AN Inverclyde teacher has won a national award for being an ‘inspirational educator’ by promoting equality and diversity.
King’s Oak Primary teacher Cassie O’Neill has been named joint winner of The Herald Saroj Lal Award 2026 for a Pioneering Spirit in Equality and Diversity.
The prize celebrates the work of teachers who actively challenge discrimination, demonstrating a pioneering spirit and determination in a bid to promote and facilitate a culture and ethos of equality and diversity — both in the classroom and beyond.
The award is named in honour of Saroj Lal, a trailblazing teacher, race relations campaigner and community activist who worked at the forefront of multicultural and anti-racist education in its early years, laying the foundations for many others to build on.
Cassie is the 2026 joint winner alongside fellow teacher Youssouf Kassime, from The Royal High School in Edinburgh, and lecturer Allan Smith from Dundee and Angus College, who have all been praised for being ‘inspirational educators’.
Judges praised the winners for being able to ‘step out of their comfort zone to make a difference in the area of equality and anti-discrimination’ and to ‘confront stereotypes, to challenge prejudice and to be comfortable with diversity’.
Cassie has led on various racial literacy projects and events at King’s Oak and invited high-profile guests, including Inverclyde TV presenter and activist Jean Johansson, to speak to pupils.
Cassie said: “My racial literacy developments have stemmed from the creation of my research-informed, whole-school racial literacy planner. This has shaped our equalities policy, Black History Month planner, and pupil-led projects including our novel Passing the Racism Border.
“I have coordinated whole-school events such as ‘Love for All’ stalls and ‘This Is Not Just a Culture Week’, promoting meaningful dialogue, representation and anti-racist practice permeating the curriculum and community. I am always fighting for opportunities for my pupils.”
She added: “I am greatly honoured to have been selected for the Saroj Lal Award. Saroj’s legacy continues to inspire work towards equality and social justice and holds particular significance to me as I see it as a challenge to further develop and improve my work.
“I am endlessly grateful for the support of my colleagues, pupils and wider school community, whose collaboration has made this work possible. I look forward to continuing to champion meaningful change and ensuring that inclusion remains at the heart of the curriculum and my practice.”
It is the second time a teacher from Inverclyde has won the award following on from then Newark Primary teacher Katie D’Souza, now at Inverkip Primary, who was named joint winner in 2022.
The 2026 season of the award is the fourth edition, and organisers say they had a record number of truly outstanding nominations received from across Scotland including, for the first time, nominations from the college sector.
Vineet Lal, Saroj Lal’s son and award panellist, said: “The Herald Saroj Lal Award recognises outstanding endeavour by educators in the field of equality and diversity, those who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to champion these core values through their work.
“The winners of the 2026 award exemplify those principles magnificently: in Youssouf, Cassie and Allan we have three remarkable educators who, in their own different yet complementary ways, have chosen to challenge established norms, to forge new paths and break new ground.
“Just like Saroj, who began her pioneering journey more than half a century ago, this year’s winners are true trailblazers and are an inspiration to their pupils, students, peers and communities.”
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s convener of education and communities, said: “Congratulations to Cassie for this well-deserved recognition for the excellent work she does promoting equality and diversity at King’s Oak Primary and in the wider community.
“Inverclyde is a multi-cultural place and one that is open to people from all backgrounds and that has been the case for generations, which is why it is so important that we continue to educate our young people about that and promote inclusivity and also challenge discrimination and Cassie is really at the forefront of that work.
“It’s also a testament to the incredible work that goes on in all our schools to promote equality and diversity that this is the second time a teacher from Inverclyde has won.”
