Youth Sport Trust, 2023
Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award, recognising impact on youth participation, engagement and community sport.
Awards and publications
Evidence of practice, leadership and intent
When a school or local authority commissions a place, and when a parent places their trust in a setting, they need more than a prospectus. They need confidence that the organisation is led with seriousness, that good practice is recognised beyond its own walls, and that young people are at the centre of every decision. This page gathers awards, magazine features, research we contributed to, and the leadership story behind Evolution Education.
Fulham FC · Talent Identification
Premier League · talent identified by the CEO
Players discovered by Eugene Dwaah at Fulham FC
As Talent Identification Manager at Fulham FC, CEO Eugene Dwaah discovered and helped progress young players who went on to senior professional and international careers.
That role sat at the heart of Premier League academy recruitment and player development: early judgements that open a pathway, or close it.
The players below are part of that record. Their careers stand in the public domain. The same eye for potential, high standards and belief in what young people can become now leads Evolution Education, after senior school leadership at Skinners' Academy (Hackney) and founding Evolution Sports Group.
Players discovered by CEO Eugene Dwaah during his Fulham days
- Reece JamesEngland international and Chelsea Football ClubCareer record
- Elijah AdebayoEnglish Football League; previously Luton TownCareer record
- Steven AlzatePremier League pathway with Brighton; Colombia internationalCareer record
- Myles HippolyteProfessional career across the EFL and beyondCareer record
- Mahlon RomeoLong EFL career, including MillwallCareer record
- Corrin Brooks-MeadeProfessional goalkeeper pathwayCareer record
- Kasali Yinka CasalProfessional football pathwayCareer record
- Kamil Ahmet ÇörekçiProfessional career including clubs in TurkeyCareer record
- Kevin StewartJamaica international; professional career including the Premier League and EFLCareer record
- Manny MonthéProfessional career across the EFLCareer record
- Charlie GoodeEFL career, including Premier League pathwayCareer record
- Bevis MugabiUganda international; professional career in BritainCareer record
- Jamal LoweJamaica international; professional career including the Premier League and EFLCareer record
Leadership journey
From junior football to school leadership
CEO Eugene Dwaah has spent a career around young people, high standards and potential. The pathway runs from junior football, through coaching and elite talent identification at Fulham FC, to Head of Behaviour and Engagement at Skinners' Academy (Hackney), where he led the Behaviour Team and internal behaviour support provision, quality-assured mentoring, managed serious incidents, trained staff and worked with parents on reintegration, then founding Evolution Sports Group, then Evolution Education.
That lived experience shapes how the school is led: clear judgement, high expectations, and a belief that every young person can go further when adults take them seriously.
01 · Playing
Arsenal pathway as a young player
Eugene's own journey began in junior football, learning teamwork, discipline and ambition alongside his teammates in Arsenal colours.
Those early standards never left him. They still sit behind how Evolution Education sets expectations and supports potential.
02 · Coaching and talent identification
Coach first, leader always
As a coach, Eugene stood with players on the grass and developed young people under high standards.
Those years built the eye that later identified Premier League talent at Fulham FC.
03 · School leadership
Head of Behaviour and Engagement, Skinners' Academy (Hackney)
Eugene then took a senior pastoral leadership role as Head of Behaviour and Engagement at Skinners' Academy (Hackney), reporting to the Vice Principal for Pastoral.
Principal accountabilities included leading the Behaviour Team and the academy's internal behaviour support provision, keeping a high staff presence so expectations stayed consistent, and taking a proactive approach to improve behaviour, work ethic and self-discipline.
He worked with Heads of School, Student Services and the SENCo to reduce disruption to learning, quality-assured the behaviour mentoring programme, and managed serious incidents that could lead to exclusion by gathering evidence for senior leaders.
Day to day he implemented the Behaviour for Life Policy using data, line-managed Behaviour Mentors and the Base Manager, oversaw detentions, trained staff in behaviour management, strengthened partnerships with parents and external agencies, and led work to prevent exclusion and support successful reintegration.
04 · Building the group
Founding Evolution Sports Group
From there he founded Evolution Sports Group, bringing sport, coaching and community programmes under a single organisational home.
Evolution Education grew from that foundation: education delivery with the same commitment to potential, standards and strong adult relationships.
05 · Evolution Education
Teaching and leading every day
Today Eugene leads Evolution Education as Chief Executive and Designated Safeguarding Lead: still in the room, still teaching, still setting the tone.
The same standards that shaped his football and school leadership path now protect and stretch every learner in the school.
Sport opens the door. Strong relationships, personalised support and high expectations help every young person take the next step with belief, skills and a clearer pathway.
Others have recognised that approach in awards, publications and community programmes. Those entries are secondary to the real story: the progress of each young person in our care.
National feature
Schools Week on Eugene Dwaah and Evolution Education
Schools Week published a national profile of CEO Eugene Dwaah and the development of Evolution Education, examining how sport, relationships and structured learning support young people who need a different school offer.
The article is freely available online and is often shared on professional social media when people discuss sport-specialist education in London.
Teach Secondary magazine
Offering young people in East London a sporting chance
Teach Secondary (issue 14.4) featured Evolution Education and Evolution Sports Group in a partner case study with Academy21, our previous online learning partner, under the headline "Offering young people in East London a sporting chance".
CEO Eugene Dwaah describes how sports-specialist learning, in-person mentoring and live adaptive academic lessons work together so young people stay focused, rebuild confidence and make stronger progress in English, maths and science.
Our current virtual English and Maths partner is Purple Ruler, used inside a blended core offer with live on-site teaching. The magazine feature remains useful evidence of how hybrid learning and mentoring work on site.
National research · September 2022
The role and value of PE and sport beyond the mainstream
We share this Youth Sport Trust research project, funded by Sport England National Lottery investment and led by Dr Thomas Quarmby, Professor Anthony J. Maher and Dr Oliver Hooper (September 2022).
Evolution Sports Group contributed practitioner insight to the wider sector conversation that informed this work. Participating settings are anonymised in the published report, so Evolution is not named in the PDF.
The findings align with how we work day to day: strong adult relationships, a sense of achievement through sport, and PE that builds confidence, belonging and readiness for the next step.
Professional journal
Physical Education Matters, Summer 2023
The Association for Physical Education journal Physical Education Matters featured Eugene Dwaah and Evolution Education in Summer 2023.
The piece highlighted practice that uses PE and sport to build skills for life, confidence and ready next steps for young people.
Published leadership story
Curriculum Conversations with Alternative Provision Leaders
The book Curriculum Conversations with Alternative Provision Leaders by Mary Wyatt and John Tomsett includes the CEO's story as an example of leadership in settings beyond the mainstream.
Sharing practice in print helps other educators understand how sport, curriculum and pastoral care can work together.
Sector commentary
AQA blog: Every little success adds up
John Tomsett's AQA article "Every little success adds up" highlights Eugene Dwaah's educational philosophy.
The piece quotes the idea that staff should celebrate every little success, even the smallest step forward. That mindset is central to how we work day to day.
Awards
National and community recognition
Awards presented to Eugene Dwaah, Evolution Education or linked community programmes across Evolution Sports Group.
NASEN Awards, 2024
Highly Commended in the Changemaker of the Year category for leadership that improves opportunities for young people who need a different kind of school offer.
London Sport for Change
Community recognition for programmes that give young people meaningful sport, life skills and a chance to contribute to social change.
2023
Youth Sport Trust Outstanding Contribution to the Community
The Youth Sport Trust recognised outstanding contribution to community youth sport in 2023.
The award reflects sustained work, through Evolution Education and Evolution Sports Group, to open doors for young people through sport.
2024
NASEN Awards: Highly Commended Changemaker of the Year
Eugene Dwaah was Highly Commended in the NASEN Awards Changemaker of the Year category in 2024.
The recognition sits alongside his roles as Chief Executive and Designated Safeguarding Lead, and his wider leadership across Evolution Sports Group.
Community programmes
London Sport for Change
Our London Sport for Change work has been recognised for giving young people opportunities to take part in sport, build life skills and contribute positively in their communities.
Community programmes sit alongside the school offer through Evolution Sports Group and our charity partner, Beyond Education Sports Foundation.
Leadership
About Eugene Dwaah, Chief Executive
Eugene Dwaah is Chief Executive of Evolution Education and Evolution Sports Group, and Designated Safeguarding Lead for the school.
His career pathway runs from junior football alongside Arsenal teammates, through years of coaching young players, to Talent Identification Manager at Fulham FC, where he discovered and helped progress players including Reece James, Elijah Adebayo, Steven Alzate, Myles Hippolyte, Mahlon Romeo, Corrin Brooks-Meade, Kasali Yinka Casal, Kamil Ahmet Çörekçi, Kevin Stewart, Manny Monthé, Charlie Goode, Bevis Mugabi and Jamal Lowe.
He went on to serve as Head of Behaviour and Engagement at Skinners' Academy (Hackney), leading the Behaviour Team and internal behaviour support provision, mentoring quality assurance, serious incident management, parent partnership and staff training in behaviour, before founding Evolution Sports Group and establishing Evolution Education.
That eye for potential, and the demand for high standards that comes with elite sport and school leadership, shapes how Evolution Education is led today. A fuller professional profile is on the Evolution Sports Group website. Awards and updates are also shared on LinkedIn.
On the web and social media
Read and follow online
Direct links to awards and publications that appear on the internet, group websites and social platforms. External pages open in a new tab.
Teach Secondary feature (issue 14.4)
Magazine case study (historic Academy21 partnership; current partner is Purple Ruler)
YST PE and sport research report (PDF)
September 2022 report · settings anonymised; Evolution is not named in the PDF
Schools Week feature
National article on Eugene Dwaah and Evolution Education
CEO profile (Evolution Sports Group)
Awards, publications and leadership biography
Eugene Dwaah on LinkedIn
Professional updates, publications and sector comment
Evolution Sports Group
Group website for the wider sports-specialist organisation
Beyond Education Sports Foundation
Charity partner (Charity No. 1197957)
This website (About us)
How we describe our school on evolution-education.com
At a glance
Recognition highlights
A short summary of the awards and features on this page.
Players discovered at Fulham FC
As Talent Identification Manager, Eugene discovered and progressed players who went on to senior professional and international careers, including Reece James.
Schools Week
National online profile of Eugene Dwaah and Evolution Education.
Teach Secondary
Issue 14.4 magazine feature on our East London sporting chance (historic Academy21 partnership; current partner is Purple Ruler).
Youth Sport Trust research
We share the 2022 national report on PE and sport beyond the mainstream. Settings in the PDF are anonymised.
Physical Education Matters
Summer 2023 journal feature on skills for life through sport.
Leadership book
CEO story in Curriculum Conversations with Alternative Provision Leaders.
AQA commentary
Educational philosophy highlighted in "Every little success adds up".
Youth Sport Trust
Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award, 2023.
NASEN Awards
Highly Commended Changemaker of the Year, 2024.
Related pages on this site
See how recognition connects to our organisation, outcomes and the adults around young people.
Impact Hub
Evidence hub (case studies only when consented)
Our organisation
School, Evolution Sports Group and charity partner
Meet the team
Leadership and the adults around learners
Governance and leadership
Accountability and how we are led
Outcomes and impact
What we measure for young people
Personal development
Awards and enrichment for students
Contact our team
Enquiries for families and professionals
Next step
Talk to us about our approach
Schools and local authorities can contact our team to learn more about our centres, curriculum and partnerships. Places are arranged through professional channels.
