The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in UK higher education. This year's cohort represents the largest number of National Teaching Fellows ever awarded, reflecting the exceptional quality of teaching talent across the sector as evidenced by the positive responses about teaching in the 2025 Student Academic Experience Survey and National Student Survey.
Kathryn Harrison-Graves, Deputy Chief Executive at Advance HE said, "We are delighted to announce the 2025 awards to those with an unwavering commitment to teaching excellence.
“These newly awarded National Teaching Fellows and CATE teams represent the very best of UK higher education, demonstrating remarkable innovation, dedication and impact on student learning. Their achievements not only benefit their own institutions but inspire excellence across the entire sector. At a time when higher education faces unprecedented challenges, these awards celebrate the transformative power of outstanding teaching and collaboration."
Tim’s nomination emphasised his collaborative approach, working with students and staff from all backgrounds to create conditions that facilitate learning. It focused particularly on the Student Observation of Teaching scheme that he founded and co-leads, where staff and students are supported in having a critical conversation about learning and teaching based on specific experiences, usually an observation of the staff member’s teaching. Since it began this scheme has involved 137 members of staff and 296 students, and was described by one student as ““invaluable [...] It's pushed me to develop new skills that I can see will really help me with the rest of my course and my current and future jobs!”
In response to the award Tim says, “I am enormously grateful for this award, as I know how high the standard of competition is. I see it not just as recognition of my individual practice, but of the importance of education within a research-led institution, especially education that keeps students’ experiences and development front and centre of the picture. I hope I can use it to continue prioritising students and the potentially transformative opportunities offered by higher education.”
This National Teaching Fellow award completes what has been a hugely successful year for Tim, in March he was awarded Principal Fellowship of the HEA and two months later won an Education Award within the University.
Congratulations, Tim, on all your incredible accomplishments this academic year!