We’ve won! A proud moment for our College community

Simon Cotton and Paul Leeming holding a trophy which is a large N in front of the College building

We are delighted to announce that William Henry Smith Specialist College has officially won the Curriculum Innovation category at the NATSPEC Awards 2026.

The NATSPEC Awards celebrate outstanding and innovative practice across the Specialist Further Education sector. With seven categories highlighting initiatives that improve outcomes for SEND students across the UK, this year’s competition was exceptionally strong with nearly 60 entries submitted, showcasing remarkable creativity and commitment across the sector.

Our award-winning project, “Rolling the Dice,” grew from the College’s Dungeons & Dragons club, which over the past three years has evolved into a powerful learning tool. Through storytelling, character building, and collaborative problem-solving, students have developed confidence in speaking, sharing ideas, and working together.

The project has strengthened friendships, improved teamwork, and fostered respect for different perspectives, helping to create a deeper sense of belonging across the College community.

“This is a creative and original approach to linking several curriculum areas, personal development, and the opportunity to explore emotions in a safe and structured way. Student involvement was fundamental to the project, resulting in excellent engagement and sustained improvements in attendance, motivation, and skills development. The extent of involvement with external groups was excellent, building on students’ needs and interests.”

Nigel Evans, NATSPEC Category Judge

The beautiful award trophy, pictured above, was designed and produced by students at Beaumont College.

Simon Cotton, Head of College, and Paul Leeming, Creative Arts Teacher, will represent the College at the NATSPEC National Conference in June, where they will join six other category winners to compete for the prestigious Kathryn Rudd Innovator of the Year Award.

“This is a superb achievement for the College and showcases the creativity, commitment, and collaboration across our community. ‘Rolling the Dice’ demonstrates how visionary thinking can empower students and help their social confidence to blossom.”

Simon Cotton, Head of College

We extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Paul Leeming and all the staff and students whose creativity and dedication made this success possible. As part of the award, the College will also be featured in a national video celebrating all the winners.

We are incredibly proud of this recognition and look forward to celebrating together in June.