IMAGINE AWARDS: JUDGING PANEL 2026
Dr Amanda McCroy
Associate Professor of Ethics in Science Education UCL, Institute of Education
Amanda’s thoughts on the Imagine Programme and Awards:
“The Imagine Awards celebrates teachers and built environment professionals who creatively embed architecture and the wider built environment into the primary curriculum. For primary education, this is particularly powerful. Engaging with the built environment helps young children develop spatial awareness, critical and ethical thinking, creativity as well as problem-solving skills. It nurtures curiosity about the world around them, strengthens their sense of place and belonging, and encourages them to see themselves as active participants in shaping their communities. It gives primary-aged children agency and voice.”
Fiona MacDonald
Co-Founder and Director, MATT+FIONA
Fiona’s thoughts on the Imagine Programme and Awards:
“More than ever, given the multiple global crises we face, children need to be learning how to think, not what to think. The open-endedness of architecture and built environment education - and programmes such as Imagine - it is invaluable in its ability to support young people in their ability to think creatively and from first principles. It gives them the skills, curiosity and resilience to face our collective unknown futures.”
Sandra Hedblad
Built Environment Engagement Specialist
Sandra’s thoughts on the Imagine Programme and Awards:
“A better world starts with children and to make them connect with, see and appreciate the space they use everyday is very powerful. Schools play a crucial part in making this happen and I’m delighted that TET is celebrating and highlighting this.”
Venetia Wolfenden
Founding Director, Urban Learners
Urban Learners founding director Venetia Wolfenden, is an architect and educator with a masters degree in Design Education. Her multidisciplinary expertise encompasses design, engagement and research skills with a proven track record of devising inclusive and creative processes. Venetia’s Participatory Action Research MA thesis (Involving Children in Participatory Design for their immediate built environment) underpins Urban Learners’ ethos and practice.
Plus TET Trustees
Neil Pinder
D& T Teacher, Graveny School
