Let Teachers SHINE 2026 launched: grants for teachers of up to £25k on offer
Teachers are invited to submit their innovative ideas to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their potential.
SHINE has announced the launch of this year’s Let Teachers SHINE competition, inviting teachers from across England to submit their innovative ideas to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their potential.
Let Teachers SHINE offers grants of up to £25,000 to support teachers who want to turn creative classroom ideas into projects with real impact.
Winners not only receive financial backing but also gain access to mentoring, workshops, and a network of like-minded educators who have previously taken part in the programme.
The competition is built on a simple belief: that the best ideas in education come from teachers themselves.
SHINE is encouraging practising teachers in England – from early years through to college settings – to apply if they have a project that could improve outcomes in core subjects for children facing disadvantage.
The charity is particularly focused on ideas that can make a lasting difference in the North of England, where educational inequality remains a pressing issue.
Since its launch 13 years ago, Let Teachers SHINE has supported hundreds of teachers to test and grow ideas that began in their own classrooms. Many previous winners have gone on to expand their projects nationally, helping thousands of students and influencing wider teaching practice.
Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE, said: “Every year, we are amazed by the ingenuity and passion of teachers who apply to Let Teachers SHINE. These are people who see daily the challenges faced by children in their classrooms and come up with practical, powerful ways to make things better. SHINE exists to give them the support they need to turn those ideas into reality.”
Teachers can find full details of eligibility, funding criteria, and the application process at letteachersshine.org.uk.
The deadline for applications is 14 January 2026, with winners to be announced in Spring 2026.
SHINE is a UK charity dedicated to improving educational outcomes for children from low-income backgrounds in the North of England. Through programmes like Let Teachers SHINE, the charity invests in teacher-led innovation to help close the attainment gap and ensure every child has the chance to succeed, regardless of where they live or their family circumstances.