NASBTT announces Awards shortlist, as full Annual Conference programme is confirmed

The National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT) has announced the shortlist for its 2026 Awards, recognising outstanding achievements, expertise and dedication across the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) sector.

The winners of seven categories will be announced at an Awards Dinner following NASBTT’s Annual Conference in London on 5th November.

Emma Hollis, CEO of NASBTT, said: “In recent years, the sector has faced significant challenge and change, with providers continually adapting to reforms, policy shifts and increasing pressures while remaining committed to delivering high-quality teacher training. The NASBTT Awards 2026 provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the individuals, teams and organisations who work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to support children and young people through the training and development of excellent teachers. We have received an overwhelming number of entries. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to recognise the fantastic work across the ITT sector – and congratulations to those who have been shortlisted by our judges. We look forward to coming together to recognise the dedication, achievements and contributions of our ITT community.”

The shortlisted nominees for the NASBTT Awards 2026 are: 

Innovation in Technology Award – sponsored by Proxima

This award recognises an ITT provider or partnership which has embedded technology in a purposeful and impactful way to enhance the quality of training and the experience of trainee teachers.

• Bishop Challoner Training School SCITT (BCTSA SCITT)
• Inspiring Leaders Teacher Training
• Nottingham Torch SCITT

 IDEA Award (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) – sponsored by Iris Connect

This award recognises an ITT provider or partnership that has demonstrated a strong and sustained commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility within its provision. 

• Kent and Medway Training
• SCITT in East London Schools (SCITTELS)
• Teach First

 Administrator of the Year Award – sponsored by NASBTT

This award recognises an individual who provides exceptional administrative or operational support within an ITT provider or partnership. It celebrates those whose work behind the scenes enables high-quality training to run smoothly and who make a tangible difference to trainees, colleagues and partners. 

• Angela Blackburn, Associated Merseyside Partnership SCITT
• Michelle Dodman, Active Teacher Training (Ambition Teacher Training)
• Rachel Fagan, Sutton SCITT
• Sefika Sakalli, Kent and Medway Training

 Mentor of the Year Award – sponsored by Anspear

This award recognises an individual mentor, or mentoring team, who has made an exceptional contribution to the development of trainee teachers. It celebrates those who go beyond expectations to provide high-quality support, challenge and professional guidance, helping trainees to grow in confidence, skills and identity as teachers. 

• Andrea Morgan, Bishop Challoner Training School SCITT (BCTSA SCITT)
• James Abley, Academy Transformation Trust (Ambition Teacher Training)
• Professional Mentor Team, Catholic Teacher Training @ Wigan and West Lancashire
• Tamsin Preston, Cornwall SCITT 

SCITT of the Year Award – sponsored by Mosaic

This award recognises a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) provider that is delivering high-quality training and making a meaningful contribution to the education system. It celebrates SCITTs that combine strong practice with a clear sense of purpose, partnership and sector leadership.

• Ripley ITT
• STL SCITT (The School of Teaching and Learning)
• United Teaching National SCITT

 HEI of the Year Award – sponsored by  Mosaic

This award recognises a Higher Education Institution (HEI) Teacher Training provider that is delivering high-quality training and making a meaningful contribution to the education system. It celebrates HEIs that combine strong practice with a clear sense of purpose, partnership and sector leadership. 

• Newcastle University
• Teesside University
• University of Wolverhampton 

Services to the Sector Award – sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts

This award recognises an individual who has made a meaningful and sustained contribution to the ITT sector. Entries should highlight a career or body of work that has had a lasting influence on the quality, reputation or development of ITT, whether at provider, partnership, regional or national level.

• Jo Anderson, Previously Wildern Partnership SCITT, currently University of Winchester
• Katrin Sredzki-Seamer, National Specialist SCITTs
• Victoria Lickley, Red Kite Teacher Training

Meanwhile, the full agenda for the NASBTT Annual Conference 2026 has now been published. More than 150 ITT providers and professionals involved in teacher education and development will explore the policy developments, opportunities and practical challenges shaping provision.

Keith Ford, Responsible Officer: ITT and Training at Somerset Council and Interim Chair Elect of NASBTT, will open the conference alongside Emma Hollis.

Keynote speakers include Andrea Shepherd, Senior His Majesty’s Inspector, Teacher Development at Ofsted, and Mark Mon-Williams, Chair in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Leeds, Professor of Psychology at Bradford Institute of Health Research, Professor of Vision Science at the Norwegian Centre for Vision, and a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute.

Further programme highlights include:

• AI in ITT: Innovation, Opportunities and Practice, led by Victoria Hedlund, AI Bias Girl, researcher and consultant.
• Looking Ahead: Political Change and the Future of Teacher Training, with Gareth Conyard, education policy and delivery expert, former senior civil servant and CEO of the Teacher Development Trust.
• SEND in ITT, featuring Tina Harvey OBE, Deputy Regional SEND Leader at nasen; Anna Beresford, Deputy Director of School Improvement at LETTA; Catrina Lowri, Founder of Neuroteachers; Kelly Campbell, Head of Programme for Tes Institute’s Initial Teacher Training; Georgina Durrant, SEN consultant, author, former SENCO and podcast host; and Cynthia Gouveia Caria, Outreach Consultant at Beyond Autism.
• The Big Idea, featuring Jon Severs, Editor of Tes; Harroop Sandhu FCCT, Founder of Lead With One and Vice President of the Chartered College of Teaching; Jagdeep Pabla, Founder of the Education Workforce Foundation; and Yalinie Vigneswaran, Executive Director at ImpactEd.

Emma added: “Our Annual Conference provides a valuable opportunity for colleagues across the ITT sector to come together, reflect on the issues shaping teacher training and share ideas that can strengthen provision. This year’s programme brings policy, research and practice into the same conversation, with a focus on what developments mean for providers and the trainees they support. Our new roundtable format will create more space for discussion and reflection, helping colleagues learn from each other’s experiences and take practical ideas back to their organisations. A huge thank you to Mosaic, our principal conference sponsor, and exhibitors Anspear, Iris Connect, Century, Verbilly, Chartered College of Teaching, Education Support, GenEdLabs.ai and Carousel Teaching for their generous support; and also our additional awards sponsors Proxima and Bartlett Tree Experts.”

For booking information, please visit https://www.nasbtt.org.uk/event/nasbtt-annual-conference-2026/.