In 2009 The College of Teachers created a medal that could be awarded to key figures within education. It was named the Lady Plowden Memorial Medal. Click here for details of the 2009 award.

Lady Plowden was proposed for the dedication on account of her being the first female President of The College, an Honorary Fellow, and whose contribution to primary education through the Plowden Report of 1967 is highly significant, influential and far-reaching, being one of only three such reports throughout the entire 20th century and to date.

The purpose of The Lady Plowden Memorial Medal is to recognise the significant, specific and lasting contribution of an individual. In the spirit of the work of Lady Plowden, the contribution made by recipients must demonstrably improve the experience of teaching or learning at a national or international level.

This most prestigious of The College’s awards is given democratically by vote of Council via nominations from the whole educational community, on an occasional basis and for specific and exceptional contributions to education.

The medal is an inscribed and dated piece in solid silver, presented together with a sealed citation letter, dedicated as The Lady Plowden Memorial Medal. The obverse features a full portrait of Lady Plowden with the words “The Lady Plowden Memorial Medal” around the edge. The portrait of Lady Plowden was an original rendering produced by Fattorini Ltd from original photographs provided by the Plowden family.

The reverse carries the legend “The College of Teachers” and features the Full Achievement of Arms of The College of Teachers together with the hallmark of the maker. The full achievement comprises Arms, a cross engrailed between four dolphins naiant (floating) in bend sinister gules (in heraldry this indicates the lines of the cross). Its crest is a stag sejant (sitting) represented wearing an ancient crown about the neck in the manner of a collar with the right forehoof on an open book. Its supporters are two horses reguardant (looking backward) each winged, maned and tailed wearing an ancient gold crown about the neck.

The outer edge is engraved with the name of the recipient and the year of award.