The eleventh annual NI Schools ICT Excellence Awards have recognised 24 schools and education centres for their innovative use of technology in learning. The ceremony, judged by education experts, highlighted how digital tools are being used across all subjects and age groups.

EA Chair Mervyn Storey said the awards mark a shift from standalone IT literacy to digital capability. He noted that learners are now using technology, creativity, and critical thinking in everything from STEM to humanities.

St Teresa's Nursery School in Belfast won the Nursery Setting Award for the second time. The school reported a 40% reduction in dysregulated behaviour after using artificial intelligence to make teaching adjustments, freeing staff to spend more time with individual children.

St Teresa's Primary School, also in Belfast, was joint winner of the Primary School Award alongside Strabane Controlled Primary School. The Belfast school integrates technology across year groups, with voice typing and immersive readers helping pupils with additional needs.

The Post Primary Award went to Thornhill College in Derry, while Clifton Special School in Bangor took the Special School prize.

A new Creativity Award, supported by Northern Ireland Screen, was shared by St Colmcille's High School in Crossgar and the EOTAS post-primary centres. These centres re-engaged young people facing exclusion through filmmaking, game development, and photography, leading to accredited qualifications.

Head judge Professor John Anderson said this year's entries showed AI making learning visible for pupils. He thanked the sponsors, including the Education Authority, EdIS/C2k, Capita, and Northern Ireland Screen.