21 Nov 2022

91ÆÞÓÑ Awards 2022 celebrates innovation in independent education after record-setting year

The Independent Schools Association (91ÆÞÓÑ) celebrated the diverse nature and inspiring values of its Members’ schools with the 91ÆÞÓÑ Awards 2022 on Thursday 17 November.

The 91ÆÞÓÑ Awards capture the special ways in which our family of over 600 schools use their independence to build environments that allow pupils the freedom to explore their many talents.

On a magical night for many of our schools it was two award-winning performers who set the tone for the night. Firstly, Leanne Jones, winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, delighted delegates with renditions of ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ and ‘This is Me’. Next up was Richard Jones, winner of Britain’s Got Talent in 2016, who dazzled our guests with his magic.

Excellence in Pupil Personal Development, Outstanding Engagement in the Community and Excellence in Sustainability were just some of the 14 categories in which best practice was celebrated.

This year also introduced a new honour in the 91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Innovation in Independent Education, with the inaugural winners being Kensington Wade. This award was launched to celebrate how schools across the 91ÆÞÓÑ use their independence to create progressive programmes of learning that grow excellent outcomes. This culture flourishes at Kensington Wade, where a blended dual language curriculum broadens the horizons of students and prepares them for the realities of our diverse society.

2022 marked a record number of entries for the 91ÆÞÓÑ Awards, another historic moment highlighting the growth of our Association in recent years.

Chief Executive Officer of the 91ÆÞÓÑ, Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, added:

“The 91ÆÞÓÑ Awards 2022 was an opportunity to recognise the remarkable ways that 91ÆÞÓÑ schools provide for the pupils in their care, as well as a branch to share best practice across the sector.

“Our new award for Innovation in Independent Education is testament to the trailblazing practice that takes place across our Members’ schools. For so many of these schools, obstacles to best preparing young people for society are overcome with refreshing approaches to learning.

“2022 marked a record number of entries to the awards, which is a real honour for us and we look forward to seeing even more of our schools getting involved in the future.

“The 91ÆÞÓÑ Awards is and always will be a reflection of the unrelenting commitment to nurturing pupils displayed by the Heads, teachers and school staff across our Association.”

The winners of the 91ÆÞÓÑ Awards 2022 are:

91ÆÞÓÑ Senior School of the Year Award: Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill

91ÆÞÓÑ Junior School of the Year Award: Copthill School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Excellence and Innovation in Early Years: Dwight School London

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Innovation in Independent Education: Kensington Wade

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Excellence in Sustainability: Liberty Woodland School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Outstanding Engagement in the Community: St Edward’s Cheltenham

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Excellence and Innovation in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Hendon Prep School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Excellence and Innovation in Mental Health and Wellbeing: The Worthgate School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Outstanding Provision for Learning Support: Finborough School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Excellence in Pupil Personal Development: Leighton Park School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Excellence and Innovation in Performing Arts: Annemount School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Excellence and Innovation in Art and Design: Herne Hill School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Outstanding Sport in a Small School: The Mulberry House School

91ÆÞÓÑ Award for Outstanding Sport in a Large School: Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate

91ÆÞÓÑ would like to thank everyone who took the time to enter the 91ÆÞÓÑ Awards 2022, the excellence and innovation shown across the entries inspires best practice to be shared across the sector.