The Deaf Academy gets prestigious national award in recognition of best practice (with BSL)

The Deaf Academy in Exmouth has won a further prestigious national award for best practice and innovation.

They were praised for an outstanding student-led campaign to improve road safety at the Natspec’s Award ceremony.

The initiative, driven by the Academy’s Student Council, successfully advocated for a safer pedestrian crossing outside its entrance – making a tangible difference not only for students but also for the wider community.

Natspec, the national membership body for specialist further education colleges, commended the Deaf Academy for its inclusive and democratic approach to the campaign. In announcing it as the winner of the Student Voice award, it stated: “The Deaf Academy showed that the Student Council worked with all school stakeholders democratically to find solutions to achieving their goal. The voices of students were heard across a wide range of organisations, media, online and in the local community.

“This initiative had a positive and material impact on students, the Academy, the community, and also nationally. Congratulations to the Deaf Academy and its students.”

The national award recognises not just the success of the campaign but also the Deaf Academy’s best practice and commitment to empowering its students, ensuring they have a say in shaping their environment.

Plans to install the new £100,000 crossing on the busy stretch of Douglas Avenue were approved by East Devon’s Highways and Traffic Orders Committee last April following lobbying from students and staff. The Deaf Academy contributed £30,000 towards the cost because a puffin crossing has extra features and sensors which detect when people are walking across it, making it safer for users.

Academy post-19 student Amy, aged 20, thanked Natspec for the award, saying: “For us as a charity, educating Deaf and additional needs students and campaigning on the behalf of the Academy is vital because it is important that the students get what they deserve, whether it is BSL [British Sign Language] or for the environment to be Deaf-aware and Deaf-friendly.

“The way students got involved in the campaigns and media interviews was through our Student Council. This was a big part of our fundraising campaign for the traffic calming and puffin crossing because each student requested this opportunity, and we felt that our students will benefit from having a safe place to cross the road.

She added: “I would like to say a huge well done to our Student Council which made this campaign become an opportunity to provide students safety within their environment.”

Sylvan Dewing, Principal and CEO of the Deaf Academy, said: “We are incredibly proud of our students for their determination and leadership in making real change happen. This award is a testament to their hard work in making their voice heard, as well as the strong sense of community at the Deaf Academy.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank East Devon Council, our local community, donors and fundraisers who rallied round and supported this campaign.”