Discover who received each of the 12 prizes for their outstanding contributions to science education

People climbing a mountain

Source: © Sam Falconer

Celebrate peak achievements in education with the 2024 prize winners

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has awarded this year’s Excellence in Education Prizes and The Horizon Prizes for Education.

The annual prizes celebrate inspirational, innovative and dedicated people working in primary, secondary, further education and higher education. The winners include teachers, technicians, researchers and teams. These prizes recognise a range of skills – from curriculum design to effective teaching, and from personal development to working culture.

The Excellence in Education Prizes include specific awards for teams and for those in the early stages of their career. The RSC also recognises recent initiatives that are set to make a real difference within the field of education through The Horizon Prizes for Education. These initiatives could include teaching programmes or techniques, research breakthroughs, innovative technologies and more.

‘To have those I have worked with appreciate my efforts while working hard themselves is humbling’

Anyone can nominate an educator, initiative or team for a prize. This includes colleagues, collaborators or students. Nominating is a great way for your community to show their appreciation, and your nominee might just win! Applications will open again in Spring 2025.

The Education Prize Committee – made up of representatives from across primary, secondary, further and higher education – select the prize winners from the nominations. Maureen Wade, lead technician at The Victory Academy, won the Excellence in Secondary and Further Education Prize and said, ‘I feel overwhelmed to be a recipient of this award, never expecting such esteemed recognition. To have those I have worked with appreciate my efforts while working hard themselves is humbling.’

The 2024 winners

Discover who received each of the 12 prizes below and visit the 2024 Education Prizes gallery for profiles of all the winners.

Excellence in Education Prizes

Early Career Prize for Excellence in Primary Education: Max Parker, Callicroft Primary Academy

Early Career Prize for Excellence in Secondary and Further Education: Niall Begley, Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock

Early Career Prize for Excellence in Higher Education: Alexander Baker, University of Warwick

Excellence in Primary Education Prize: Jo Montgomery, Babraham Institute

Excellence in Secondary and Further Education Prize: Maureen Wade, The Victory Academy

Excellence in Higher Education Prize: Julie Hyde, University of Sheffield

Team Prize for Excellence in Primary Education: Great Science Share for Schools team

Team Prize for Excellence in Secondary and Further Education: The Hertfordshire and Essex High School chemistry department

Team Prize for Excellence in Higher Education: University of Nottingham laboratory development team

Horizon Prizes for Education

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