D&TA Excellence Awards 2026
The Design & Technology Association Excellence Awards 2026 took place on the 9th October and brought together teachers, support staff, industry partners, schools and pupils to celebrate the people making a difference across design and technology. Held at the Museum of Making in Derby, the awards recognised inspiring practice and the positive impact that dedicated individuals and teams have on pupils, departments and the wider subject.
Celebrating excellence across design and technology
This year’s awards highlighted the breadth of expertise, creativity and commitment supporting design and technology in schools, from outstanding subject leadership and teaching to inspirational support staff, departmental teams and industry partnerships.
Meet the 2026 winners:
Click on the names below to hear more from our award winners.
The AssetTagz Excellence Award for Outstanding Secondary Subject Leadership
Dewi Thomas
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern, Cardiff
The Royal Ballet & Opera Schools Create & Design Excellence Award for Outstanding Primary Subject Leadership
Lil Jayawardhana
St James the Great R C Primary School, London
The James Dyson Foundation Excellence Award Recognising Outstanding D&T Teacher
Neil Waite
Eggar’s School, Alton
The Nook Pods Excellence Award for Inspirational Support Staff within D&T
Lucy Corker
Felixstowe School, Felixstowe
The Samsung UK Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to D&T
Jenny Dhami
Summerhill School, Kingswinford
The Enginuity Excellence Award for Outstanding Industry Engagement (Teacher)
Beverly Maloney
Royal Hospital School, Ipswich
The OnePlanet Excellence Award for Outstanding Industry Engagement (Industry Partner)
Gillian Fallshaw
Collins Aerospace, Prestwick
The Cenata Excellence Award for Outstanding Departmental Team
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School
Faversham
The Local Supply Chain Excellence Award for the Bernard Brown Outstanding Pupil
Ages 5 to 11
Libby Fordham
Milton Road Primary School, Cambridge
The Local Supply Chain Excellence Award for the Bernard Brown Outstanding Pupil
Jacob Dockrell
The Dixie Grammar School, Nuneaton
The Royal Academy of Engineering Excellence Award for Outstanding Pupil
Ages 12 to 16
William Agombar
Redden Court School, Romford
The WJEC CBAC Excellence Award for Outstanding Pupil
Ages 16 to 18
Jonny Montgomerie
Ewell Castle School, Epsom
Celebrating the impact of D&T
The achievements celebrated at this year’s awards demonstrate the valuable contribution that teachers, support staff, schools, industry partners and pupils make to design and technology. From developing strong subject leadership and classroom practice to creating meaningful opportunities for pupils to engage with industry, the winners showcase the positive impact that can be made across the subject.
A huge thank you goes to all of our 2026 Excellence Awards sponsors for their generous support and for helping us celebrate the people and organisations making a difference across design and technology: Assettagz, Royal Ballet & Opera, James Dyson Foundation, Nook Pods, Samsung UK, Enginuity, OnePlanet, Cenata, Local Supply Chain, Royal Academy of Engineering, Technology Supplies and WJEC CBAC.
