Architecture into Education Awards
An awards programme celebrating architecture education in schools
What you need to know to apply?
1. This is a new awards scheme. What is it aiming to do?
Thornton Education Trust is launching its second programme of awards to recognise the work that educationalists, teachers and architects are doing to help children and young people benefit from creative architectural learning and engagement in their built environment.
Architecture affects everyone’s daily lives, yet it is the one subject that is not embedded into our school education system. It is a dynamic and constantly evolving subject making learning more accessible and relevant and can help them to connect to their surroundings and other citizens.
Engaging children and young people directly with the built environment and giving them the opportunity to propose their own ideas through creative challenges is an enlightening way to inspire them about the world around them.
Architecture education itself broadens horizons, develops critical thinking, problem solving, raises aspirations, enables children and young people to participate in their environment and provides access to new opportunities.
The Architecture into Education Awards scheme aims to encourage in-school learning and collaborative schools projects, emphasising inclusivity and diversity, climate change and wellbeing through the power of design thereby empowering future generations to shape their future neighbourhood and city. Currently there is no programme of awards to acknowledge educationalists and built environment professionals whose passion, energy and expertise have introduced future generations to architecture and the built environment. Launching in 2023 by the Thornton Education Trust (TET) in the UK, the annual Architecture Into Education Awards (AintoE Awards) will lead on recognising best practice in this vitally important field.
2. Architecture into Education Awards 2023
The Architecture into Education Awards Scheme is being launched to celebrate those who have been leading in the development of these creative programmes and activities and in so doing advancing best practice and sharing this knowledge with other teachers.
Through this we seek to close the gap between architecture and education: to embed architecture in young people’s education, and to embed young people in architecture.
The awards scheme is open to teachers who can demonstrate how they have used architecture as the subject for their teaching, be it through programmes and activities or schemes of work over the past 4 school years. In addition, the awards will be encouraging built environment professionals, higher education institutions, local authorities and not for profit built environment organisations to enter the awards where they have had direct engagement with whole school class and pupils.
The awards are divided into the different curriculum key stages through to 6th form and further education. There are also a number of categories which reflect current issues and concerns or action research and online resources:
Winning initiatives will demonstrate best practice, engagement, impact and insight.
The Awards will also:
→ demonstrate that architectural learning gives valuable skills, opportunities and knowledge to children and young people
→ create an lasting impact within the curriculum and school network
→ inspire the creation of a future generation of architects
→ establish TET as a setter and keeper of architectural education
3.Why enter?
Winning an Architecture into Education Award:
→ Celebrates your commitment to the value of architecture as a theme in education
→ Promotes best practice in education
→ Shares your expertise and passion with your peers
→ Provide a platform to showcase and raise awareness of your school or organisation’s work in this area.
4. Who is eligible?
A) School Teachers
In 2023 there are a number of different categories of awards from current issues to using architecture as a means to engage with other subject areas, together with the normal schemes of work or project work within overall school teaching. Please see the entry criteria for each award
B) Built Environment organisations.
Built environment professionals, higher education institutions, local authorities and not for profit organisations that have a clear learning strand activity and engaged directly with a school or schoolteacher. Submissions will need to demonstrate that the activity has been part of its school’s formal curriculum as part of whole class teaching (rather than just a small number of students)
5. Does the project, organisation or individual need to be based in the UK?
No, they can be from any country, but the award entry form must be completed in English. The Key Stages Categories can be translated into equivalent in own nation.
6. What are the Architecture into Education Awards 2023 categories?
Teachers applying can enter one or more of the categories below which cover a range of themes/subjects. If you have a relevant activity but does not correspond to these, please enter the relevant Key Stage or your equivalent and click ‘Other’ on the submission form and then continue completing it.
→ Designing for wellbeing and community→ Sustainability - the 6 ‘Rs’ + 1→ Architecture through STEAM → Primary Key Stage 1&2→ Secondary Key Stage 3&4 → Sixth Form & FE→ Online Teacher ResourcesCollaborators are projects led by built environment practices/individuals/higher education institutions/not for profits. Click on relevant scheme and complete form. Please note that if your project doesn’t correspond with the categories or subjects listed on the form, click ‘Other’.
→ Design Practices & Higher Education Collaborations→ Not for Profit Collaborations→ Online Teacher Resources7. Information required for submissions?
Schools led projects by Themes / Subject /KS Categories request information on the project’s purpose, delivery and evaluation.
Collaborations by built environment professionals, higher education institutions, local authorities and not for profit organisations request information on how they have developed or replicated approaches to architecture education as part of the school curriculum with a whole class or year.
Resources Category request information on how or why created or developed as part of the school curriculum and application.
Inspirational Individual Nomination Category requests information on an individual teacher / built environment professional / Creative Practitioner within the aim of these awards - whether working independently or as part of a team - who has been inspirational to students or teachers. Third party nominations only accepted.
8. What are some of the assessment criteria?
Impact – demonstrable positive changes. For instance, what is the overall impact of your project, when did it begin, what are the tangible benefits to students and young people in learning outcomes and how many students and young people has it engaged.
Creativity – For instance, if new what makes the initiative stand out or how has it had a transformative effect on pupil’s education/soft skills
Insights – For instance, what are the best practices learned from the initiative, is it and how is this being shared, how far-reaching is the scope of the initiative, what are the challenges that arose, how did you overcome them and lessons learned.
9. Timeline:
6th November - Judging
November 2023 - Winner Awards Announcement
10. Is there a prize?
A prize fund of £150 will be presented to the winning categories of the ‘Inspirational Individual of the Year’.
The winners will be invited to the Inspire Future Generations Reception and their project posted onto the TET Resource Bank and TET social media channels.
11. What information do I have to provide on the submission form?
We will ask for a lead contact person who we will liaise with on all correspondence.
All forms have a few short sections where relevant information is requested, plus the opportunity to upload no more than 4 sides of A4 which may include photos, press, stats, testimonials etc (max 10mb).
Please note: There is a save function on the form. A full copy of your application will be automatically emailed to you after submission.
12. How do I make an application?
Applications are made online through a simple form at the bottom of each category on our website. Unfortunately we can’t accept applications through any other method. Applications should be written in English.
If in doubt do email: aintoe@thorntoneducationtrust.org
13. Can I make multiple submissions?
A maximum of 3 submissions per applicant is allowable each on separate forms. In addition, you can make one submission for Inspirational Individual of the Year. Please note you cannot change your application after you have submitted it.
14. Do I need to pay to enter?
As a not for profit charity, the entry fees are included just to cover the administration and direct costs to run the awards.
There is a small fee of £15.00 for schools and submissions by individuals. No fee for each consecutive submission up to a maximum of 3 entries in total using code AIE23.
For built environment practices, institutions, not for profits and local authorities there is a fee of £95.00. A discounted fee of £40 for each consecutive submission up to a maximum total of 3 entries using code AIEO23.
There is no fee for submitting a nomination under the Individual of the Year categories.
Fees can’t be refunded should you choose to withdraw.
15. When and how will I hear if the entry has been shortlisted?
We will advise all shortlisted winners in writing on 1st November
18. Announcement of winners
The announcement of the winners of the categories together with the Individual of Year Year categories will take place begin September and either in person or online.
TET reserves the right to announce the shortlist and winners first, and the manner and details of announcing this is at our discretion.
Unfortunately it may not be possible to correspond with unsuccessful applicants.
19. Please note: TET reserves the right to publish and promote all content and imagery from submissions and you agree that relevant photography licences/permissions have been obtained. You agree that to the best of your knowledge we are free to use any images supplied to us, and grant TET permission to use these on our website and in any associated publicity without infringement of copyright. Credit line should be supplied.
20. Can I sponsor an award?
Yes, we are seeking sponsorship for the AintoE Awards and would be delighted to discuss opportunities. Please email us at aintoe@thorntoneducationtrust.org for more details.