Whitmore High School has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Development 2026, earning a place on the national list compiled by Great Place to Work UK.
The list highlights organisations that put staff development at the heart of their culture, offering meaningful opportunities for employees to build skills, progress in their careers and access support tailored to their individual needs.
Whitmore’s inclusion reflects what assessors described as a strong commitment to professional learning and staff wellbeing. The recognition follows the school’s success last year, when it was named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Education and Training 2025 in the small and medium category.
According to Great Place to Work UK, the organisations featured on the development list understand that “development is not one-size-fits-all” and that investing in people leads to improved engagement, wellbeing and performance.
Whitmore High School’s place on the 2026 list acknowledges the school’s continued investment in staff training, leadership pathways, coaching and mentoring, collaborative teaching approaches and wellbeing initiatives designed to support colleagues at every stage of their careers.
School leaders said the recognition demonstrates the value placed on creating an environment where professional growth is encouraged and supported for all staff.
Innes Robinson, Executive Headteacher at Whitmore High School, said: “I am proud to see that we are among the top-performing schools for development in the UK. This recognises the way our staff are all striving to be better, every day; they make the most of the huge range of opportunities to both develop themselves and others, which makes us the excellent school our children and families deserve."
Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh Language, said: “Congratulations to everyone at Whitmore High School on this outstanding national recognition. Being named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Development reflects the school’s strong commitment to supporting and investing in its staff – which in turn has a direct impact of the quality of learning too.
“High-quality professional development is essential to ensuring that teachers and support staff can continue to thrive, innovate and provide the very best experiences for learners and this award demonstrates the positive culture that exists at Whitmore High School, where colleagues are encouraged to develop their skills, progress in their careers and support one another to succeed.”

Specsavers calls on children in Barry to design Wales Deaf Rugby World Cup shirts
Steel Signing Marks Major Milestone in St Richard Gwyn School Redevelopment
Two Rescues in Record Heat as Volunteer Teams Respond to Afternoon Emergencies
Police find evidence of a large-scale cannabis cultivation at Riverside Place property fire
Network Rail confirm closure of Brookside level crossing in Dinas Powys
Police given powers to ask people to leave Comeston Lakes Country Park
Only remaining Post Office in Dinas Powys could close this October
Planned children’s role play centre could be given the go-ahead by Vale Council
Marie Curie Garden Fayre deemed huge success
Council seeks views on Future of Colcot Sports Centre and Buttrills Playing Fields
First Minister quizzed on further devolution, budget decisions, and misinformation in FMQs
Extreme heat leads to changes to services and closures
Severe Heat Warning Set to Disrupt Rail Travel Across South Wales This Week
Communities asked to support older people across Wales during severe heat warning
Caribbean Community Wales Brings Wales‑Wide Launch to Barry This Weekend
Community Award winner calls for sanitary bins in men’s toilets after living with prostate‑cancer‑related incontinence
Cardiff Airport Backs Holiday Safety Campaign Honouring Rhoose Teenager Tom Channon
Barry Dock RNLI and lifeguards helps welcome King’s Baton Relay into Wales
Vale Food Trail draws more than 1,500 visitors during two‑week celebration
A former aircraft hangar is set to start building electric cars