Finalist schools INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS OF THE YEAR 2021

PRE-PREP

BROOMWOOD HALL LOWER SCHOOL

Family-oriented pre-prep in southwest London, Broomwood is part of the Northwood Schools group, and as such, offering a fully-rounded innovative education in a traditional setting is key to its success. northwoodschools.com

FALCONS PRE-PREPARATORY

Forward-thinking and progressive, this Chiswick-based pre-prep puts pupil wellbeing at the heart of everything it does. The small school tailors its curriculum to its childrens' needs, with its forest school achieving the most engagement with the all-boy intake. falconschiswick.co.uk

GRIMSDELL, MILL HILL PRE-PREP

Honouring its philosophy ‘instilling values, inspiring minds’, this north-west London pre-prep has created a safe and secure community environment which embraces and celebrates each child’s individuality, providing plenty of opportunities to flourish. millhill.org.uk/pre-prep

JAMES ALLEN’S PRE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL

The JAGS journey begins in a large Edwardian house full of life and laughter: after all, the pre-prep’s approach values the importance of play, curiosity and imagination. Wellbeing is of paramount importance, and provisions include everything from mindfulness sessions to a therapy dog! jags.org.uk

LOCHINVER HOUSE SCHOOL

With the motto ‘to persevere, to succeed’, this all-boys pre-prep has a forward-thinking approach. Responding to world news, teachers give pupils an age-appropriate understanding of current issues and impactful topics. lochinverhouse.com

ORWELL PARK SCHOOL

This purpose-built, eco-friendly modernlearning Suffolk pre-prep, and its magical forest-school setting creates a happy environment with a strong focus on building the firm foundations of literacy and numeracy. orwellpark.co.uk

POLAM SCHOOL

A small Cognita Group pre-prep and nursery in leafy Bedford, Polam offers youngsters a home-from-home environment where every teacher knows and looks out for them. The school employs an immersive learning programme, with classrooms transformed into themed spaces. polamschool.co.uk

PREP SCHOOL

BICKLEY PARK SCHOOL

The school's Four Quadrants of Learning theory – which combines academic, arts, community and outdoor education sectors– aims to develop the skills and mindset required in the next generation of workplaces. bickleyparkschool.co.uk

EAGLE HOUSE SCHOOL

Weekly Learning for Life Plus sessions reflect a community that focuses deeply on pastoral care, with PSHE, RSE and wellbeing all covered. From the International Primary Curriculum to Curriculum 200, the prep aims for pupils to develop a passion for learning. eaglehouseschool.com

NORTHCOTE LODGE

This boys’ prep embraces traditional values of manners, teamwork and kindness, while technology is available to enhance all aspects of learning. Boys are encouraged to have the confidence to know that by trying their best, they’ll reap the rewards of personal satisfaction and achievement. northwoodschools.com

PRESTFELDE

With a progressive, inclusive education, a wealth of pastoral care initiatives, cocurricular programmes and top-notch facilities, this Shropshire prep offers a learning experience with a difference. prestfelde.co.uk

SUNNINGDALE SCHOOL

The school's boys, parents and members of staff all feel like members of a family sharing in a unique journey. Students are encouraged to take risks in their learning and not fear failure, developing curiosity and a passion for knowledge through inspirational teaching. sunningdaleschool.co.uk

CO-EDUCATIONAL

BOURNEMOUTH COLLEGIATE

With the aim of preparing its boys and girls for 21st century life beyond the school gates, this school believes its co-ed environment will create well-rounded individuals who can move through the world with confidence and an understanding of society’s diversity. bournemouthcollegiateschool.co.uk

CLAREMONT FAN COURT

Students here are encouraged to pursue subjects that suit them as individuals, rather than because of their gender. Academia is the bedrock of life at the Surrey school, but pastoral care is just as essential, inspiring the confidence to reach full potential. claremontfancourt.co.uk

GEORGE HERIOT’S SCHOOL

Principles of equality, dignity, respect, nondiscrimination and participation are the key pillars of this Edinburgh co-ed. Personal and social education garners great importance too, with students actively involved in the development of lessons on finance, LGBTQIA+ culture and Black History Month. george-heriots.com

PANGBOURNE COLLEGE

Established as ‘the nautical college’ for boys in 1917, today the Berkshire school is co-educational, with the motto ‘a community where the individual matters’ to prove it.

This approach is seen in sports, as well as gender-neutral leadership opportunities and ceremonial traditions. pangbourne.com

SANCTON WOOD SCHOOL

Aiming to inspire pupils to be knowledgeable, caring and successful, this school’s vision is complemented by its co-ed setting. During senior years, small class sizes, a broad range of GCSE courses and mutual access to STEM opportunities mean that students become confident learners. sanctonwood.co.uk

GIRLS’ SCHOOL

BENENDEN SCHOOL

The Benenden Bounce is a term coined by sixth formers to describe the school’s unique spirit of optimism. In what was a difficult year,

the all-girls senior boarding school was able to lean on its proactive and influential student body. benenden.school

DOWNE HOUSE

Honed over generations, Downe House has a tailored learning environment focused on the needs and preferences of girls. Discussion-led learning, freedom from gender stereotyping in subjects and curriculum content which is paced to the way girls learn are all techniques that work for the Berkshire school’s student body. downehouse.net

HARROGATE LADIES’ COLLEGE

Harrogate Ladies’ College's vision is all about empowering the next generation of women to follow their own path and make choices that are right for them, the all-through school ensures that STEM is one of the potential career avenues available. hlc.org.uk

LADY ELEANOR HOLLES

Having demonstrated the success of singlesex education for more than 300 years, ‘hope favours the brave’ is more than just a motto at this Hampton school. During their time here, girls will acquire mental, intellectual, emotional and moral courage through a supportive sisterhood network. lehs.org.uk

ST MARY’S CAMBRIDGE

Girls here are empowered to aim high, follow their dreams and make a positive contribution to society. Inspired by Mary Ward – the school’s 17th century foundress who dedicated her life to educating girls – the belief ‘yes she can’ is at the heart of St Mary’s School. stmaryscambridge.co.uk

BOYS’ SCHOOL

BEDFORD SCHOOL

In this supportive environment, boys are taught to be good people first and foremost, before flourishing as academics, sportsmen or artists. Boasting vertical tutor groups, Bedford gives boys the chance to mentor and learn from one another without peer pressure. bedfordschool.org.uk

STAMFORD SCHOOL

With an educational provision that’s finely tuned to its boys' needs, this Lincolnshire school focuses on the development of core characteristics and competencies, such as self-awareness, self-management and mutual respect, to underpin its curriculum. stamfordschools.org.uk

THORPE HOUSE SCHOOL

The school has embraced new initiatives which are tailored to the pupils; an individual learning plan has been made for every boy. And the academic side isn’t the only aspect that's bespoke: termly pastoral assessments allow boys to score their happiness and speak about any concerns. thorpehouse.co.uk

WARWICK SCHOOL

The academic programme at this Warwickshire school is interspersed with plenty of opportunities for boys to engage their critical-thinking skills and direct their own projects, and last year saw the launch of the Floreat academic enrichment course and the Encounters series, allowing pupils to participate in debates, seminar and guestspeaker events. warwickschool.org

WHITGIFT SCHOOL

Whitgiftians are resilient learners who are always mindful of those around them: these traits have been developed through a supportive environment, where learning ‘how to fail’ can teach the best lessons. These values are reflected in the interactions across the community. whitgift.co.uk

BOARDING SCHOOL

COTHILL HOUSE SCHOOL

Cothill develops supportive initiatives to ensure that youngsters have a seamless transition into their new environment. In 2020, Cothill Juniors was launched, offering years four and five greater flexibility: there's now the option of weekly boarding, while younger boys can come in daily as they transition to boarding life. cothillpst.org

COTTESMORE SCHOOL

With wellies at the back door and wholeschool dining hours, there’s a warm, family feel at Cottesmore. Up in the dorms, a nurturing team comprising medical leads, heads of boarding, matrons and ‘gappies’ lead the daily routine under the watchful eyes of the house parents. cottesmoreschool.com

GORDONSTOUN

After a year that turned its students’ worlds upside down, Gordonstoun recognised the need for a different set of three Rs: return to campus, reconnection with nature and rebuilding resilience. The initiative included art therapy, wellbeing watchers and the CHIME framework. gordonstoun.org.uk

HAZLEGROVE PREP SCHOOL

With 80 per cent of boarders coming from armed forces backgrounds, these pupils have often attended several schools. This drives how the Somerset prep uses imagination and innovation to develop students beyond the curriculum, on one hand preparing them for the next step, but still celebrating childhood on the other. hazlegrove.co.uk

HORRIS HILL SCHOOL

Boys learn to live as part of a community at this nurturing Hampshire prep, with full, transition and weekly boarding options available. This framework allows more time for lessons, within which prep, activities, music practice, tutor sessions and 15 different subjects are timetabled. horrishill.com

SANDROYD SCHOOL

In spite of the 2020 summer-term lockdown, boarding was fully open by the end of term – a phenomenal achievement. The Wiltshire school’s accommodation has improved in recent years, meaning that there’s now a waiting list for pupils wanting to become boarders! sandroyd.org

SCARBOROUGH COLLEGE

For a number of years, the North Yorkshire co-ed has honed a home-from-home boarding experience, with the last three years seeing a multi-million-pound investment in facilities and a doubling in the amount of tutors on duty to offer academic and wellbeing support. scarboroughcollege.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

ALICE SMITH SCHOOL

After navigating a challenging pandemic with its new Student Support Programme, this Kuala Lumpur school celebrates its

75th anniversary this year. This inclusive community continues to bring out the best in all of its pupils. alice-smith.edu.my

DUBAI COLLEGE

Having focused on facilitating individual student voices through oracy sessions, INSET, lunch-and-learn meetings and a comprehensive resources platform, this senior school was able to keep the dialogic pedagogy of its classrooms alive throughout the disruptions. dubaicollege.org

HALCYON LONDON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

This London-based not-for-profit IB school has a diverse community and a studentcentred ethos, creating the optimum learning environment for each individual to flourish, learn and fulfil their own full potential. halcyonschool.com

NORTH LONDON COLLEGIATE SCHOOL JEJU

In just one decade, the school has established the principles of a British education in South Korea, garnering the number-one spot in the country. Its three-pillared ethos of academic excellence, pastoral care and a broad extracurricular offering results in happy, successful individuals. nlcsjeju.co.kr

TAUNTON SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL

Founded on the premise that international students need a bespoke package of support, the school's intensive EAL classes, pastoral programmes and alternative, ‘English for Academic Purposes’ higher education pathway ensure pupils are nurtured. tauntonschool.co.uk/international

SMALL SCHOOL

LATHALLAN SCHOOL

At this Scottish co-ed day and boarding school, 192 pupils are immersed in a nurturing environment and exposed to unrivalled outdoor-learning opportunities. The average class size is 12, so teachers can offer tailored support to meet the needs of each child. lathallanschool.org.uk

LUDGROVE SCHOOL

This Berkshire prep has big ambitions for its 186 boys. Whether it’s reaching their academic potential, mastering a sport, trying new extracurricular pursuits or taking a risk with outward-bound challenges, the ethos remains the same: nothing is beyond your reach, so always aim high! ludgrove.net

MOON HALL SCHOOL REIGATE

Pastoral support is at the heart of this specialist school for dyslexic pupils. Young

people here are empowered to embrace their creative ways of thinking. With glowing GCSE results, this combination of academic rigour and a nurturing community is a recipe for success. moonhallschoolreigate.co.uk

MOORFIELD SCHOOL & NURSERY

This pre-prep and prep has been called ‘a small school with a big heart’. While it has just over 100 pupils, teaching staff think big, with 2021 seeing the implementation of an expanded curriculum, and the employment of a teacher specifically to develop STEM learning. moorfieldschool.co.uk

PERROTT HILL PREP SCHOOL

Not only does Perrott Hill boast excellent academics (a whopping 79 scholarships in the past five years) and a varied, everchanging curriculum, the Somerset prep is also fast becoming the go-to south-west countryside school. .perrotthill.com

YORSTON LODGE

With a holistic approach to educating the whole child, this Knutsford prep is renowned for its high academic standards and eightto-one pupil-teacher ratio. Staff here spark creativity and curiosity, harnessing each of the school’s 61 pupils’ talents to enhance their development. yorstonlodge.com

STUDENT CAREERS PROGRAMME

CONCORD COLLEGE

Due to the academic success of its students, 41 Concord College alumni gained places at medical, dental or veterinary schools. With a strong focus on vocational medical science, the Shewsbury school provides the Medicine Support Programme – a world-class preparation initiative. concordcollegeuk.com

FRANCIS HOLLAND SCHOOL, REGENT’S PARK

To prepare them for the world of work, students in the lower sixth not only enjoy a career mentoring programme with fortnightly sessions, they also receive two CV writing and mock interviews with parents, before tutors offer input. fhs-nw1.org.uk

HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S BOYS’ SCHOOL

This north London school’s careers programme went virtual during the pandemic, adapting to enable students to connect with its alumni and parent network in a new way, including remote workexperience opportunities. habsboys.org.uk

MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

With an alumnae roll call including the first females to be called to the Bar, be a British Army helicopter pilot and be a bishop, the careers department works hard to sustain this pioneering spirit. From year seven, pupils enjoy Inspirational Learning Group opportunities. manchesterhigh.co.uk

SUTTON HIGH SCHOOL GDST

At this greater London all-through girls’ school, all students have an annual individual guidance interview, alongside expert oneon-one guidance from the dedicated Head of Careers throughout senior school and the complex UCAS process. suttonhigh.gdst.net

THE MOUNT SCHOOL YORK

A bespoke careers programme for sixth form girls is offered at this all-through, singlesex school. Led by the dedicated Careers Leader, new initiatives have been introduced to enhance students’ development options. mountschoolyork.co.uk

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

ACKWORTH SCHOOL

This West Yorkshire co-ed runs a tennis and racket sports outreach programme. Jointly funded by the Tim Henman Foundation in partnership with the LTA, it has helped coach Alice Robson bring tennis to nearly 2,000 pupils from 28 local primary schools. ackworthschool.com

ASHFORD SCHOOL

The Ashford School Swim Programme was launched in 2015 with the aim of developing an intensive scheme for students, as well as offering facilities and expertise to the local community. It welcomed 1,600 children weekly for lessons, while also serving 14 primary schools. ashfordschool.co.uk

ASHVILLE COLLEGE

Being community minded is a value of huge importance to this co-ed Harrogate school. While the past year hasn’t been typical, the school’s charity committee has continued fundraising activities throughout, raising thousands of pounds for Comic Relief and Children in Need. ashville.co.uk

EMANUEL SCHOOL

As its borough has high levels of deprivation, the Wandsworth school’s aim is to build and nurture relationships with schools and community organisations in the area. This manifests in drama, art, STEM and creative writing workshops, GCSE booster courses, and the Duke of Edinburgh programme’s volunteer scheme. emanuel.org.uk

STAMFORD SCHOOLS

An excellent example of the symbiotic relationship between this Lincolnshire school and the town of which it has been the beating heart of for 488 years is the Stamford Card. Its objective is to support local independent traders, while also funding an education for local children. stamfordschools.org.uk

WELLINGTON COLLEGE

This Berkshire school provides academic and pastoral support for 15 schools across England and Wales. Building on practices established in the old ‘normal’ – enrichment days, sixth form lectures and university fairs – the college continues to bridge the gap. wellingtoncollege.org.uk

SPORTINGACHIEVEMENT

EPSOM COLLEGE

This Surrey co-ed has been working hard to encourage every pupil to make exercise a part of everyday life. This has been achieved through investment in cutting-edge training facilities for girls’ sports, the appointment of former county and national hockey and netball players as coaches and a programme of more than 22 sports. epsomcollege.org.uk

GRESHAM’S SCHOOL

Sport has always been an integral part of this Norfolk school’s ethos of ‘educating the whole person’. Pupils are encouraged to get involved in many of the sports on offer to cultivate a healthy approach to teamwork, collaboration and leadership, with hockey, rugby, cricket and netball being disciplines that Gresham’s excels at. greshams.com

NOTTING HILL & EALING HIGH SCHOOL GDST

Director of Sport, Sophie Nicholas, is passionate about motivating students to exercise – here it’s not about winning, it’s about inspiring a lifelong love of sport and its benefits. During lockdown, she launched several initiatives, including #BeYou, a social media campaign that encourages girls to set themselves goal. nhehs.gdst.net

RUGBY SCHOOL

Simply put, the West Midlands co-ed’s approach to physical education is ‘sport is for all’. While programmes are athlete-centred with the highest standard of coaching, all students play in fixtures at every level, so they can experience the positive mental and physical benefits of being part of an active team. rugbyschool.co.uk

SHEBBEAR COLLEGE

Sport is a huge part of the whole school’s life and every pupil is encouraged to take part, whatever their ability and aspirations, with the values of commitment, teamwork, grit, communication and enjoyment being prioritised. shebbearcollege.co.uk

SHERBORNE PREP SCHOOL

This Dorset prep believes that physical education needs to be redefined: the time taken for PE must have a sustainable impact on their health for life. This ethos is reflected in a co-ed fixture programme and a fundamental movements systems sporting programme. sherborneprep.org

PERFORMING ARTS

BOLTON SCHOOL BOYS’ DIVISION

In 2018, the school was awarded Artsmark Platinum status, in recognition of its creative learning opportunities, cultural partnership programmes and position as a regional advocate for arts curriculum. Now in the second phase of its Artsmark development, the senior offers a cultural learning programme that is blended with pastoral, enrichment, curricular and community aspects of school life. boltonschool.org

BRENTWOOD SCHOOL

As lockdown loomed, the performing arts department of this Essex school took the decision to stage a full chamber concert, which was the start of a wider performancesharing trend across the student body. brentwoodschool.co.uk

CANFORD SCHOOL

Excellence, involvement and ambition underpin music-making at the Dorset school, with exceptional academic results: 95 per cent of A-level music students have achieved A* to B grades, while 81 per cent have gained level 8 or 9 at music GCSE – resulting in five university scholarships and 13 ARSM diplomas. canford.com

CLAREMONT SENIOR SCHOOL

Student voice, leadership and inclusion are embedded in Claremont’s DNA.

During lockdown, the role of teaching staff increasingly became a guiding one, as young performing artists were empowered to follow creative paths of expression through music, dance and drama while separated from their community. claremontschool.co.uk

GLENALMOND COLLEGE

The college was one of the very few schools in the UK to stage a play amid pandemic restrictions. The show, which was broadcast online, was a take on Epicene, the 1609 Renaissance comedy by Ben Jonson, which was originally performed after theatres had been shut by the plague, making it all the more fitting. glenalmondcollege.co.uk

TRINITY SCHOOL, CROYDON

Hardly a week goes by without a concert or production at this south London school, and its inclusive philosophy encourages all to participate. This passion for music is reflected in the phenomenal progress seen in Associated Board exams, with more than 50 Grade 8 passes with Distinction amongst the current student body. trinity-school.org

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL MOBILITY

BRADFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL

For almost 500 years, BGS has been a constant in Bradford. With economic disadvantage deepening due to the pandemic, the commitment to providing an outstanding education to all with the talent to flourish remains a cornerstone of the school’s ethos. bradfordgrammar.com

NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL

Located in the one of the most deprived areas of Nottingham, this co-ed is a beacon of hope and inspiration, creating an educational experience that allows bright pupils to prosper. Established in 1513, Nottingham High's history is built on benevolence and philanthropy. nottinghamhigh.co.uk

REED’S SCHOOL

Founded for orphans in 1813 by Reverend Dr Andrew Reed, this Surrey boys’ school is now a fee-paying school, with 10 per cent of pupils still being ‘foundationers’. The Foundation is at the heart of Reed’s School, having helped around 13,000 children break the cycle of social deprivation. reeds.surrey.sch.uk

STREATHAM & CLAPHAM HIGH SCHOOL

Through its partnerships, the school aims to build the skills, character and confidence that will ultimately lead to social mobility. It offers widened access to certain GCSE subjects, such as classical civilisation and additional mathematics, for the local community by inviting pupils from local maintained school to study alongside its students. schs.gdst.net

TRINITY SCHOOL, CROYDON

This south London school was founded to serve children from every walk of life within its community, and it continues to do so today. During the pandemic, it invited 120 local primary schools to participate in a range of programmes, including its STEMLink, CHEMLink and COMPLink events, as well as the Rowdown Foundation’s Saturday school. trinity-school.org

STUDENT WELLBEING

BROOMWOOD HALL UPPER SCHOOL

This south-west London school helps children to thrive by providing them with structure and secure attachments to adults whom they trust. While Broomwood is big enough to allow for a broad range of characters, it’s also small enough to enable teachers to get to know every student, and vice versa. northwoodschools.com

EATON HOUSE SCHOOLS

A Head of Wellbeing was appointed in late 2019, just in time for the schools to close in March 2020. Parent webinars, one-toone online wellbeing meetings and on-site sessions for key workers’ children were also provided. eatonhouseschools.com

ELSTREE SCHOOL

Remote learning in lockdown led to this Berkshire prep holding bi-weekly pastoral care meetings to identify, monitor and support the most vulnerable children and staff. Elstree hosts an annual Mental Health Awareness Week, where everyone is encouraged to focus on a PSHE theme each day. elstreeschool.org.uk

POCKLINGTON SCHOOL

Pocklington is passionate about nurturing young people to understand that their happiness matters. From their first day as a three year old through to being young adults of 18, the Yorkshire school is committed to ensuring pupils have the capacity and strategies to manage their wellbeing. pocklingtonschool.com

QUEEN MARGARET’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The biggest challenge of the pandemic for this York senior school was how to deliver wellbeing support when its girls were spread across the globe. Queen Margaret’s School chose to take a multidimensional approach, implementing its own remotelearning support platform, QM Connect. queenmargarets.com

QUEEN’S COLLEGE, LONDON

Student wellbeing underpins Queen’s College’s entire approach, with the Principal stating that pastoral care is the most important thing that the school offers.

The new Thrive programme encompasses the school’s mental health, pastoral and wellbeing initiatives, comprising anti-bullying ambassadors and peer mentors. qcl.org.uk

SOUTH HAMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL GDST

In a year like no other, this north-west London girls’ school has found positive pastoral leadership vital. Headmistress Mrs Bingham delivered her own Downing Street briefing-esque mantra – ‘habits, plans, treats’ as schools closed, in order to instil a sense of purpose and energy in students ahead of remote learning. shhs.gdst.net

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXPERIENCE

BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL

Adamant that staff would do all they could to keep their students safe, the Hertfordshire school made life in the boarding houses as fun and stress free as possible. International boarders completed their quarantine at the school in August 2020, so that they’d be able to join in with classes and extracurricular fun from the first day of term. berkhamsted.com

BRAMBLETYE SCHOOL

Brambletye is proud to be a global village, with a student body covering 12 countries. Diversity in the boarding house is celebrated, and from an early age the children learn to accept and celebrate one another’s differences, fostering tolerance, respect and empathy. brambletye.co.uk

DLD COLLEGE LONDON

Home to students of more than 50 nationalities, DLD College’s boarding house became a sanctuary, providing many with somewhere to stay during Christmas and other holidays. House parents and teachers are mindful of all of their pupils’ cultural celebrations and actively seek to promote these around the school. dldcollege.co.uk

SEDBERGH SCHOOL

The Cumbrian school’s outstanding team travels around the world, so that families meet the key members of staff who will be responsible for looking after their children. To enhance the international student admissions process, welcome packs comprising vocabulary lists, practice papers and subject notes are gifted. sedberghschool.org

ST LEONARDS

With a historic campus, school life is rooted in Scottish tradition but global in outlook. The boarding school offers the IB continuum pathway, delivering a globally-recognised curriculum for ages five to 18, and is one of just two UK schools that offer all four IB programmes: Primary, Middle Years, Careerrelated and Diploma. stleonards-fife.org

WYCOMBE ABBEY SCHOOL

Almost a third of Wycombe Abbey pupils are based overseas, so the school has worked hard to maintain its special community, despite constraints. Throughout the difficult months, staff have supported girls and their families in a number of ways: a key initiative has been the creation of an Overseas Pupil Co-ordinator post. wycombeabbey.com

HEALTHY EATING

BEECHWOOD PARK SCHOOL

Food is integral here, going beyond an understanding of the importance of healthy, balanced food choices, it also includes the development of children’s palates. The catering department provides pupils, staff and visitors with freshly-prepared, nutritious and creative dishes. beechwoodpark.com

GORDONSTOUN

There’s now a multitude of scientific studies which demonstrate the link between food and mental and physical wellbeing. Gordonstoun believes it is the first school in the UK to marry its menu to the curriculum all year round in order to enhance wellness and pupil outcomes. gordonstoun.org.uk

IPSWICH HIGH SCHOOL

This Suffolk school decided to educate, enthuse and excite its pupils about wholesome, nourishing food. Catering partners were chosen carefully to ensure that they shared the same values and enthusiasm for local produce and seasonal ingredients. ipswichhighschool.co.uk

STROUD SCHOOL, ROMSEY

Pupil wellbeing is at the root of everything the community does. With an ethos of ‘creating fresh food from scratch’, the aim is to offer sustenance that will sharpen the mind, energise the body and make pupils smile. stroud-kes.org.uk

THE HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL CHELSEA

The Hampshire school has assembled a child-led food development forum to widen pupils’ understanding of nutrition. The motto ‘eat the rainbow every day’ encourages students to choose a wide selection of colourful salads and vegetable dishes. thehampshireschoolchelsea.co.uk

EFFECTIVE BRAND COMMUNICATION

BEDFORD SCHOOL

It was decided that as the boys are the school’s success, they should be its voice. A new prospectus was devised, featuring interviews and excerpts from the boys in their own words, closing with the line ‘that they be good men’. bedfordschool.org.uk

CHANNING SCHOOL

For Channing, the words, ‘girls enjoying success’ are so much more than a marketing strapline; they’ve become the school’s shorthand for the education philosophy it offers. While the prevailing mood is for academic achievement at any cost, the Highgate school embarked upon a visionary marketing direction. channing.co.uk

MILLFIELD

In January 2020, Millfield launched the Discover Brilliance marketing campaign. With a change in the school’s management team, a re-evaluation of its brand was undertaken, Single images of students in their field of brilliance were utilised for modern impact. millfieldschool.com

PRINCE’S MEAD SCHOOL

The Hampshire school has enjoyed academic and sporting success over the decades, but has faced challenges attracting new generations, so it was time to refresh its voice. The brand purpose was brought to life with a refreshed logo, a redesigned website and a new social media campaign. princesmeadschool.org.uk

STRATHALLAN SCHOOL

Prior to lockdown the Perthshire school had been working to consolidate its visual brand across print and digital mediat. The focus was switched to a digital-first strategy and an innovative new website that offers each visitor their own tailored homepage was produced. strathallan.co.uk

TUDOR HALL SCHOOL

The school has implemented virtual initiatives to harness community spirit and engage prospective families. The first series called Tudor Talks, featured alumnae talking about their career paths. The next series, Saturday Live, was aimed at girls who want to get a feel for the school. tudorhallschool.com

ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT

DUMPTON SCHOOL

Set in 26 acres of countryside, an integral part of the education provided at this Dorset school is the ongoing development of a love of the great outdoors, and all the benefits it brings. This is taught through Dumpton’s geography, science and outdoor education curriculum. dumpton.com

KINGSLEY SCHOOL BIDEFORD

Kingsley School has launched a new Earth Centre: a unique ongoing project for all of the pupils. In response to the challenges of this time, this facility puts the natural world and environmental stability at the heart of the Devon school’s curriculum. kingsleyschoolbideford.co.uk

PORTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

The Total Cleaner Power-certified school has sourced 100 per cent of its energy from renewable fuels since late 2020 – and that’s just the start of its eco-credentials. It's also part of Energy Sparks’ Switch

Off campaign, which reveals how energy consumption can be furthered reduced. portsmouthhigh.co.uk

SOMPTING ABBOTTS

Learning about sustainability is part of everyday life at this small prep. Pre-prep pupils benefit from twice-weekly forest school-style outings to the woods and enjoy gardening club, where they grow tomatoes, onion and peppers for school lunches. somptingabbotts.com

ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL, ASCOT

This year has seen the Berkshire school take a strong stance on environmental matters, with the newly-appointed bursar bringing a focus to St George’s ecological policy and practice, and ensuring that it’s at the heart of future planning. stgeorges-ascot.org.uk

ST PAUL’S GIRLS’ SCHOOL

There has been an explosion in applications to be on the St Paul’s Environmental Action Committee, a society which is supported by the Staff Eco Forum. It leads termly assemblies, discussion groups, a junior Eco Club, and an annual Green Week. spgs.org

INNOVATION AWARD FOR AN OUTSTANDING NEW INITIATIVE

CATERHAM SCHOOL

Caterham has established a Next Generation shadow board of under-30s alumni to support the Board of Trustees as they make decisions about the school’s future. It shapes pupil experience by embracing diversity and placing a sharp focus on the world pupils will be moving into. caterhamschool.co.uk

FRANCIS HOLLAND SCHOOL, SLOANE SQUARE

The Creative Enterprise programme, drawn up by Francis Holland’s Director of Creative Enterprise, is based upon the core principles of innovation, creativity and enterprise. Developing successful businesses is one approach, setting up social enterprise is another, and both initiatives have been woven into each year’s curriculum. fhs-sw1.org.uk

JESS DUBAI

This UAE-based school holds a wealth of pupil information: academic, records of reward or conduct, aptitude measures and wellbeing. Its new programme will pull all of the data to one place, using Microsoft PowerBI dashboards. This allows students to take ownership of a personalised dashboard to drive their own progress. jess.sch.ae

MONKTON COMBE SCHOOL

The Wild Monkton campaign is built around four key areas of outdoor focus: to thrive, to learn, to conserve and to share. It’s an initiative that aims to facilitate all students and staff to have frequent access to the outdoors. monktoncombeschool.com

PORTLAND PLACE SCHOOL

Offering a seamless blend of the traditional and the innovative through its flexible approach, the school's programme is ideal for students who feel the benefits of remote learning, and want to follow online lessons four days a week, with the fifth day spent at the London campus. portland-place.co.uk

RISING STAR

PETER QIANG, DAME ALLAN’S SCHOOLS

It’s one thing to learn a new language, but it’s quite another to do so when one has been profoundly deaf since birth: and that’s exactly what Peter did upon moving from Shanghai to the UK. He has gone from strength to strength, achieving outstanding GCSE grades. And if that wasn’t enough, he's also an exceptional pianist. dameallans.co.uk

ALFIE GRIFFITHS, EDGEBOROUGH SCHOOL

A talented and passionate artist, Alfie's

career began at the age of nine, when he won the local art competition at Farnham Maltings. From there, he went on to become the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition’s youngest exhibitor. edgeborough.co.uk

JAMI SCHLUETER, MILLFIELD

Jami’s drive and determination to create societal change inspires everyone at Millfield. When the Black Lives Matter movement began, Jami – as a Black teenager – launched into action, creating a Prefects Corner speech on white privilege. millfieldschool.com

CARLY GORTON, NORWICH HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Carly wanted to donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust, but was told that afro hair wasn’t suitable and couldn’t be accepted for technical reasons. When she learned that only caucasian hair was used, she worked tirelessly to find a wig maker, sharing her story with local and national newspapers, radio and television. norwichhigh.gdst.net

ELISE COUSINS, STRATHALLAN SCHOOL

Strathallan is really proud of Elise’s progress and potential, having arrived at the school on a swimming scholarship as a third former in September 2019. So far, she's recorded a number of personal bests, breaking school record and winning a silver medal at the Scottish Schools Finals. strathallan.co.uk

UNSUNG HERO

LINDY THEMISTOCLEOUS, BARNARD CASTLE SCHOOL

Without the selfless commitment displayed by Lindy, the senior boys’ boarding matron, many boarders wouldn’t have been able to return over the past year. She chose to remain and look after the boys who couldn’t return to home countries or needed to shield guardians. barnardcastleschool.org.uk

ALAN ATKINS, HANDCROSS PARK SCHOOL

Alan joined the prep 17 years ago as Head Groundsman. Under his tender loving care, the 52-acre site could now rival any National Trust garden. Last year, he was tragically diagnosed with terminal cancer. Throughout treatment, Alan continued to carry out his duties, showing an extraordinary strength of character. handcrossparkschool.co.uk

SALLY WITTS, KINGSWOOD HOUSE SCHOOL

Support staff have been the heroes of the pandemic, and none more so than school bursar, Sally Witts. She’s fondly known as the go-to person here, fielding an endless stream of queries. She also happens to be a qualified nurse, a skillset that was put to the test when a pupil suffered a cardiac arrest. Thanks to Sally, the boy received effective CPR. kingswoodhouse.org

PAT WILLIS, MORETON HALL

Aunty Pat, as she’s known by generations of Moretonians, has worked at the school in various capacities for the past 35 years, and embodies Moreton Hall’s values of scholarship, gaiety and humanity. Her work ethic is unassailable, her can-do attitude is inspiring, her smile is contagious and her kindness is legendary. moretonhall.org

JAMES HART-PRIETO, WEST BUCKLAND SCHOOL

Head of IT, James Hart-Prieto, helped to mitigate the impact of lockdown on West Buckland School, with his swift deployment of Microsoft Teams to nearly 700 pupils and 150 staff members. His calm response ensured that everyone was up to speed and ready to start teaching and learning online within three days. westbuckland.com

OUTSTANDING RESPONSE TO COVID-19

CHRIST’S HOSPITAL

Upon pupils’ return in September 2020, this West Sussex school took swift action by strengthening pastoral care provision, realigning boarding houses to make bigger year-group bubbles and addressing gaps in learning with catch-up sessions for year 11 to 13 exam groups. christs-hospital.org.uk

EATON HOUSE THE MANOR SCHOOL

Having closed a couple of days before lockdown was enforced, this London prep was ready to soft-launch its digital learning programme, encompassing Microsoft Teams and Seesaw. Online communication was enhanced by weekly newsletters and a virtual Wellbeing Hub. eatonhouseschools.com

GODOLPHIN AND LATYMER

This Hammersmith school community was able to demonstrate a lot of generosity, energy and spirit during this time, with the new Bridge outreach programme quickly moving online to facilitate 40 state-school children via Google Meet. godolphinandlatymer.com

KILGRASTON

When lockdown was confirmed on 18 March 2020, this Perthshire girls’ school immediately mobilised an online learning framework for a seamless transition to remote teaching. kilgraston.com

LVS HASSOCKS

As a specialist school for students with an autism diagnosis, it closed for the first five weeks of lockdown, and then remained fully open thereafter. While closed, online and telephone support was offered to all pupils, including occupational and speech therapy. Teams was rolled out to all staff so they could stay connected. lvs-hassocks.org.uk

LVS ASCOT

This Berkshire co-ed entered the pandemic with a clear continuity strategy: honest, timely communication, an outstanding online education and a focus on mental health. The impact of this was evidenced through high levels of lesson engagement and sustained academic progress. lvs.ascot.sch.uk

OLDHAM HULME GRAMMAR

As a Google Reference school, this Greater Manchester co-ed was well-prepared for Covid-19 restrictions, with pupils enjoying remote assemblies, interacting with class peers and extracurricular clubs. It even shared its Google Suite tips and best practice with other schools as they eased into their own distance learning rhythms. ohgs.co.uk

RGS WORCESTER

RGS Worcester was able to deliver a swift response to the lockdown announcement, rolling out a complete timetable of online learning for 850 pupils within 24 hours. Pupils’ academic development continued apace, with pastoral care, extracurricular and co-curricular provisions also successfully moving to the digital realm. rgsw.org.uk

OUTSTANDING FUNDRAISING ACHIEVEMENT

BURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Bury Grammar’s 450th anniversary was in 2020, and the school had spent two years planning a series of events with the aim of raising £1m towards its bursary fund, but when Covid-19 struck, plans were derailed. However, by increasing social engagement and running virtual concerts, it raised more than £1m! burygrammar.com

EMBLEY

The school's drama scholars decided to fundraise for charity by hosting a series of events. They advertised on social media, nominated charities, set up a Virgin Money Giving page and organised a successful Broadway-themed evening, resulting in many generous donations. embley.org.uk

PARKSIDE SCHOOL

The Parents of Parkside is a group formed of pupils’ families. More than your standard PTA group, they’ve created an inclusive community and succeeded in raising impressive amounts of money to fund projects around the school over the years, from the food technology kitchens to the cricket pavilion. parkside-school.co.uk

ST PAUL’S SCHOOL

In May 2019, the school launched a £20m Shaping our Future campaign. Following consultation with the community, bursaries and partnerships became areas of focus, with a target of £13m. In under two years, £12,440, 000 has been raised. stpaulsschool.org.uk

SUMMER FIELDS

This North Oxford boys’ school embarked upon an ambitious capital campaign, The Next Chapter. It marks an exciting new stage in the school’s history, aiming to ensure that it continues to provide an unparalleled boarding education and bolster the meanstested bursary provision. summerfields.com

PORTSMOUTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The school’s first Giving Day in March had the theme Be the Difference, reflecting two of the school strategic intentions: to serve the Portsmouth community, and to significantly increase its number of free and assisted places. More than £280,000 was donated in 36 hours. pgs.org.uk