The Natspec Awards aim to recognise and celebrate excellent practice in the specialist further education sector. We want to promote innovation, continuous improvement, and raise standards across the sector. As specialist colleges strive to carry on supporting their learners despite the uncertainties and challenges presented by COVID-19, we hope to celebrate the hard work they do.
Today, we are pleased to announce the shortlisted entries for the 2021 awards.
The shortlisted entries in the eight categories will now go forward to be considered by our independent panel of experts chaired by Nigel Evans former lead HMI for High Needs.
The winners will be announced in a glittering online ceremony on Thursday 13 May as part of the Natspec 2021 Conference week.
Clare Howard, Natspec’s Chief Executive said:
“In our second year of the Natspec Awards we wanted to continue to celebrate the innovative practice that is leading the way in the specialist further education sector. The work our members have done deserves to be recognised and celebrated and the Natspec Awards provide the perfect opportunity to do this, especially after a particularly tough 2020.
This year, we received almost 50 entries from our members across our 8 award categories, demonstrating the wide variety of great practice taking place across the sector. The standard of entries was once again very high and our shortlisting judges had to make some hard choices.
I am pleased to announce the shortlisted entries for each award category. Many congratulations to those who have made to the shortlist and thank you to everyone who sent in entries this year.”
The Shortlist
Innovative use of technology
Beechwood College
Project: Embedding use of IT to increase student engagement in learning
Bridge College
Project: The Integration of the QT Robot
Orchard Hill College
Project: Adapting Alexa
Pathways into employment
Hive College
Project: LIVE Study Programme
LEAP College
Project: Post 16 Provision supporting student aspirations and goals whilst embarking on to Pathways into Employment
St John’s
Project: St. John’s / The Bevy Community Work Experience Project
Student voice
Beechwood College
Project: Inclusion of non verbal students in student voice activities
Coleg Elidyr
Project: Our Online Forum
Sense College
Project: Sense College East Cross-College (multi-site) Learner Forum
Wellbeing and mental health
Aurora Boveridge College
Project: Wellbeing and Mental Health Wheel
Eat that Frog
Project: Community Wellbeing programme
Inter-disciplinary working
Communication Specialist College Doncaster
Project: Introducing Strategies and Measurable Interaction in Live English (smILE) Therapy at Communication Specialist College Doncaster
Linkage College
Project: Interdisciplinary working through about LEGO®-based therapy at Linkage College
Portland College
Project: PBS / Zones of Regulation / Be Healthy, Active and Courageous
Partnership working
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College
Project: HBVC & Edgbaston Priory Club Partnership – Delivering outstanding opportunities and outcomes for students together
Henshaws Specialist College
Project: Henshaws joins forces with Harrogate Fair Trade
Linkage College
Project: Boultham Park-Linkage Lincoln Campus Project
Curriculum innovation
Bridge College
Project: The integration of therapy within the curriculum
Linkage College
Project: The Linkage Curriculum-Flexible, Engaging and Innovative
Orchard Hill College
Project: Reset, Recover, Reconnect!
Sheiling College
Project: The Resilience Curriculum and Assessment Tool
Home learning
Ambitious College
Project: Ambitious College Home Learning Provision
Foxes Academy
Project: Learning through Lockdown – Home Learning
Sheiling College
Project: Home Learning – A Self Audit Tool
