Our Specialist College Recognised as National Leader in Innovation

William Henry Smith Specialist College staff receiving the Kathryn Rudd Award on stage

(Pictured above - left to right: Jim Aleander, Chair of the Natspec Awards Judging Panel, Mark Finch (Kathryn Rudd's husband), Paul Leeming, Lecturer, William Henry Smith Specialist College (WHSSC), Steven Fawthrop, Teaching and Learning Lead (WHSSC), Laura Robinson, Vice Principal, Education, Sarah Kaler, Vice Principal Head of Business, Finance & Operations and Sonia Stewart, Business Lead (WHSSC))

Our Specialist College has been named the overall national winner of the NATSPEC Awards 2026, receiving the prestigious Kathryn Rudd Innovator of the Year Award and cementing its reputation as a national leader in innovative specialist education.

The award follows the College's earlier success in winning the Curriculum Innovation category for its groundbreaking project, "Rolling the Dice", which uses Dungeons & Dragons as a vehicle for learning, personal development and student engagement.

Presented at the NATSPEC National Conference, the overall award recognises the most outstanding innovation across all categories and celebrates initiatives that deliver exceptional outcomes for learners with special educational needs and disabilities.

The judging panel praised the project for its creativity, impact and transferability.

The College used a widely available online game, Dungeons and Dragons, as a tool for student engagement, personal growth and academic success. It clearly demonstrated the development of core curriculum and life skills in a novel, beneficial way, adapted to the needs of individual learners and transferable to other contexts, benefiting students with special educational needs and disabilities.

Jim Alexander, Chair of the Judging Panel

What began as a student-led club has evolved into an innovative educational approach that helps learners develop communication skills, confidence, teamwork, emotional literacy and problem-solving abilities through collaborative storytelling and roleplay.

The national award represents recognition of the College's commitment to creating meaningful and engaging learning experiences that place learners at the centre of their educational journey.

Winning the NATSPEC Curriculum Innovation category was a fantastic achievement for our College, but to be recognised as the overall national winner is truly exceptional. This award reflects the creativity and Innovative nature of our staff, most notably our creative arts teacher Paul Leeming.

Simon Cotton, Head of College

The recognition comes at an exciting time, as the College has recently been officially recognised as a Special Post-16 Institution (SPI) by the Department for Education, further strengthening its position as a leading specialist education provider.

We would like to congratulate Paul Leeming, Lecturer (pictured below) and all the students who helped shape and develop 'Rolling the Dice'. Their passion, creativity and commitment have helped create an initiative that is now being recognised as an example of national best practice.

This achievement is one the entire College community can be proud of. To read more about this project and our Regional Win - read the full news article.