Inspiring the next generation: Neil Wright wins the UKESF Award for Inspirational Electronics Educators

In Neil Wright’s classroom at William Farr CofE Comprehensive School, Electronics is not just a topic on the timetable, it is nightlights made from recycled materials, sumo-bots battling it out in the lab, and students imagining how their designs might change the world.

That energy and creativity have now been recognised nationally, with Neil, Teacher of Electronics & Design Engineering at William Farr, named the winner of The UKESF Award for Inspirational Electronics Educators, Sponsored by Synopsys.

The Award recognises a teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to Electronics education in the last 12 months and has a creative idea to further inspire the next generation. The UKESF received a number of really brilliant entries from teachers nationwide who are championing Electronics in the classroom and going above and beyond to break down barriers and inspire students to pursue rewarding careers in the sector.

Speaking about the importance of teachers in Electronics, Sophie Batin, Head of Education, UKESF, said: “Teachers’ dedication and passion are the catalysts that ignite students’ interest in Electronics.”

As winner, Neil receives a £500 personal reward, a £1,000 grant to support Electronics education at William Farr, and will be a guest of the UKESF at the TechWorks Awards 2025.

Reflecting on the recognition, Neil Wright said: “I am very grateful for the recognition this award gives – it makes the effort worthwhile because it’s been noticed… I hope that this award will go on to inspire other teachers to apply in the future and feel likewise.”

A sustainable, hands-on journey through Electronics

Neil has developed a sustainable, context-based, reusable Electronics philosophy across all year groups, giving students a clear, hands-on pathway into the subject:

  • Year 7: basic circuits, building transistor-based nightlights using recycled materials
  • Year 8: microcontroller-based sweet dispensers, with many students achieving Bronze CREST awards
  • Year 9: modular Arduino via the Seeed Grove ecosystem, creating crop-based environmental monitoring systems using a Scratch-like interface
  • Year 10: Arduino IDE and C++, integrating AI for complex projects such as an in-house sumo-bot competition

This progression leads to strong Year 11 GCSE projects and impressive outcomes beyond the classroom. This year, Neil supported 10 Arkwright scholarship applications, with 6 awarded. At A-Level, students tackle projects such as automated guided vehicles in an Amazon warehouse context and take part in national events such as Big Bang and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow; this culminates in strong university pathways, including a UKESF Semiconductor Award at the University of Sheffield for one of Neil’s students this year.

“After leaving William Farr, I hope students can look back and know as a subject and as a supporting industry, we did our best for them… It has hopefully also shown them what they are truly capable of by challenging them to push their limits.”
Neil Wright

Using the £1,000 grant to widen participation

Neil plans to use the £1,000 grant to entice more students into Electronics, particularly girls, and to make opportunities more inclusive for all learners. Over the next 12 months, he intends to:

  • Run group trips to Girls into Electronics, using part of the grant to subsidise transport costs
  • Arrange more industrial visits, giving students a real insight into Electronics in the workplace
  • Invest in the Alvik system to enable lower-stakes entry into the school’s sumobot activities for students with Special Educational Needs, and to support a wider range of project investigations with faster turnaround at KS5

“The grant awarded by UKESF is a game changer and allows us to invest in reusable modular kit where we can explore new projects easily… This is where I want to get the ‘wow’ factor sparking the fire of imagination.”
Neil Wright

Recognising three inspiring runners up

Three inspiring teachers have been recognised as runners up, each receiving a £250 prize for their contribution to Electronics education:

  • Pete Dring, Head of Computing at Fulford School, who leads inclusive STEM and Game Development clubs that prioritise SEND students and ensure at least 50% of places are given to girls, as well as leading robotics interventions
  • Olga Nayler, Head of Science and Physics/Science teacher at Lift Ryde, who takes Physics beyond the syllabus using Arduino and Music Kits and actively promotes Electronics careers, including trips to events such as UKESF’s Girls into Electronics
  • Ian Bell, PT STEM DYW and Electronics Teacher at Calderglen High School, who has strengthened Electronics education through inclusive, hands-on experiences such as a Girls in STEM Day for over 250 pupils and, through the Young Engineers Club and his role as SQA Principal Assessor for National 5 Practical Electronics, supports one of the largest school Electronics cohorts in Scotland.

Together, Neil, alongside all those who submitted outstanding entries, demonstrate how passionate, knowledgeable educators can transform students’ experiences of Electronics and influence their future study and career choices in STEM.

As UKESF marks its 15th anniversary, the Award forms part of a wider commitment to recognise teachers and the vital role they play in inspiring future engineers. The UKESF would like to thank Synopsys for supporting The UKESF Award for Inspirational Electronics Educators and their commitment to encouraging more young people to study Electronics and pursue careers in the sector.

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