Aspiration Awards 2025: Educator of the Year - Caroline Kerr

The Educator of the Year category recognises those who have gone above and beyond to support their learners. This year’s winner is Caroline Kerr, Specialist Lecturer in CACHE Level 1 Diploma Introduction to Working in Health and Social Care and Early Years Sector and CACHE Level 2 and 3 Diploma Children's Care Learning and Development at Southern Regional College.

Shaping the future of education 

With over 30 years of experience in the field of childcare and youth work, Caroline Kerr has firmly established herself as a leader in education, professional development, and stakeholder engagement. 

Caroline has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to enhancing learning experiences and ensuring that students and professionals alike benefit from high-quality educational opportunities. 

Her efforts have significantly contributed to shaping the future of childcare education, not just within the college but across the broader sector.  

Raising standards  
Alongside her achievements within the Southern Regional College, Caroline has also contributed to national standards and is passionate about ensuring they align with the evolving requirements of the childcare and youth work sector.  

By engaging extensively with industry stakeholders, government representatives and educational bodies, she has been able to ensure that the current standards reflect best practices. Her knowledge of these frameworks, the learner experience, and what’s expected of learners once they enter the workforce is crucial to this.  

Caroline is committed to ensuring Southern Regional College offers modern and forward-thinking education packages. Not only has she developed new, innovative modules to enhance the learning experience, but she has also worked to design skill suites – specialised training environments that replicate real-world childcare settings.  

Hands-on learning  

By creating a hands-on learning experience for students, her learners can bridge the gap between theory and practice and build confidence in a familiar setting. Caroline’s colleague and nominator, Lisa Browne, said: “Caroline Kerr’s contributions go far beyond the expectations of her role.  

“Her dedication to improving learning outcomes has directly impacted countless students, many of whom have gone on to achieve great success in their careers. She has been a strong advocate for learner-centred education, consistently striving to create the best possible opportunities for those she teaches and mentors. 

“Her work has been instrumental in maintaining the college’s reputation as a centre of excellence in childcare and youth work education.” 

Caroline has shown support to both learners and colleagues alike, encouraging colleagues in their own professional development and supporting them through their careers. Above all, Caroline is recognised as an educator who is deeply enthusiastic about her work and is committed to driving change and working towards raising standards for all learners.  

Congratulations Caroline! To read more inspirational stories from this year's award winners, visit our Aspiration Awards 2025 page.      

Pictured: Our Educator of the Year, Caroline Kerr, and Mark Adrian, Senior Customer Relationship Executive at NCFE