We’re proud to announce that Sprites Primary Academy in Ipswich has been named Making a Difference: Primary School of the Year at the Pearson National Teaching Awards.

Organised by the Teaching Awards Trust and sponsored by Pearson, the awards celebrate remarkable individuals and teams who make a significant impact on children’s lives across the UK.

Winning a Pearson National Teaching Award represents an exceptional achievement. The awards recognise excellence across 16 categories, with judges selecting finalists from thousands of nominations nationwide. Since joining REAch2 Academy Trust in 2015, the school has made significant, sustained improvements, moving from previous challenges to national recognition. This progress was formally acknowledged in 2022 when Ofsted awarded Sprites a ‘Good’ judgement.

Earlier this year, 93 shortlisted silver winners were announced before the final gold winners were selected. Sharon Hague, CEO of Pearson UK, said: “The Pearson National Teaching Awards shines a spotlight on the inspiring individuals whose influence has gone far beyond the classroom. This is a celebration of excellence at the highest level.”

Sprites has become a nurturing and inclusive environment for all pupils, including young carers, refugees and children with additional needs. Once facing challenges in its SEND provision, the school is now recognised for a strong, inclusive provision. Current Headteacher David Ashley reflected on the achievement with pride, "everybody is such a great team, and we've really worked towards making a difference to children. The whole title of this award is ‘make a difference’ and I really think we do that with the offer at Sprites.”

Sprites enriches pupils’ education through memorable, hands-on experiences. Children have had the chance to sing at the O2 Arena, camp under the stars, and explore the grounds of Cambridge University through the 11 before 11 programme. Within school, learning is enhanced through creative, repurposed spaces including the Kids’ Kitchen, Live Lounge and Art Studio.

For Cathie Paine, CEO of REAch2 Academy Trust, the award reflects the heart of the Trust’s mission. “REAch2 was set up to turn schools around, and in the case of Sprites, the journey has been extremely eventful. Tonight, we watched a team of people represent their colleagues in Ipswich and achieve the highest accolade that any Primary school could ever hope to celebrate”.