A Dalmilling Primary School teacher has received national recognition for work aimed at challenging discrimination and helping pupils understand anti-racism.
Cheryl Mitchell, an additional support for learning teacher at the school, was highly commended in The Herald Saroj Lal Award 2026. The recognition was presented at County Buildings in Ayr, bringing the achievement to South Ayrshire’s civic centre.
Building an anti-racist group at Dalmilling
Mitchell was nominated after completing Education Scotland’s Building Racial Literacy course in 2023. She then worked with parents and pupils to establish an anti-racist group at Dalmilling Primary School.
The group secured funding and worked with local film production company The Iris to make a film about lived experiences and promote its message. The resulting film, The Lesson, went on to win the South Ayrshire Youth Award for Inclusion and Diversion.
It later took first place in its category at the Show Racism the Red Card Awards, adding further recognition for the pupils and staff involved in the project.
Certificate presented at County Buildings
Vineet Lal, the son of Saroj Lal and a judge for the award, visited County Buildings to present Mitchell with the certificate.
Councillor William Grant praised Mitchell’s work and its wider impact across the school community.
“It’s fantastic to see a teacher from South Ayrshire come highly commended for a national award. Cheryl’s passion, leadership and commitment to championing equality have helped foster a culture where every learner feels they belong and can thrive.”
Grant said the accolade also reflected the values promoted across South Ayrshire’s education settings.
“This accolade reflects not only Cheryl’s personal dedication, but also the values we strive to promote across our education settings.”
What the Saroj Lal Award recognises
The award was established in 2021 in memory of Saroj Lal, described in the source material as one of the first Asian women to teach in a Scottish primary school. It recognises teachers who promote equality in classrooms, schools and beyond.
Vineet Lal said meeting Mitchell and her pupils to present the highly commended certificate had been “a pleasure and a privilege”. He said her nomination stood out in a highly competitive field, with judges impressed by her approach to addressing anti-racism in an educational setting while recognising the sensitivities and challenges that can make change difficult.
“She is a fantastic ambassador for the groundbreaking work in equality and diversity that is taking place right across South Ayrshire, and we look forward to seeing how these initiatives develop in the coming months.”
Lal also congratulated Mitchell, her pupils and South Ayrshire Council’s education team, saying they had much to be proud of.
