CHAPELFORD Village Primary School is in the running for a £5,000 prize after transforming its Computing curriculum and boosting pupils’ digital skills.
The Warrington primary school has been shortlisted for a prestigious national education award recognising excellence in teaching and school leadership.
Chapelford Village Primary School is one of three schools nominated for the 2026 Primary Impact Award, organised by national education charity The PTI, formerly known as the Prince’s Teaching Institute.
The award celebrates schools that put high-quality subject teaching at the heart of the classroom, helping teachers develop their expertise and inspire a love of learning among pupils.
The winning school will receive £5,000 and a trophy at a ceremony later this month.
Chapelford Village Primary School used the PTI Primary Hub programme to transform its Computing curriculum after an external review identified the subject as an area for development.
The school developed a clear, progressive curriculum covering Computer Science, Information Technology and Digital Literacy, while making better use of existing robotics and technology resources.
It also strengthened Digital Literacy provision across the school, introduced a Year 6 unit exploring artificial intelligence (AI) and established clearer progression in learning from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) onwards.
The changes are designed to help pupils move beyond simply using technology to understanding how it works, thinking critically about its applications and using it safely, creatively and responsibly.
Year 3 Lead Mr Cooke said the school was delighted to have been recognised nationally.
He said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for the PTI Primary Impact Award. The PTI Hub has had a huge impact on both my own development as a Computing leader and on our school’s curriculum.
“It challenged us to think differently about what children really need to learn, and it has been fantastic to see this translate into greater staff confidence, an ambitious curriculum and pupils who are becoming confident, curious and responsible digital citizens.”
The PTI’s Primary Impact Award recognises schools that demonstrate its ethos and values through their work with a PTI Primary Hub.
The programme provides professional development to strengthen teachers’ subject knowledge and confidence, helping schools improve classroom practice and create richer learning experiences for children.
Dr Cat Scutt MBE, chief executive of The PTI, said this year’s nominees demonstrated the difference that subject expertise, professional collaboration and thoughtful leadership could make to pupils’ learning.
She said: “Through their work with PTI Primary Hubs, these schools have strengthened their teachers’ knowledge and confidence, while creating richer and more engaging experiences for their pupils.”
She added that the award celebrated schools helping to ensure every child had access to inspiring, high-quality subject teaching.
Chapelford Village Primary School is shortlisted alongside Meridian Primary School in Greenwich and St Francis RC Primary School in Manchester.
The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony later this month.
