Recognising inspirational school leaders whose role has led to significant and positive improvements in primary education by inspiring and facilitating the wider school team.

Presented to Nicky Donley Kirton Primary School

As executive headteacher, Nicky Donley has achieved sustained success in improving educational standards for children at Parliament Federation schools. As executive headteacher at Kirton Primary, her communication skills have enabled effective collaboration with organisations both inside and outside the school, which has become a pillar of the community. Academic success places Kirton in the top 2 per cent of schools for progress and her work to provide money management skills to pupils has been recognised through numerous awards along with the school’s initiatives to improve staff wellbeing.

2023 Nominees

Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson
Headteacher - Anderton Park Primary School, Birmingham

Born in the city, Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson has been educating in and around Birmingham since graduating in philosophy at Swansea University. She became head of Anderton Park in 2012 and since then has displayed exemplary leadership skills, particularly in 2019 when faced with protests against the school’s equalities education policy. Sarah is fully supportive of the pressures faced by teachers. As an active member of the NAHT, she has been critical of OFSTED and has spoken out regarding the difficulties of its inspection process. Despite this, one inspector’s feedback noted: “She’s meant to be a leader.”

Helen Stott
Headteacher - Allerton CE Primary, Leeds

After studying English and Inter-Arts at Leeds University, Helen’s 30 year teaching career took in a number of local schools before becoming headteacher at Allerton when it was established in 2007. Overseeing its growth from 200 pupils to nearly 700, her leadership skills and drive to promote inclusivity and diversity in a school where 50 different languages are spoken have been recognised in numerous awards. Former pupil, England footballer Micah Richards described his experiences at Allerton in a recent BBC documentary: “Supportive, understanding and free from prejudice”.