Every year the ‘Teaching Oscars’ take place, this year at The Brewery’ in the City of London. The formal name of these awards is ‘The Pearson National Teaching Awards’, an annual glamorous awards ceremony will be taking place next week on 29th November. It’s where teachers, lecturers, support staff and institutions from across the country will gather to celebrate the incredible impact that educators have on young lives. Dan Crossman, Headteacher at Marlborough St Mary’s in Marlborough was announced as a Silver Award winner for the Headteacher of the Year category earlier this year is now in the running for Gold.
Dan’s award and shortlisting for this ‘Oscar’ is recognition of his being a remarkable headteacher. He has relentless dedication to ensuring every child receives the support they need, whilst leading with compassion, warmth and kindness. Dan never gives up, no matter how impossible the challenge may seem – his “No shrugged shoulders” rule exemplifies his commitment to advocating for every child and staff member. This is especially the case for the most disadvantaged and SEND learners; since taking over the headship 4 years ago, Dan has built Marlborough St Mary’s reputation as THE school in Wiltshire for special educational needs, with two complex needs resource bases where children benefit from a bespoke curriculum including horse riding, outdoor learning and weekly maths cafes!
Dan’s leadership approach has brought benefits to every one of the 353 children at the school. He redefined the school’s vision around four drivers (talk, read, connection and joy), revolutionising the curriculum, which has resulted in the school’s best-ever results and an exceptional OFSTED report in 2025 with the inspector stating that ‘pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, flourish at this welcoming and inclusive school.’ Dan has also forged strong ties with local services and introduced new initiatives to the school, including establishing an onsite Forest School, adopting the innovative Danish Hygge approach to early years and building a sensory circuit. Much of this he has managed through private funding initiatives.
Through distributed leadership, Dan empowers staff, focuses on well-being, and fosters collaboration, informed by his personal experience supporting his daughter with a rare brain condition. His trauma-informed “Five to Thrive” initiative and “Be Kind” rule have improved relationships, attendance and parent-teacher collaboration. Dan shows unwavering dedication to the school community, alongside mentoring other headteachers and speaking out for shared challenges in national publications, earning widespread admiration for his extraordinary leadership.
The glittering ceremony will be hosted at The Brewery in Central London and will be hosted by BBC presenter, Gaby Roslin. We wish Dan every success……
The Little Mermaid at The Watermill Theatre – festive family fun
