Julia Reeve, Educational Consultant, and Dr Deeba Parmar, Head of Learning and Teaching Enhancement at BPP. Both group members of the ‘In it Together’ group.
The annual Association for National Teaching Fellows Symposium took place on 20–21 May 2025, bringing together a vibrant community of current and aspiring National Teaching Fellows (NTFs) and CATEs, Teaching Excellence Award leads, and advocates of learning and teaching excellence. This gathering continues to serve as a dynamic space for sharing resources, showcasing innovative practice, and advancing agendas around recognition and inclusion in higher education.
As part of the In It Together collective, we developed a workshop titled “Say it, See it, Do it!”, to support colleagues from underrepresented backgrounds in building compelling evidence for NTF and CATE applications. The workshop, facilitated by Julia, employed LEGO® Serious Play® to foster creativity, reflection, and strategic thinking—enabling participants to articulate their impact and navigate the complexities of award submissions.
The In It Together group—established by Professor Sally Everett, Dr Nicola Watchman-Smith, and colleagues—exists to champion and amplify underrepresented voices within the NTF and CATE landscape. Our mission is rooted in equity, support, and the belief that excellence in teaching must be inclusive and representative of the diverse communities we serve.
Julia reflects: my own journey to becoming an NTF (awarded in 2001) was shaped by my identity as a member of professional services—an often-overlooked group in these national recognitions. The enablers and barriers I encountered have informed my commitment to creating more accessible pathways for others. This personal experience, alongside research I conducted into the NTF journeys of underrepresented colleagues, underpinned the themes explored in the workshop (as shown in this visual developed for the Symposium).
The LEGO® activities sparked rich discussions around the opportunities and challenges of evidence-building—both within institutional contexts and across the sector. We explored strategies for surfacing hidden contributions, navigating structural barriers, and leveraging networks of support.
Teaching Excellence Superheroes were created: these embodied qualities including being a voice amplifier, offering emotional support, making others feel seen and being a bridge to overcome modesty of colleagues. Other Superheroes represented achievement for all, listening and a Rhizome: connectedness, transparency, growth/bloom and reaching out.
Participants went on to build a key barrier for NTF/CATE applicants from under-represented groups: some of these were to do with systems, for example a lack of parity of esteem between subject research and teaching-based research. Others were more personal and to do with factors including Imposter Syndrome, modesty, visibility and misperception.
Looking ahead, this work will evolve into a framework for championing inclusive NTF and CATE schemes. We aim to develop tailored resources for different stakeholders, ensuring that recognition processes are equitable, transparent, and empowering.
If you are interested in contributing to this initiative or have examples of good practice that have successfully supported minority groups and other under-represented voices in achieving recognition, we warmly invite you to get in touch.
For more information: Contact julia@playtoconnect.co.uk and deebaparmar@bpp.com
Images: Julia Reeve
