Judges Profiles


Dr Helen Wright, Chair

Helen is a former President of the Girls’ Schools Association and Vice-Chair of ISC, with three major headships under her belt. Since 2014, she has worked in international education, and advises, recruits and coaches senior leaders in schools across the world.

David Moncrieff

David Moncrieff, Vice Chair

Representing The Chelsea Magazine Company, where he is a long term consultant, David is a publisher specialising in education. David previously worked as Director of Marketing at Mayfield School and Director of Marketing Services at VisitBritain.

Charlotte Avery

Charlotte Avery

Charlotte Avery is Principal of St Cuthbert’s College, New Zealand; she was previously Headmistress of St Mary’s School Cambridge, GSA Vice-President, and a Governor of Haileybury School, Mill Hill School and a local 11-16 MAT.

Durell Barnes

Durell Barnes is the former Chair of ISEB and Head of Governance and Compliance at RSAcademics, prior to which he spent many years as the public face of the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Colin Bell

Colin Bell

Colin Bell has been the CEO of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) since 2010. He is also an appointed member of the ministerially chaired Department for International Trade/Department for Education Sector Advisory Group.

Louise Bennett

Louise is CEO of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education (IDPE), supporting schools to develop successful fundraising and engagement programmes, through providing training, guidance, benchmarking and partnership work across the schools’ sector. Lou has over 20 years’ experience of working across fundraising disciplines.

Jeanette Cochrane

Jeanette Cochrane is Chief Executive Officer of the Girls’ Schools Association.

Tory Gillingham

Tory Gillingham

Tory Gillingham is the former CEO of AMCIS. She has over 25 years marketing experience in the independent schools’ sector.

gavin-horgan-millfield-school

Gavin Horgan

Gavin Horgan joined as Headmaster of Millfield in Somerset from Worksop College, where he delivered academic turnaround. His earlier career included working in schools in Sri Lanka and Argentina before he returned to the UK as the Deputy Rector of The Glasgow Academy. Gavin has worked in senior management in the maintained, independent, and international sectors.

Irfan Latif

Irfan Latif is the Head of the Royal Hospital School, Suffolk; he was previously Principal at DLD College London.

Jim Massey

Jim Massey is Chair of Governors at Wellesley Prep School (formerly Daneshill Prep School, where he was Headmaster). Prior to this, he led prep schools and has worked across the independent sector.

Damian McBeath

Damian McBeath is Head of the John Wallis Church of England Academy and a Governor of Benenden School, Kent.

Hugo Middlemass

Hugo Middlemas is the Director of Development at Christ’s Hospital, West Sussex.

James Priory

James Priory joined Tonbridge School as Headmaster in 2018 from Portsmouth Grammar School. He’s known for his passion for the creative arts and for his commitment to widening access.

Julie Robinson

Julie Robinson

Julie Robinson is CEO of the Independent Schools Council. She was Head of Ardingly College Junior School and Vinehall Prep School, then Education and Training Director for the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools, before taking on her current role.

Philippa Scudds

Philippa Scudds is Director of Marketing and Communications at Port Regis School in Dorset and a Trustee of HMC Projects. She is a chartered marketer, with over 25 years’ experience in marketing, communications and public relations.

Abra Stoakley

Abra Stoakley is an experienced headteacher who has worked in schools in the United Kingdom and abroad. She was Head of School at Grange School Lagos, Nigeria until 2023, a post she held since January 2020.

Ben Vessey

Ben Vessey is Director, HMC Projects. He was previously Head of Canford School, Dorset.

David Walker

David Walker is Executive Director of the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA).

2026 Awards Timeline

Nominations
open

24th March

Nominations
close

4th June

Commended
announced

July

Finalists
announced

September

Judges
meet

September

Awards
ceremony

October