TWO INCREDIBLE Welsh educators have been named Silver award winners in the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards. Their exceptional impact is being recognised on National Thank a Teacher Day, when celebrities, students and schools across the UK are paying tribute to the outstanding contribution of all those who work in education.
Selected from thousands, the deserving winners are part of a group of 99 teachers, lecturers, leaders, support staff, and education settings named as Silver winners this year.
Andrea Davies, Curriculum Leader of History at Gower College Swansea, set up Wales’ Testimony 360 Community Hub, combining advanced technology and interactive learning. The hub serves as a central location for local schools and colleges to access the VR technology, allowing students to “visit” key historical sites with interactive experiences. She won Silver in the Further Education Lecturer of the Year category.
Westbourne School in Penarth, alongside neuroscientists from Cardiff University and academics from INSEAD, designed KnowVa Coach, an AI‑powered 1:1 revision tool. Students can access infinite exam questions, receive instant feedback and see model answers. As a result, the school saw performance gains of up to 30%. They won Silver in the Transformational Use of Digital Technology category.
The Silver Award winners now move forward as finalists for the Gold Award, which will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in London, and on BBC One’s The One Show later this year.
National Thank a Teacher Day, and the Pearson National Teaching Awards are run by the Teaching Awards Trust, an independent charity established over 25 years ago to celebrate the transformative impact of education, shining a spotlight on the pivotal roles teachers, support staff, colleges, schools and early years educators play in inspiring young people, every single day.
Sir Michael Morpurgo, author, former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, says: “The dedication and impact of those involved in educating young people is truly remarkable.
“Their influence extends well beyond the classroom. Long before children find their voice, their confidence, or their calling, there is usually a teacher who helped them get there, working patiently and persistently, and often without any recognition at all.
“That is what makes National Thank a Teacher Day so important. It is a rare and well-deserved moment to celebrate our teachers and say we are grateful.
“I am especially proud to congratulate this year’s Silver award winners. In a world that moves quickly and demands so much, you have chosen to invest your time, energy, and passion into future generations, and that is something truly worth celebrating.
“Thank you for the dedication you show every single day”
Sharon Hague, CEO of Pearson UK, says: “For many of us, a teacher was the person who helped us believe in ourselves and recognise what we were capable of.
“Every day, educators support young people to be the best they can be, nurturing their potential and leaving a lasting impact that follows them into adulthood.
“We are proud to take this opportunity to say thank you to the teachers up and down the country who make our schools so special.
“This year’s Silver Winners represent the amazing dedication and brilliant work that goes on in classrooms across the country, and we’re delighted to be celebrating them today. Congratulations to every Silver Winner!”
