FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO CAN APPLY FOR AN AWARD?
All independent schools which are school members of one of the membership associations of the Independent Schools Council* are invited to seek nomination for one or more of the awards.
CAN MY SCHOOL APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE AWARD?
Yes. Schools are invited to apply for any award for which they are eligible and where they believe they have a compelling story to tell.
ARE THE AWARD CRITERIA OPEN TO INTERPRETATION?
Yes. We are keen for you to tell us why us why your story is relevant and means you should win a particular award rather than us telling you exactly what we are looking for but please make sure you tailor your entry to the published award criteria.
HOW WILL THE AWARDS BE JUDGED?
The Chair and Vice Chair of the judging panel will study every entry received and create a shortlist of highly commended schools. The full entry from each of these shortlisted school will be supplied to the judging panel which will meet to choose the winners.
WILL SCHOOLS BE TOLD THEY HAVE BEEN SHORTLISTED?
Yes. We plan to tell schools they have been shortlisted during the week commencing Monday 3 June .
WHAT SORT OF EVIDENCE DO I NEED TO PROVIDE TO SUPPORT AN APPLICATION AND HOW SHOULD I SUBMIT IT?
Supporting evidence could take the form of photos, video content, evaluations, testimonials, newspaper cuttings and inspection reports, etc. Schools are asked to submit their written submissions, photographs and videos using the online forms provided. Any additional supplementary information may be sent by post to: Independent Schools of the Year, c/o The Chelsea Magazine Company, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ.
WILL THERE BE PUBLICITY ABOUT THE WINNERS?
Yes. In the Autumn of 2019 Independent School Parent plan to put the stories of the winning schools at the heart of a positive media story which celebrates the successes of the independent school sector and their impact on the wider community. Schools need to tell us if they do not seek publicity of this nature and do not want us to use their stories when they submit their applications.
CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE AWARDS AND ADVICE ON HOW TO APPLY?
Yes. If you have any queries or concerns please email us at isoty@chelseamagazines.com
TIMELINE FOR AWARDS
19th March 2019 Nominations Open
24th May 2019 Nominations Close
w/c 3rd June 2019 Shortlisted schools announced
September 2019 Judging Panel meets to select winners and commended schools
7th October 2019 Winners announced at a champagne reception in Westminster
JUDGES PROFILES
Dr Helen Wright, Chair
Dr Helen Wright is a former President of GSA and Vice-Chair of ISC, with 3 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, Vice Chair
David Moncrieff is the Chair of Independent School Parent’s Editorial Advisory Board. A publisher of many years’ standing, specialising in education and heritage, he previously worked as Director of Marketing and Development at Mayfield School and for more than twelve years as Director of Marketing Services at the British Tourist Authority.
Charlotte Avery
Charlotte is Headmistress of St Mary’s School Cambridge, GSA Vice-President, and a Governor of Haileybury College, Mill Hill School and a local 11-16 MAT. She is an ISI team inspector, sits of the ASCL Council and is a former lay member of the MoD’s Research Ethics Committee.
Colin Bell
Colin Bell is CEO of COBIS, which works with and supports students, teachers, leaders, support staff and governors from high quality British international schools in more than 80 countries worldwide. Previously Colin taught in the UK, Far East and Europe. He has is a member of the Education Advisory Group for the UK Department for International Trade.
Andrew Fleck
Andrew is Principal of Sedbergh School, where he has been since 2010. He has overall responsibility for the School, Casterton Sedbergh Prep School and Rong Qiao Sedbergh School, China. Andrew was previously Headmaster of Ashville College, Harrogate for eight years.
Robin Fletcher
Robin Fletcher is Chief Executive of the Boarding Schools’ Association. Robin worked for 30 years as an award-winning journalist, newspaper editor and communications director. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Honorary Fellow of Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Tory Gillingham
Tory Gillingham is the Managing Director for AMCIS, Admissions, Marketing & Communications in Independent Schools, which now has over 500 schools in membership. She has over 25 years experience of the independent schools sector having worked as a Marketing Director in a variety of independent schools before taking up her current role.
Jim Massey
Jim Massey is the Headmaster of Daneshill School.
Zoe MacDougall
Zoe MacDougall is a parent of a junior school age daughter at Redmaids’ High School for Girls, Bristol. Previously, she taught senior school drama at North London Collegiate School.
Julie Robinson
Julie Robinson was Head of Ardingly College Junior School and Vinehall Prep School then Education and Training Director for the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools before becoming General Secretary of the Independent Schools Council representing schools across the independent education sector.
Philippa Scudds
Philippa Scudds has 27 years’ experience working in Marketing, Communications and Public Relations. She spent twelve years in the City, where she gained a reputation for delivering original and successful communications strategies for major PLCs across a diverse spectrum of business and industry sectors. Since 2004 she has focused on independent education marketing, with experience in Prep, Senior and all-through schools. For the past nine years she has combined consultancy advice through Cathcart Communications www.cathcomms.co.uk with her role as Director of Marketing and Communications at Canford in Dorset, the ISOTY 2018 Boarding School of the Year.
Peter Tait
Peter Tait is a former Prep School head who also taught extensively in senior schools. He chaired the Education Committee for IAPS and was a member of ISEB. Currently a school governor and trustee, he writes widely on education issues.
Sue Woodroofe
Sue Woodroofe has been a headteacher for 12 years, at The British School of Brussels and now at The Grammar School at Leeds. She has a particular interest in the 3-18 learning journey and the benefits of multicultural and international learning environments, alongside widening independent-state school partnerships.
Peter Young
Peter is an independent school governor and Chairman of the Business Marketing Awards. He also works as a non-executive with start-up and established businesses
* Any British International School which is a member of COBIS is eligible to apply for the British International School Award.