of the Year, also presented by Dr Patrina Law for her transformative work leading anti-racism, social justice and pupil leadership initiatives.
This year, the Rt. Hon. Lord Norton of Louth joined us to present two Secondary Citizenship Teacher of the Year awards: one to Lorellie Canning, recognised for developing Citizenship provision in several schools and supporting the national teaching community, and one to Anthony Gunning of Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School, who developed a tailored Citizenship curriculum for young people in psychiatric care.
Frances Jeens, Head of Education and Engagement at UK Parliament presented our next two awards. Rodbourne Cheney Primary School in Swindon was named Primary School of the Year for its inclusive, pupil-led approach to active citizenship and leadership. Tudor Grange Academy in Solihull was recognised as Secondary School of the Year, with a strong Citizenship curriculum at Key Stage 3, GCSE and A-Level, and wide-ranging democratic participation initiatives. MP’s Will Stone and Neil Shastri-Hurst joined to present the awards to the schools in their constituencies.
This year also saw the introduction of a new category, Teacher’s Teacher of the Year, presented by the Chief Executive of The Electoral Commission, Vijay Rangarajan, which went to Jenny Tong of Hyde High School for her outstanding commitment to empowering students and embedding Citizenship in school and community life.
The final award of the evening was the Student Choice Award, voted for by students themselves. This year’s recipient was Catherine Burgess of Davison High School for Girls, whose students praised her dedication, care and engaging teaching.
Special Recognition Awards were also presented to Alison Jewitt, Sarah Spikin, and Alisha Hadfield for their outstanding commitment to Citizenship education. Special Recognition Awards were given to Helen Blachford, outgoing ACT Chair of Council, and Marcus Bharghava, outgoing ACT Chair of Trustees, in recognition of their dedicated contributions to ACT.
You can read about each of the awards and shortlisted nominations in our Awards Programme.
Awards
- David Blunkett Award for Outstanding Contribution to Citizenship Education – Ryan Mason, Addey and Stanhope School
- Trainee Teacher of the Year – Maryan Omar, Kingston University
- Citizenship Mentor of the Year – Mackenzie Dawson-Hunt, St Mark’s Academy
- AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies School of the Year – Q3 Academy Langley
- OCR GCSE Citizenship Studies School of the Year – The Archer Academy
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE Citizenship Studies School of the Year – Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys
- Organisation of the Year – Fair Futures CIC
- School Active Citizenship Award – Hendon School
- School of the Year (primary) – Rodbourne Cheney Primary School
- School of the Year (secondary) – Tudor Grange Academy, Solihull
- Citizenship Innovation – Veritas Multi Academy Trust
- Student Choice Award – Catherine Burgess, Davison High School for Girls
- Secondary Teacher of the Year – Lorellie Canning
- Secondary Teacher of the Year – Anthony Gunning, Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School
- Primary Teacher of the Year – Shubnam Aziz, Mount Stuart School
- Teacher’s Teacher of the Year – Jenny Tong, Hyde High School
- Special Recognition – Sarah Spikin
- Special Recognition – Alisha Hadfield, Great Academy Ashton
- Special Recognition – Alison Jewitt, London Nautical, City of London Academy
- Special Recognition – Helen Blachford, Priory School Southsea
- Special Recognition – Marcus Bharghava, Kingston University
