Finalists 2026

Independent Schools of the Year 2026 Finalists

The judges are pleased to announce the Finalists of Independent Schools of the Year 2026. Thank you to all schools for taking part and congratulations to not only the Finalists, but all schools that were Commended in the awards.

The winners of each category will be announced at an awards ceremony being held on Wednesday 14th October at 6pm which will be attended by our Finalists.

Co-ed Independent School of the Year
  • Ardvreck School
  • Ashford School
  • Brighton College
  • Leighton Park School
  • RGS Worcester
  • Sevenoaks School
  • Wellington College
Independent Boarding School of the Year
  • Aysgarth School
  • Benenden School
  • Bootham School
  • Port Regis School
  • Sedbergh School
  • Worth School
Independent Boys’ School of the Year
  • Hampton School
  • King Edward’s School
  • Radley College
  • St Paul’s School
  • Tonbridge School
  • Warwick School
Independent Girls’ School of the Year
  • Bute House Preparatory School
  • Channing School
  • Croydon High School GDST
  • James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS)
  • Roedean School
  • St Swithun’s School
Independent Pre-Prep of the Year
  • Amesbury School
  • The Dulwich School Cranbrook
  • Exeter Pre-Prep School
  • Fettes College Preparatory School
  • Wetherby School Kensington
  • Windlesham House School
Independent Prep School of the Year
  • Brighton College Prep Handcross
  • Cargilfield School
  • Cottesmore School
  • Hazelwood
  • Langley Prep School
  • Thomas’s Battersea
Independent School of the Year for Best Use of Education Technology
  • Barnard Castle School
  • Berkhamsted School
  • Brentwood School
  • Edgbaston High School For Girls
  • Haileybury
  • Thornton College School
Independent School of the Year for Contribution to Social Mobility
  • Bryanston School
  • Hill House School
  • Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood
  • UWC Atlantic
  • Woodbridge School
Independent School of the Year for Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ)
  • Blundell’s School
  • Bury Grammar School
  • Clifton College
  • Jersey College for Girls
  • Manchester High School for Girls
  • Wycombe Abbey
Independent School of the Year for International Student Experience
  • Brighton College Dubai
  • Dean Close School
  • Mill Hill International
  • Sidcot School
  • Strathallan School
  • Taunton School
Independent School of the Year for Outstanding Educational Partnerships
  • Abingdon
  • Emanuel School
  • King’s College School, Wimbledon
  • Magdalen College School Oxford
  • The Portsmouth Grammar School
Independent School of the Year for Outstanding Fundraising Achievement
  • Kellett School Association Ltd
  • Oswestry School
  • Shrewsbury School
  • St Leonards
  • St Paul’s Girls’ School
  • Trinity School Croydon
Independent School of the Year for Performing Arts
  • Eastbourne College
  • Godolphin and Latymer
  • The King’s School, Canterbury
  • Redmaids’ High Junior School
  • Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
  • Westholme School
Independent School of the Year for SEND provision
  • Hybrid @ London Park Schools
  • Leicester High School for Girls
  • Leweston School
  • Moon Hall School, Reigate
  • Sir William Perkins’s School
  • Streatham & Clapham Prep School
Independent School of the Year for Sporting Achievement
  • King’s Bruton
  • King’s Worcester
  • Millfield School
  • Plymouth College
  • Rugby School
  • Uppingham School
Independent School of the Year for Student Careers
  • Cardiff Sixth Form College
  • City of London School
  • Haberdashers’ Monmouth School
  • Halliford School
  • Queen Ethelburga’s
  • St Teresa’s School / Effingham Sixth Form
Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing
  • Aberdour School
  • Fettes College
  • The Leys School, Cambridge
  • Mayfield
  • New Hall School
  • Tudor Hall School
London Independent School of the Year
  • Bancroft’s School
  • City of London School for Girls
  • Ibstock Place School
  • North London Collegiate School
  • South Hampstead High School GDST
  • Whitgift School
Regional Independent School of the Year: Central
  • Bosworth Independent School
  • Christ College Brecon
  • Derby High School
  • Lucton School
  • Winterfold House School
Regional Independent School of the Year: North
  • Giggleswick School
  • Gordonstoun
  • Merchant Taylors Schools’, Crosby
  • Morrison’s Academy
  • Newcastle High School for Girls GDST
  • Scarborough College
Regional Independent School of the Year: South
  • Ballard School
  • Bradfield College
  • Headington Rye Oxford
  • King Edward’s School, Bath
  • Lord Wandsworth College
  • TASIS England
Rising Star of the Year Award
  • Haberdashers’ Monmouth School
  • Haileybury
  • Lord Wandsworth College
  • Redmaids’ High School
  • Sherborne Boys
  • UWC Atlantic
Small Independent School of the Year
  • Cothill
  • Ludgrove School
  • Mowden Hall School
  • Old Vicarage School
  • St George’s Ascot
  • Westminster Abbey Choir School
The British International School of the Year
  • Alice Smith School
  • Brighton College (Singapore)
  • The British School of Bahrain
  • Durham International School
  • Reigate Grammar School Kuala Lumpur
  • Rugby School Thailand
The Marketing Award for Brand Communication
  • The Abbey School
  • City of London Freemen’s School
  • Loughborough Schools Foundation
  • The National Mathematics & Science College
  • S. Anselm’s Prep School
  • Twyford School

2026 Awards Timeline

Nominations
open

24th March

Nominations
close

11th June

Commended
announced

3rd July

Finalists
announced

10th September

Judges
meet

September

Awards
ceremony

14th October

Independent Schools of the Year

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