iStore Education has officially announced the Top 3 finalists in each category of the 2025 Excellence in Education Awards, following a record 225 submissions from 32 schools across five provinces. A total of 62 standout entries were shortlisted and sent to the international judging panel for review.
The finalists were revealed on Monday, 20 October, with each educator and student team receiving a personalised invitation to the Awards Evening on Wednesday, 5 November, where all winners will be announced.
The judging panel represents leading global Apple in Education Specialists, including:
Alicia Bankhofer (Austria) | Daniel Sundaram (India) | Laura Wright (Netherlands) | Jacob Woolcock (UK) | Mark Andersen (UK) | Bronwyn Desjardins (Mauritius)
Two of the judges shared their reflections on this year’s entries:
“I’ve spent a very enjoyable time going through the entries in the Tech Excellence category and I am absolutely blown away by the creativity and passion shared by these students.” — Jacob Woolcock (UK)
“Exploring the projects for the competition was an absolute joy! The entries were creative, entertaining, inspiring and often deeply moving… using Apple technology in thoughtful, innovative ways; with passion and originality.” — Bronwyn Desjardins (Mauritius)
Top 3 Finalists per Category (in no particular order)
CREATIVE EXCELLENCE
Grades R–3: Stop Motion Afrikaans Oral (Rallim Prep); Superheroes Adventure (Dorothea Special School); Super Gingerbreadman vs Big Bad Wolf (Dorothea Special School)
Grades 4–7: Claude Monet; Edgar Degas; Banksy Stop Motion (all Heronbridge College)
CURRICULUM EXCELLENCE
Grades R–3: Bookcreator Insects and Bugs (The Kusasa Academy); What Pets Need (Grey Junior); Ocean Pollution (Parklands College)
Grades 4–7: Future Farming: From Seeds to Sales (Parklands College); Biome Blitz: Escape the Poacher (Stirling Primary); Song for a Whale (Cannons Creek)
TECH EXCELLENCE
Grades R–3: Retelling of the Three Little Pigs (Rallim Preparatory); The Three Little Pigs (Rallim Preparatory); Forward Thinking for the Future (Maragon Olympus)
Grades 4–7: The Great Boerewors Heist of South Africa (Stirling Primary); How the Lion Got Its Roar (The Wykeham Collegiate); HitSmart: Measure the Hit, Master the Game (Stirling Primary)
COMBINED CATEGORIES
Grades 8–12:
iPlanet, A Living Curriculum on the iPad (Durban Girls College)
“Ow! My iBack” (Durban Girls College)
StudyPal (St John’s College)
Prizes
First-place prizes include an iPad for the submitting teacher and iPads for up to two student collaborators per winning project.