Education Leadership Awards

Terms and Conditions

In these terms and conditions, the following definitions apply:

• 'The Awards' / 'ELA' means the Educational Leadership Awards, a national awards programme administered by PiXL.
• 'PiXL' stands for Partners in Excellence, the Company that administers the Awards.
• 'Nominator' means any individual who submits a nomination via the Awards platform in accordance with these terms.
• 'Nominee' means any individual named in a nomination submitted through the Awards platform.
• 'Submission' means the completed nomination form and associated video content submitted by a Nominator.
• 'Nominee Video' means the personalised video produced by PiXL from Submission content and delivered to a Nominee.
• 'Shortlist' means the list of Nominees selected by PiXL for progression to peer review judging, comprising up to ten Nominees per category.
• 'Judges' / 'Judging Panel' means the volunteer education leaders appointed by PiXL to assess Shortlisted Nominees and select Winners.
• 'Winner' means a Nominee selected by a Judging Panel as the recipient of an award in their category.
• 'Award' means the physical glass trophy presented to a Winner.
• 'Celebration Box' means the supplementary prize package delivered to Winners alongside the Award.
• 'Ceremony' means the national celebration event at which Winners are publicly announced, scheduled for January 2027.
• 'Platform' means the VideoAsk-powered nomination interface through which Submissions are made.
• 'Programme Cycle' means the 2026/2027 awards year, running from 17 June 2026 to the conclusion of the Ceremony in January 2027.

 

2.1  The Awards are administered solely by PiXL. The Awards operate independently as a named programme and are not a separate legal entity.

2.2  All decisions relating to eligibility, shortlisting, judging, prize fulfilment, and award withdrawal are made at the sole discretion of PiXL. PiXL's decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to the Awards.

2.3  The Awards are a not-for-profit initiative. PiXL reserves the right to introduce commercial sponsorship arrangements at any point during or after the Programme Cycle. The introduction of sponsorship does not constitute a material change to these terms and does not alter the obligations of any participant. Sponsorship income will be used solely to support the delivery and development of the Awards.

2.4  PiXL reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time. Any amendments will be published on the Awards website. Continued participation following the publication of any amendment constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

 

3.1  Nominator eligibility

To submit a nomination, a Nominator must satisfy all of the following criteria:

•        Be a current or former education professional working or having worked in a recognised educational setting in the United Kingdom;

•        Have a direct working relationship with their Nominee — meaning they have worked alongside, reported to, or been managed or led by the Nominee in a professional capacity;

•        Be aged 18 or over at the date of submission;

•        Have read and accepted these terms and conditions in full prior to submitting a nomination.

 

PiXL reserves the right to request evidence of a Nominator's professional relationship with their Nominee. Failure to provide satisfactory evidence may result in the removal of the nomination.

 

3.2  Nominee eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, a Nominee must satisfy all of the following criteria at the time of their nomination:

•        Be employed in a leadership role within an educational setting in the United Kingdom;

•        Hold people management responsibilities — meaning they are responsible for the leadership, management, or line management of one or more other individuals within their setting;

•        Work within a recognised educational setting. For the avoidance of doubt, eligible settings include but are not limited to:

◦        State-funded and independent primary schools;

◦        State-funded and independent secondary schools;

◦        Multi-academy trusts;

◦        Post-16 providers, including sixth form colleges and further education colleges;

◦        Special schools;

◦        Alternative provision settings;

◦        Hospital schools;

◦        Prison education providers.

 

The Awards are open to educational settings across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. PiXL acknowledges that education systems, legal frameworks, and terminology differ across the four nations and will apply eligibility criteria with appropriate regard to those differences.

Membership of PiXL is not a condition of eligibility for Nominees. The Awards are open to all qualifying education leaders in the United Kingdom regardless of membership status.

 

3.3  Self-nomination

Self-nomination is not permitted. Any Submission in which the Nominator and Nominee are the same individual will be disqualified.

 

3.4  Multiple nominations

A Nominator may submit nominations for multiple Nominees. However, a Nominator may submit only one nomination per Nominee per category. Duplicate submissions by the same Nominator for the same Nominee in the same category will be treated as a single submission.

A Nominee may be nominated by multiple Nominators within the same category. Each Nominator's submission will be treated as a separate nomination and, where applicable, included in the Nominee's personalised video.

 

3.5  Multiple category nominations

A Nominee may be nominated in more than one category by different Nominators. Where a Nominee is nominated in multiple categories and is selected for shortlisting, PiXL reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to shortlist the Nominee in one category only. The category selected will be determined by PiXL based on the strength and volume of nominations received.

 

4.1  Nominations must be submitted via the Platform during the open nominations period. The nominations period opens on 17 June 2026 and closes at 23:59 (GMT) on 9 October 2026. Submissions received after this deadline will not be considered.

4.2  Each Submission requires the Nominator to provide the following:

•        Personal details of the Nominator, including name, role, and employing institution;

•        Details of the Nominee, including name, role, school or setting, and the award category for which they are being nominated;

•        A valid email address for the Nominee, to enable contact by PiXL at relevant stages of the programme;

•        Three video recordings as directed by the Platform, including responses to structured questions about the Nominee's leadership.

 

4.3  By submitting a nomination, the Nominator confirms that all information provided is accurate, truthful, and provided in good faith.

4.4  PiXL reserves the right to remove any Submission that it considers, in its sole discretion, to be inaccurate, misleading, offensive, defamatory, or otherwise in breach of these terms.

4.5  Submission of a nomination does not guarantee that the Nominee will be shortlisted, contacted, or considered for an award.

 

5.1  Ownership of video content

All video content submitted by a Nominator via the Platform is owned by PiXL upon submission. By completing and submitting a nomination, the Nominator irrevocably assigns to PiXL all intellectual property rights — including copyright — in the video content submitted, to the fullest extent permitted by law and for the full duration of those rights.

 

5.2  Licence to use

By submitting a nomination, the Nominator grants PiXL an unrestricted, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, reproduce, edit, publish, distribute, and share the Submission content, including all video recordings, for any purpose connected with the Awards and the promotion of PiXL's activities. This includes but is not limited to:

•        Production and distribution of a personalised Nominee Video;

•        Publication on the Awards website and associated social media channels;

•        Use in promotional and marketing materials for the Awards and for PiXL;

•        Use in future Awards cycles and associated communications.

 

Nominators are advised that their video content may be seen by their Nominee and shared publicly by their Nominee or by PiXL. Nominators should record their submissions accordingly, ensuring content is professional, accurate, and suitable for public distribution.

 

5.3  Content moderation

All video content submitted via the Platform is subject to moderation by PiXL prior to inclusion in any Nominee Video or other distribution. PiXL reserves the right to edit, exclude, or decline to use any content that it considers, in its sole discretion, to be:

•        Defamatory, offensive, or discriminatory;

•        Inaccurate, misleading, or made in bad faith;

•        In breach of any applicable law;

•        Damaging to PiXL's reputation or the integrity of the Awards.

 

The moderation process does not create any obligation on PiXL to verify the accuracy of content that passes moderation. Responsibility for the accuracy and lawfulness of Submission content rests solely with the Nominator.

 

5.4  Retention of video content

PiXL will retain all Submission content, including video recordings, indefinitely following the close of the Programme Cycle. Content may be used by PiXL in future programme cycles and associated activities in accordance with clause 5.2.

 

6.1  Where a Nominator provides a valid email address for their Nominee, PiXL will contact the Nominee to inform them that a nomination has been made in their name, the category in which they have been nominated, and the next steps in the programme.

6.2  Nominees are not required to take any action following notification. The judging process will proceed on the basis of nominations received.

6.3  A Nominee who does not wish to be considered for the Awards may notify PiXL in writing. PiXL will withdraw that Nominee from consideration and will not communicate the withdrawal to the Nominator. Withdrawal requests should be submitted to [email protected].

6.4  Nominees who do not exercise the right of withdrawal under clause 6.3 are deemed to consent to participation in the Awards programme, including receipt of a Nominee Video and, if applicable, shortlisting and consideration for an award.

6.5  PiXL will use reasonable endeavours to contact Nominees at the email address provided by their Nominator. PiXL accepts no responsibility where contact cannot be made due to an incorrect, outdated, or inaccessible email address.

 

7.1  Following the close of the nominations period on 9 October 2026, PiXL will review all eligible Submissions and compile a Shortlist for each award category.

7.2  Shortlists will comprise up to ten Nominees per category. The criteria applied in shortlisting include but are not limited to the volume of nominations received, the quality and specificity of the evidence provided in Submissions, and the strength of the leadership narrative presented.

7.3  Shortlisted Nominees will be notified directly by PiXL. Nominees who are not shortlisted will not be individually notified but will receive their personalised Nominee Video in accordance with clause 9.

7.4  PiXL's shortlisting decisions are made at its sole discretion and are final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding shortlisting outcomes.

 

8.1  Composition of Judging Panels

Each award category will be assessed by a Judging Panel comprising five education leaders appointed by PiXL. Judges serve on a voluntary basis. PiXL may provide Judges with reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and a token of appreciation for their contribution; no financial remuneration will be paid.

 

8.2  Conflict of interest

Judges are required to declare any actual or potential conflict of interest prior to commencing their judging duties. A conflict of interest includes but is not limited to:

•        A current or former employment relationship with a Shortlisted Nominee;

•        The Judge and a Shortlisted Nominee working within the same school, trust, or local authority;

•        A personal or familial relationship with a Shortlisted Nominee;

•        Any financial or professional interest in the outcome of the award.

 

Where a conflict of interest is declared or identified, the Judge will be excluded from assessment of that Nominee and, at PiXL's discretion, may be replaced or the panel restructured accordingly.

 

8.3  Anonymity of nominees in judging

Shortlisted Nominees will be presented to Judging Panels in a manner that minimises personal identification where practicable. Judges are required to confirm, prior to commencing their duties, that they are not aware of any personal connection to any Nominee in their assigned category. PiXL reserves the right to determine the appropriate level of anonymisation in the judging process.

 

8.4  Judging decisions

Each Judging Panel will select one Winner per category by majority decision among five Judges. In the event of an equal split, PiXL retains the casting vote and the final decision rests with PiXL. All judging decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

 

8.5  Confidentiality of judges

PiXL reserves the right to determine whether the identity of Judges is published or kept confidential, either in whole or in part, at any point during or after the Programme Cycle. This decision may be made at any time without notice.

 

9.1  PiXL will produce a personalised Nominee Video for every Nominee where at least one valid Submission has been received and a contact email address has been provided.

9.2  Nominee Videos will be produced and distributed to Nominees between November and December 2026. PiXL will use reasonable endeavours to deliver Nominee Videos before 25 December 2026 but accepts no liability for delays outside its reasonable control.

9.3  Where a Nominee has received multiple nominations, PiXL will produce a single Nominee Video incorporating content from all valid Submissions received for that Nominee in that category.

9.4  Nominee Videos are produced at PiXL's sole discretion and are subject to content moderation in accordance with clause 5.3. PiXL makes no guarantee as to the specific content, format, or duration of any Nominee Video.

9.5  Nominee Videos are provided to Nominees for personal use and social sharing. PiXL retains all intellectual property rights in Nominee Videos in accordance with clause 5.

 

10.1  Winner prizes

Each Winner will receive the following:

•        A bespoke glass Award with an approximate retail value of GBP 60;

•        A Celebration Box with an approximate retail value of GBP 50, inclusive of packaging and postage, containing consumable celebratory items for the Winner and their team.

 

The total approximate prize value per Winner is GBP 110. PiXL does not offer a cash alternative to any element of the prize. Prizes are non-transferable.

 

10.2  Prize fulfilment

PiXL will use reasonable endeavours to deliver Winner prizes prior to or at the Ceremony in January 2027. Where a Winner is unable to attend the Ceremony, the Award may be collected by a nominated proxy or delivered by post to an address provided by the Winner. PiXL accepts no liability for delays or non-delivery resulting from inaccurate address information provided by the Winner.

 

10.3  Tax and reporting

The total prize value falls below the threshold at which HMRC prize reporting obligations are triggered for PiXL. Winners are responsible for determining any personal tax liability arising from receipt of a prize and are advised to seek independent advice if required.

 

10.4  Withdrawal of prizes

PiXL reserves the absolute and unconditional right to withdraw, withhold, or reclaim an Award from a Winner at any time, including after public announcement, at its sole discretion and without obligation to provide reasons. Circumstances in which PiXL may exercise this right include but are not limited to:

•        The emergence of safeguarding concerns relating to the Winner;

•        Evidence of professional misconduct or disqualifying behaviour;

•        Discovery of ineligibility at the time of nomination;

•        Any other circumstances in which PiXL considers, in good faith, that continued recognition of the Winner would be inappropriate or damaging.

 

The right of withdrawal is perpetual and survives the close of the Programme Cycle. Where an Award has been physically delivered, PiXL may require its return. Non-return does not affect the legal withdrawal of the Winner's status.

 

11.1  Winners will be announced at the Ceremony, which is planned for February 2027. PiXL reserves the right to determine the format, location, and structure of the Ceremony, including whether it takes place as a physical, digital, or hybrid event, without prior notice.

11.2  Attendance at the Ceremony is subject to separate invitation and any terms and conditions applicable to that event. Invitation to the Ceremony does not form part of the prize package.

11.3  PiXL reserves the right to postpone, reschedule, or cancel the Ceremony at any time. In such circumstances, PiXL will use reasonable endeavours to notify affected participants and will explore alternative arrangements for the announcement of Winners.

 

12.1  PiXL is the data controller for all personal data processed in connection with the Awards. PiXL processes personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

12.2  The lawful basis for processing Nominator personal data, including video content, is consent. By completing and submitting a nomination, the Nominator provides explicit consent to the processing of their personal data for the purposes of the Awards programme. Consent is required in order to submit a nomination and cannot be withheld while proceeding with a Submission.

12.3  Nominee personal data — including name, role, school, and contact email — is processed on the basis of legitimate interests, namely PiXL's interest in administering the Awards and notifying Nominees of their participation. Nominees retain the right to request removal from the programme in accordance with clause 6.3.

12.4  Personal data submitted via the Platform is processed by VideoAsk, which acts as a data processor on behalf of PiXL. VideoAsk is an EEA-based service. PiXL has satisfied itself that appropriate data processing safeguards are in place. Participants should note that data may be processed on servers outside the United Kingdom; where this occurs, PiXL will ensure that appropriate transfer mechanisms are in place in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.

12.5  Personal data will be retained for the duration of the Programme Cycle and thereafter in accordance with PiXL's data retention policy. Video content will be retained indefinitely as set out in clause 5.4.

12.6  Participants have the right to access, rectify, or request erasure of their personal data, subject to applicable legal exemptions. Requests should be directed to PiXL's Data Protection Officer at [email protected]. Please note that requests for erasure of video content may conflict with PiXL's rights under clause 5; PiXL will consider each request on its merits.

12.7  Full details of how PiXL processes personal data are set out in PiXL's Privacy Notice, available at [pixl.org.uk/privacy].

 

13.1  PiXL accepts no responsibility for Submissions that are lost, delayed, corrupted, or not received due to technical failure, internet connectivity issues, or any other cause outside PiXL's reasonable control.

13.2  PiXL accepts no liability for any claim arising from the content of a Submission made by a Nominator. Responsibility for the accuracy, truthfulness, and lawfulness of Submission content — including all statements made in video recordings — rests solely with the Nominator. Where a Nominee or third party suffers harm as a result of content submitted by a Nominator, the Nominator is solely liable for that harm. Neither PiXL nor the Educational Leadership Awards accepts any liability in such circumstances.

13.3  Nothing in these terms and conditions limits PiXL's liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

13.4  Subject to clause 13.3, PiXL's total liability to any participant in connection with the Awards — whether in contract, tort, or otherwise — shall not exceed the total retail value of any prize to which that participant is entitled.

 

14.1  All decisions made by PiXL in relation to eligibility, shortlisting, judging, prize fulfilment, and award withdrawal are final and binding. PiXL does not operate a formal appeals process in relation to these decisions.

14.2  Any complaint relating to the administration of the Awards should be submitted in writing to [email protected]. PiXL will acknowledge complaints within ten working days and will use reasonable endeavours to respond within thirty working days.

14.3  These terms and conditions are governed by the law of England and Wales. Any dispute arising from or in connection with these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, save that participants domiciled in Scotland or Northern Ireland may elect to have disputes heard in the courts of their jurisdiction.

 

15.1  PiXL reserves the right to suspend, amend, or cancel the Awards at any time without prior notice, including but not limited to circumstances of force majeure, insufficient nominations received, or any other circumstance that renders delivery of the programme impracticable.

15.2  These terms and conditions constitute the entire agreement between PiXL and participants in relation to the Awards and supersede all prior representations, agreements, or understandings.

15.3  If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

15.4  Failure by PiXL to enforce any provision of these terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

15.5  These terms and conditions, and any dispute arising from them, shall be governed by the law of England and Wales.