School Games Impact Awards 2026 Winners Celebrated at National Summit

The annual Awards celebrate the transformational impact of the School Games network in creating positive experiences through sport and physical activity for children and young people across the country.

This year’s winners were recognised for their innovation, collaboration, and commitment to improving outcomes for young people through inclusive, meaningful, and engaging opportunities. From supporting young people with SEND and those in Alternative Provision, to empowering youth leadership and strengthening community partnerships, their projects demonstrate the powerful role sport and physical activity can play in education, wellbeing and personal development.

The awards also highlighted the growing importance of enrichment, youth voice and inclusive practice within schools and communities, reflecting the evolving role of the School Games in supporting wider education and health priorities.

Hosted the night before the School Games National Summit 2026, the evening brought together School Games Organisers, Active Partnerships, schools, National Governing Bodies, and partners from across the network to celebrate the collective impact being made for young people nationwide.

This year’s celebration also featured an after-dinner address from Daniel Edozie, along with an inspiring performance and stories showcasing the breadth of talent and innovation across the network.

2026 Impact Award Winners

Engaging Schools Award

Winner: Hussein Khan and Jon Griffiths (South Wigston High School, Leicestershire and Rutland)

Hussein and Jon's project united schools across South Leicestershire to spark daily physical activity for pupils and staff. Through active travel, challenges and whole‑school competition, it embedded 60 active minutes, boosted wellbeing, and built lasting partnerships. The result? Millions of active minutes and a culture shift among pupils and staff.

Positive Experiences for Targeted Young People Award

Winner: Agata Maj (Park Hill Junior School, London South)

A wellbeing-focused initiative redefined school sport by combining physical activity with rest and recovery. Through recovery zones, pupil leadership, and inclusive workshops, 'Play. Chill. Heal' improved confidence, reduced anxiety, and engaged underrepresented groups - empowering pupils, staff, and families to view movement and wellbeing as connected, sustainable, and accessible for all.

Secondary School Engagement and Transition Award

Winner: Sean O'Connor (The Regis School, Sussex)

This inclusive transition project supported SEND and low-confidence pupils as they moved to secondary school. Using sensory circuit activities, it built emotional regulation, confidence, and friendships while strengthening staff collaboration. Shaped by parent voice and pupil leadership, the programme eased transition anxiety and embedded a sustainable, pupil-centred approach to inclusive physical activity.

Personal Development and Youth Voice Award

Winner: Kyle Wright (Handsworth Grange Community Sports College, South Yorkshire)

A citywide programme, SAYLS empowered disadvantaged young people with qualifications, leadership skills, and real-world experience in sport and health careers. Through co-designed pathways, mentoring, and high-profile volunteering, SAYLS built confidence, improved employability, and created clear progression routes to bridge the gap between education and employment for those most at risk of being left behind.

Engaging Stakeholders Award

Winner: Amy McCulloch (Farringdon Community Academy, Tyne and Wear)

Amy created a multi-agency steering group uniting organisations to tackle inequalities through collaboration, shared expertise, and aligned delivery. The initiative reduced duplication and created joint initiatives, which strengthened pathways and expanded opportunities for young people. This project demonstrates how collective action can drive sustainable, citywide impact across health, wellbeing, sport, and community services.

School Innovation and Impact Award

Winner: Sam Wells (Caradon Alternative Provision Academy, Cornwall)

Sam and Caradon Academy delivered a reimagined, inclusive virtual School Games model, bringing competition directly into alternative provision settings. Co-designed curriculum activities delivered on-site created safe opportunities for participation, building confidence, self-regulation, and engagement. By removing barriers and valuing progress, it ensured vulnerable pupils could access meaningful competition and feel a true sense of belonging.

Young Person Impact Award

Winners: Susie Stinton et al. (Stafford Manor High School, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent) and Kerrie O'Mahony (on behalf of Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and British Weight Lifting)

Susie delivered an angling-focused project to strengthen mental wellbeing, confidence and family relationships. By engaging schools and families together and providing skills, equipment and clear community engagement routes, the project empowered children facing behavioural or confidence challenges to build physical literacy, motivation and lasting participation through shared, community‑based activity.

Kerrie's project reimagined sport for underrepresented young people and engaged girls, SEND, PRU and disengaged pupils through inclusive fitness experiences. By celebrating effort, building confidence and creating leadership pathways, it reduced inequalities and inspired long-term behaviour change to empower young people to see fitness as achievable and meaningful.

Youth Sport Trust and SailGP Impact League Schools Award

Winner: Steven Jamieson (Our Lady's Catholic College, Lancashire)

A creative, gamified transition programme which used woodland challenges and climate‑themed storytelling to support Year 5-8 pupils, including those with anxiety or SEND. By blending physical activity, teamwork and nature‑based learning, it built confidence, social skills and environmental connection, helping pupils feel supported and positive about moving to secondary school.

The School Games Impact Awards continue to shine a spotlight on the dedication and creativity shown by the School Games network in supporting children and young people to be active, engaged, and empowered.

Across schools and communities, the projects recognised this year demonstrate how sport and play can improve confidence, wellbeing, belonging, and aspiration, particularly for young people who may face the greatest barriers to participation.

Whether through innovative enrichment opportunities, youth-led approaches, inclusive delivery models or stronger partnerships across local systems, the work celebrated through the awards is helping to create meaningful change for young people every day.

Congratulations to all finalists and winners, and thank you to everyone across the School Games network who continues to make a difference through the power of sport and physical activity.