Ken Muir Awards recognise ‘overlooked' student achievements
More than 1,000 pupils from 86 schools in Scotland participated in the Schools Programme in 2024-2025, the fourth year of the programme.
Although every participant also leaves with a qualification, a spokesperson for Powering Futures said that the new Ken Muir Award is meant to give special attention to pupils who exhibited 'less measurable, but deeply meaningful outcomes,' such as increased confidence, teamwork skills, and planning for their lives after school.
An award was given to one pupil from each participating school. Recipients were nominated by their teachers in recognition of individual growth during the challenge.
Many calls for reforming the Scottish education system and independent studies into qualifications, exams and the curriculum have emphasised the need to move away from traditional results-based education and instead prioritise skills and other achievements that might translate directly into the workplace.
Professor Louise Hayward's 2023 Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment recommended significant changes to the exam diet and the creation of a new diploma reflecting wider student achievements.
Prof Muir's 2022 report, Putting Learners at the Centre, focussed on reforms to the qualifications system as part of a broader cultural shift in education that gave less weight to high-stakes exams and more focus on student and teacher voices.
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Prof Muir said that the new award in his name and the Powering Futures Schools Programme are both 'symbolic' of the change he wants to see in Scottish education.
'We need a culture shift in Scotland's education system. Of course, grades are important - but so is working hard, reflecting on progress, and growing as a person.
'These Awards are symbolic of this shift. They celebrate personal development, resilience, communication, and teamwork. These are all critical attributes that help young people thrive in life and in work.'
He added that giving students, teachers, and employers input into the system is critical.
'Innovation in education doesn't come from the top down. It comes from those on the ground who genuinely want to see young people achieve in every sense of the word. Powering Futures is one such innovation, and it's helping us reimagine what success looks like in Scottish schools.'
Professor Ken Muir presents Rubin Allen from Alva Academy with his Powering Futures Challenge SCQF Level 6 Qualification Certificate. (Image: © Stuart Nicol Photography 2025.)
Over the course of the Schools Programme, students have the chance to work directly with the business leaders who set the challenges and build relationships, which Powering Futures co-founder Jennifer Tempany said provide opportunities for students when they leave school.
'The Powering Futures Schools Programme is equipping the next generation with the skills and mindset to thrive in the jobs of the future.
'These Awards highlight the often-overlooked achievements that sit beyond academic results, but which can inspire confidence and purpose in young people as they go into the world of work.
'We are proud to play our part in helping young people see their potential, and congratulate every recipient for their well-earned achievement.'
The inaugural Ken Muir Awards were hosted by SSEN Transmission in Perth.
Nicky Gadsden, SSEN's Early Career Attraction and Engagement Lead, said the awards 'help signal a brighter, more sustainable future powered by their vision and ambition.'
'We're thrilled to celebrate the recipients of this year's Ken Muir Award - young people whose drive and innovation are already setting them up to make waves in their future careers, wherever it takes them.'
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