Aspiration Awards 2025: CACHE Outstanding Achievement highly commended - Emma Clegg

The CACHE Outstanding achievement award celebrates individuals who have made a lasting and meaningful contribution to care and education. This year, Emma Clegg, Senior Lecturer at Darlington College, has been awarded highly commended for her decades-long commitment to shaping the futures of learners and supporting the next generation of educators. 

With a career that spans over 20 years, Emma has taught and mentored thousands of students across a wide range of early years and education programmes. From Level 2 Safeguarding to T Level Childcare and Education, her work has helped learners achieve their ambitions, grow in confidence and build careers they once thought were out of reach. 

A career built on care and impact 

Emma’s career began in an era of overhead projectors and VHS cassettes, but her passion for teaching and her drive to innovate have never faded. From the very beginning, she’s brought care, creativity and humour to every lesson making learning not just effective, but genuinely enjoyable. 

She’s taught across the full range of qualifications, including study programmes, apprenticeships, and foundation degrees, always with a commitment to putting the learner first. Her thoughtful planning, deep subject knowledge and ability to make complex topics accessible have made her a much-loved and respected educator. 

“Emma has become one of the most caring and supportive members of staff,” shares Mick O’Reilly, Manager of Health, Public Services, and Childcare at Darlington College. “She constantly pushes the boundaries of knowledge, learning new skills to help learners succeed and enjoy their time at college.” 

A champion for innovation and support 

Emma isn’t afraid to embrace new ideas. A recent example saw her turning dry policy content into a lively podcast using AI-generated voices, transforming a complex subject into an engaging learning experience for her T Level students. She immediately shared the tool with colleagues, as she always does when she finds something that can benefit others. 

As well as inspiring her students, Emma is a trusted mentor to trainee teachers and new staff. She’s a guiding presence across the department and always ready with a listening ear, constructive advice and a calm, supportive approach. Many staff members at Darlington College, including teachers, assessors and senior lecturers, were once her students. 

“Emma’s ability to build supportive relationships has helped create a culture where staff feel confident to ask for help and improve their practice,” Mick explains. “She inspires learners and colleagues alike, and her impact can be seen all around the college.” 

A role model in every way 

Emma’s leadership goes beyond the classroom. She plays a key role as an NCFE CACHE coordinator, ensuring the quality of provision across childcare programmes remains high. She is also a member of both the college’s staff wellbeing and environmental committees as these are two areas close to her heart. 

Her work on the wellbeing committee has already led to the creation of a new staff wellbeing space and practical improvements that support staff across the college. Her passion for creating a positive working environment reflects her broader approach to education and putting people first. 

“Emma is the ‘go to’ person when something unexpected or challenging happens,” says Mick. “She brings calm, reassurance and practical advice, no matter the situation. Her presence has a genuinely positive impact on the college community.” 

A legacy of learning and leadership 

Emma Clegg’s story is one of quiet strength, lasting impact, and deep care for the learners and colleagues around her. Through her work, she’s changed the lives of thousands – not only by helping them achieve qualifications, but by giving them the confidence and belief to go further than they thought possible. 

Her influence is visible in every classroom, every staffroom, and every learner who has gone on to build a future in education, care or early years. Emma is a shining example of the values behind the CACHE Outstanding Achievement award and a true role model for the sector. 

Congratulations, Emma! To read more inspiring stories from this year’s winners, visit our Aspiration Awards 2025 page. 

The CACHE Outstanding Achievement award is a special category for 2025 to mark 80 years since the launch of industry qualifications that have gone on to transform the sector and celebrates learners, educators and frontline workers in education, early years and social care who have gone above and beyond to help others, found new and innovative ways of working, or shown incredible dedication to their profession.   

Pictured: Our CACHE Outstanding Achievement highly commended recipient, Emma Clegg