The July Week 1 Education Roundup

Considering independent education? Find the best school for your child here. Otherwise, read on for the latest independent school news (July 2025).

Independent School News: July Week 1, 2025

New Hall School Receives Prize For Blossoming Nature Education

Samatha Twomey and New Hall’s prep children worked hard for the impressive nature award

New Hall School has received a top award recognising its commitment to environmental and nature education.

The Green Tree Schools Award rewards schools for environmental projects such as tree planting, reducing emissions and visiting woodland areas. Schools collect points to receive bronze, silver and gold awards. The highest level is platinum, which New Hall’s prep pupils have now achieved – not least by planting 60 trees and creating pollinator zones around the school site.

Created by the Woodland Trust, the award allows children to learn about nature outside the classroom. According to Samantha Twomey, head of the New Hall Preparatory Division, the process allowed pupils to develop a ‘strong sense of environmental responsibility’ and ‘enthusiasm for the natural world’.

Discover New Hall School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/new-hall-school

Scalextric Success For Loughborough Boys

The winning car design (top right) took almost a year to complete, from design and digital modelling to rigorous track testing

A team of year nine Loughborough Grammar pupils recently took home the title of ‘best designed car’ at this year’s Scalextric4Schools finals.

The national competition, which sees students design and manufacture their own slot cars, aims to inspire young people to consider careers in STEM. Loughborough’s pupils began designing their cars almost a year ago – and the many months of refining and testing their prototypes has now paid off.

The school’s head of design and technology, Todd Mosely, said: ‘This has been our first year entering the Scalextric4Schools challenge and it has been an incredible experience throughout. The boys have shown great dedication and commitment to the project.’

The year nine team even made it onto the news after being interviewed by ITV News Central at the finals.

Inspired Education Group Unveils New Cohort Of Scholars

Eighteen students from 11 countries have been announced as members of Inspired Education’s new scholarship programme.

Established in 2024, the Nsouli Scholars programme is led by Inspired Education’s founder Nadim M Nsouli and provides exceptional students with full scholarships to top Inspired schools across the world. This year’s scholars were selected based on remarkable talent in academics, sports and the arts, as well as financial need. The cohort includes students from countries such as Palestine, Lebanon, Serbia and Kenya.

New Dance Programme Waltzes Into Milton Abbey

James Watson, headmaster (far left) and Katie Neal, young people’s producer at Pavilion Dance South West (far right) with student dancers at Milton Abbey

Aspiring dancers at Milton Abbey School will soon have the opportunity to get involved in an elite-level dance programme.

A partnership between Milton Abbey in Dorset and dance charity Pavilion Dance South West will take pupils’ dance education to the next level. In addition to three sessions per week at Milton Abbey delivered by Pavilion Dance, pupils will be able to use the charity’s theatre and professional studios in Bournemouth.

The collaboration will bring new opportunities to have fun as well as offering physical and mental health benefits, said Victor Fung, artistic director and joint CEO of Pavilion Dance South West. ‘We can’t wait to get started and bring this new learning experience to students.’

Discover Milton Abbey School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/milton-abbey

Cheltenham College Appoints New Head

Cheltenham College has announced the appointment of Chris Townsend as its new head from April 2026.

Townsend is currently head of Felsted School. Before this, he was deputy head at Felsted and has been an educator in the independent school sector for the last 30 years. He will become Cheltenham’s 23rd head, replacing Nicola Huggett, who will move into a new role overseas after eight years leading the school.

Discover Cheltenham College: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/cheltenham-college

Milton Abbey Students Take Home Bronze in Prestigious Film Competition

Lower sixth students studying film and TV at Milton Abbey have been awarded third place in the 2025 Childnet Film Competition’s secondary category.

Their two-minute film, Tyranno-Scam-Us-Rex, reflected this year’s theme: ‘It’s not your fault’. Entrants were encouraged to explore how young people can work together to tackle online scams. Thanks to an inflatable t-rex, some creative video editing and impressive acting, Milton Abbey’s students were presented with the prize at Disney’s UK headquarters in Hammersmith.

Discover Milton Abbey School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/milton-abbey

New Head Set To Join Dorset House

In January 2026, Dorset House School will welcome a new head: Sarah Sutherland-Booth.

Sutherland-Booth is currently senior deputy head at Windlesham House School, where she has worked in multiple leadership positions since 2012. She is also an ISI reporting and team inspector.

‘From the moment I stepped through the door of Dorset House, I felt the warmth and energy that make this school so special,’ she said. ‘It’s clear that the staff team not only care deeply about what they do, but genuinely love being part of the Dorset House family.’ Sutherland-Booth will take over from Matt Thomas, who is moving to the Isle of Wight to take up the role of head of prep at Ryde School.

Discover Dorset House School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/dorset-house-school

Top Global Schools Group Celebrates IB Success

Premium IB school Sotogrande International is a member of Inspired Education. Pictured: Sotogrande’s class of 2023

IB (International Baccalaureate) results day this year was 7 July, leaving many students excited about their next chapter at university.

The day was particularly successful for Inspired Education, whose students’ average IB score (35) surpassed the global average (30.58). Across the group’s 37 IB Diploma Programme schools, students also achieved a 99 percent pass rate. Dozens of Inspired students even got the maximum IB score of 45. These top scorers study at schools in Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Switzerland.

St Swithun’s Announces Indoor Sport Facilities Project

All-girls’ school St Swithun’s will undertake a number of developments to ensure sport lessons go ahead even in bad weather.

New facilities will include a strength and conditioning suite; a tensile roof over seven outdoor courts; and a new sports complex with a dance studio and café. The first phase – building the covered outdoor courts – will begin this summer. According to St Swithun’s, this phase should be completed by summer 2026.

The school has launched a major donor fundraising campaign for phase one, and has pledged to match all donations.

Discover St Swithun’s: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/st-swithuns

All photos courtesy of the respective schools.