This award is for an independent school in Greater London – large or small, academically selective or proudly all-ability. What matters here is not your size, but your setting. We want to hear the story of your school in 2025–2026 and, in particular, how London itself has shaped and sharpened the experience you offer.

Tell us why you are proud to work where you do. Show us how your pupils benefit from being educated in one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Bring it to life with examples and, where helpful, the data to back it up (but do resist the temptation to reel off statistics in list form). Above all, help our judges picture what it feels like to walk through your doors on a crisp autumn morning, with the capital humming just beyond the school gates.

Resilience is very much the watchword of the moment in our sector, prompting a clear-eyed focus on the future amongst leadership teams up and down the country. So please weave an explanation of how your school is taking sensible, forward-thinking steps to shore up its long-term stability into your answers.

Please structure your entry around the following questions, keeping a clear focus on how you make the most of London.

• Why is your school special in the London context?
  In a city brimming with excellent independent schools, what sets yours apart? How do you harness your London location in ways that others simply cannot? Perhaps it’s partnerships with world-class institutions, access to theatres, galleries and research centres, or the way your pupils engage with the capital’s industries and communities. What have been your standout achievements this year – academic, cultural, sporting or pastoral – that mark you out as a genuine leader in the capital? (Around 200 words.) 
• How has being in London enhanced your pupils’ experience in 2025–2026?
  This is a city of opportunity – but how, specifically, has your location enabled you to meet the needs of your students this year? Tell us how you have used the capital’s resources, networks and energy to broaden horizons and deepen learning. Whether through internships, outreach projects, subject-specific excursions or cultural immersion, show us how London has given your pupils something extra. (Around 150 words.) 
• What impact does your school have on London – and vice versa?
  Education in the capital should be a two-way street. How do your pupils contribute to the wider metropolitan community, and how does that engagement shape them in return? Tell us about partnerships, service projects, collaborations or civic initiatives that have made a tangible difference. (About 150 words.)