Today, we are pleased to announce the shortlisted entries for the 2023 Natspec Innovation Awards. These awards recognise and celebrate innovative practice in the specialist further education sector. They shine a light on initiatives that have clearly resulted in improved outcomes for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
The shortlisted entries in the seven categories will now go forward to be considered by our independent panel of experts, chaired by former lead HMI for High Needs, Nigel Evans.
Clare Howard, Natspec’s Chief Executive said:
“The Natspec Awards are now in their fourth year and for 2023 we renamed them the ‘innovation awards’ because we really wanted to celebrate innovative practice that excites, inspires and goes above and beyond what might be expected. I’m delighted that the 53 entries across all the categories have considered and presented why their entry was innovative, and many congratulations to the 24 shortlisted entries which set out how their work impacts positively for students”
We will be announcing the winners in an online ceremony on 25 May from 1.30pm-3.00pm. We will continue to celebrate the winners by presenting them with their trophies at the conference dinner at Natspec’s National Conference on Tuesday 13 June. For the first time, we will also be awarding an Innovator of the Year award to the category winner deemed to have the most innovative practice. The winner for 2023 will also be announced at the National Conference.
The shortlist
Curriculum innovation
Hedleys College: Police Cadets
Linkage College: The Discovery Suite
The Orpheus Centre: Where’s Our Jobs?
Treloar College: Becoming an Employer
Innovative approach to mental health and wellbeing
Catcote Futures: Sensory Forest Bathing
Derwen College: Hearing Project – ensuring that hearing issues aren’t a barrier for learning
Inclusion College: Creative Arts
Portland College: Be Healthy, Active and Courageous – Phase 2
This award is sponsored by AssuredPartners Hettle Andrews.
Innovative interdisciplinary working
Heart of Birmingham Vocational College: The staff skills share
Sense College Loughborough: Health & Safety Week at Sense College Loughborough
Innovative routes into employment
The Hive College: Traineeships at The Hive
The Oaks Specialist College: ‘Love That’ Pop up shop
Innovative use of technology
Aurora Boveridge College: Techno English
National Star College: Pioneering new therapy technology to maximise functional movement
Portland College: Developing Independence through Maples SMARTHome
Treloar College: Enabling physically disabled people to explore their sexuality and sexual pleasure.
Innovative partnership working
Aurora Boveridge College: Beyond Boveridge
Coleg Elidyr: Partnership Working for Skills Success
Derwen College: Derwen College – focus on Rocking Horse Media partnership
Orchard Hill College: Live, Life Local – enabling young people with complex needs to access local main stream provisions
This award is sponsored by Innovation Broking.
Innovation in student voice
Chadsgrove Educational Trust Specialist College: Self-advocacy, active citizenship and community inclusion for independence in adulthood
LEAP College: Introduction to student voice clubs
Nash College: The Nash College Student Advocacy Council
The Orpheus Centre: Nothing about us without us
This award is sponsored by Peridot Partners.
Innovative approach to equality, diversity and inclusion
There were no entries in this category this year. We will be encouraging colleges to develop their practice in this area and hope to identify innovation in this area in next year’s awards.
