Our colleges have always been innovative. It’s part of our fabric and at the heart of what we do. The Natspec Innovation Awards recognise and celebrate our innovative practice.
The 2027 Innovation Awards will open for applications the week commencing 12 October.
Now is the time to start thinking, what are you doing at college? Maybe you are:
- finding innovative new ways to adapt teaching, support, environments, technology or communication to enhance belonging or remove barriers to learning and participation
- using creative and interesting ways to work with students to build independence, confidence, skills for employment and/or adult life or to support mental health and wellbeing
- providing truly personalised provision for students
- working with others to find innovative ways of meeting students’ needs including other providers, services, employers, the community or stakeholders.
Innovation is rarely a single breakthrough or approach. It is more often an ongoing process of adaptation, creativity and collaboration. Practitioners continually ask a simple but powerful question: “How can we do this better with students?” Answering that question can be transformative.
Inspiring ideas for 2027 applications
In 2026, we saw arange of projects, programmes and approaches which demonstrate the range of creativity, ambition and impact of innovative initiatives from across the sector. They highlight a wide range of activity, from technology and therapeutic interventions to employment, inclusion and student voice. Together, they show that innovation is about finding new and effective ways to improve outcomes for students. What are you doing you could share and celebrate?
Curriculum innovation
Rolling the Dice – William Henry Smith Specialist College
The college introduced a Dungeons & Dragons programme to support students with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. The project used collaborative storytelling and roleplay as a therapeutic and educational tool. D&D demands empathy, creativity, negotiation and resilience, skills often underdeveloped in SEMH students. The programme also integrated cross-curricular learning: English through narrative writing, art via map and character design (both traditional and digital), and performing arts through roleplay and monologues. Leadership opportunities arise as students become Dungeon Masters, fostering the use of executive functioning skills. Through immersive campaigns, students externalised personal challenges via fictional characters, and built confidence and emotional regulation in a safe, imaginative space.
Innovation in student voice
Confidence in the Community – Student Voice and the Purple Pound: Derwen College
Derwen College’s Student Council works with local businesses to improve accessibility through assistive technology. Students designed a bespoke communication grid enabling students to shop independently at a local Co-op store. Innovation came from combining student leadership, assistive technology and community partnerships to address barriers to independence. Students developed communication, budgeting and self-advocacy skills, while a local business increased their understanding of accessibility and inclusion. The students are now working to extend learning from the project to other sites and other businesses.
Innovative use of technology
Switch-adapted technology transforming access to learning for PMLD students – Activate
This project creatively adapted everyday equipment and devices including Xbox controllers to enable PMLD students to participate actively across the curriculum, gain independence by taking control, and develop functional life and digital literacy skills. Technologies were integrated into sessions like cooking (e.g. to operate salad spinners) and animal care (e.g. to operate food and water dispensers). The innovative element was the creative application of simple technologies to maximise independence and meaningful participation. Students demonstrated increased engagement, communication, choice-making and life skills, while families were able to transfer approaches into home environments.
Innovative approach to equality, diversity and inclusion
Ulley Country Park: Enhancing accessibility and inclusion through art and nature – Rotherham Opportunities College
The project was a student-led initiative, empowering young people to take ownership of inclusive design and sustainability while working with a local park. Students collaborated with the local authority, environmental organisations and artists to improve accessibility in the park. They designed sensory installations, wheelchair-accessible features and wildlife habitats. This innovative project fused art, nature, accessibility, and social action. Student reflection journals and staff observations demonstrated positive impact on communication, teamwork and self-esteem.
Innovative routes into employment
Creative Enterprise – PINC College
Developed in response to student aspirations, this innovative programme supports young people interested in creative self-employment. Students operate from individual studio spaces, complete live commissions, develop business plans and have contact with industry professionals. This approach provides a structured pathway into self-employment supportive of neurodivergent students. Students gain personal, entrepreneurial, financial and professional skills to support progress towards sustainable career opportunities.
Innovative approach to mental health and wellbeing
The Transformational Impact of Donkey Assisted Therapy – Portland College
This pioneering project involved training the college donkey herd to become therapy donkeys. While the donkeys already had a positive impact on student mental health and wellbeing, this project used an equine assisted therapist to train the donkeys and to work with students where trauma had a significant impact on their ability to access education. While students engaged with donkeys outside, donkeys also engaged with students in class and donkeys were used to escort students to meetings where extra support was needed. Students were also involved in leading peer-to-peer sessions with the donkeys. Outcomes have included improvements in wellbeing scores, behaviour, confidence, self-regulation, communication and confidence.
Innovative interdisciplinary working
Transforming Lives Through Innovative Interdisciplinary Practice – Mercury College
This project took an innovative interdisciplinary approach to enabling a student with significant behaviours of concern to re-engage with learning, access the community safely and develop independence. Prior to the new approach, the student was unable to access community, attend sessions in college, respite care and was not safe at home due to unsafe behaviours. While interdisciplinary working happens in all colleges, this was not a ‘typical’ approach of a range of professional input, but a fully integrated model where each discipline shaped, refined and delivered strategies together, working in collaboration to adapt the curriculum, community activities and support resources. Cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing enabled staff to create predictable, structured, motivating environments that led to reduced anxiety, improved communication, increased attendance, better emotional regulation, and sustained daily engagement. The impact is wider than for one student. The model created continuous opportunities for professional to learn from one another and to share practice with other staff.
These ideas give an insight into the variety of innovative practice across the sector. If you have innovative practice you would like to share and celebrate, now is the time to start to prepare your application. Find more information on the Natspec Innovation Awards website.