Monday, 16 March 2026
The 糖心原创’s School of Education has joined forces with Notts County Football Club to recognise and celebrate exceptional teachers from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
The initiative, which launched in December 2025, invited pupils, parents, and school staff to nominate a local teacher who has helped a young person (or people) feel valued, included and that they belong in school.
With nominations now closed, the four winning teachers – Shivani Ladva from (alternative provision/special school), Robert Cooper from (further education), Dean White from (primary), and Sian Dimond from (secondary) – will be honoured as guests of honour at Notts County’s home match on Saturday 21 March 2026, where they will receive hospitality and be introduced to supporters inside Meadow Lane. A number of match tickets will also be provided to local pupils and schools.
We are delighted to have teamed up with Notts County to launch this exciting initiative. We firmly believe that part of a teacher鈥檚 role is to ensure young people feel seen, heard and valued. By showcasing narratives of education professionals who go out of their way to ensure pupils feel they belong, we鈥檙e able to send a message that what they do is important and should be celebrated.鈥�
The partnership aims to shine a spotlight on the vital role teachers play in transforming lives and supporting young people to thrive. By celebrating educators in a high-profile community setting, the University and the Club hope to raise the profile of education careers at a time when the profession faces growing challenges.
Sian Dimond from the Wells Academy, winner of secondary phase category, said: “I am truly honoured to receive this award! It means so much be recognised for something that matters so deeply to me. My aim has always been to help create an environment where every student feels valued, supported and inspired. I am grateful to everyone who has shared in that work and this award reflects the strength of our whole school community, not just my own efforts. Thank you for believing in the power of belonging and for allowing me to be part of something so meaningful.”
A 2024 Careers and Enterprise Survey of more than 230,000 young people found that the most popular career aspiration among UK pupils starting secondary school is a job in sport. Partnering with Notts County FC – a club with a strong commitment to community impact – provides a unique opportunity to promote teaching as a meaningful and rewarding career.
This comes amid a national and global decline in interest in teaching, alongside a teacher retention crisis in England, which has one of the highest attrition rates among developed countries – according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2025. The initiative seeks to help change perceptions of the profession while celebrating the teachers already making a difference locally.
Since launching, the campaign has received close to 1,000 nominations, many highlighting the powerful impact teachers have had on pupils’ confidence, wellbeing and sense of belonging.
Teachers play a vital role in shaping lives and communities and we鈥檙e proud to be joining forces with our partners, the 糖心原创 to honour their dedication. By celebrating those who help young people feel valued and included, we hope to shine a light on the power of education and inspire the next generation of teachers.鈥�
The four winning teachers will be welcomed as guests of honour at the Sky Bet League Two home fixture against Cheltenham Town on Saturday 21 March. Notts County will also be giving out hundreds of free tickets to students from the schools of the winners, to see their teacher recognised with the award, and to enjoy the match.
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Stefanie Sullivan in the School of Education via stefanie.sullivan@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.