School House Awards 2026: The Winners
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14 hours ago
Who stood out among this year's record number of entries? We reveal the UK's very best schools of 2026
Every year, the entries we receive to the School House Awards get better and better. And this time, our inbox was the busiest it’s ever been, with a record-breaking 150 submissions proving that independent schools are revving up their educational offering from all angles – and are rightly eager to show it off.
That’s exactly what the School House Awards aim to celebrate: the many moving parts that make a school world-class and grow pupils into kind, intelligent, ambitious young people. From the ever-popular Pastoral Care Champion category to Animal Support Champion, Social Mobility Champion and Sustainability Champion, each entry demonstrated innovation and expertise all-round.
But only eight schools can be top of the class… so read on to discover this year’s School House Awards winners (plus eight highly commended institutions).
Meet the Judges
Eleanor Doughty
The editor of School House, Eleanor Doughty was educated at Lincoln Minster School and was a cathedral chorister at Lincoln Cathedral, an experience that shaped her. A journalist for the last 15 years, she specialises in writing about the lives of the super-rich – from their schools to their homes – and is the author of Heirs and Graces: A History of the Modern British Aristocracy.
Emily Samuel
UKCP-accredited child psychotherapist Emily Samuel has been working clinically with children and adolescents since 2010, formerly at Yale’s Child Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic. Based in Bath, she is a member of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood Advisory Group and hosts the Therapy Works podcast with her mother and sister, psychotherapists Julia and Sophie Samuel.
Dr Stephen Spurr
Educated at the King’s School, Canterbury, the University of Sydney and the University of Oxford, where he took his DPhil in 1984, Dr Stephen Spurr began his career in academia before embarking on 16 years at Eton College as a classics beak, head of classics and housemaster. A former headmaster of Clifton College and Westminster School, he co-founded Intellego Education in 2021.
Annabel Heseltine
Journalist, editor and broadcaster Annabel Heseltine is a former editor of School House. Now with a master’s in wildlife management and conservation, she has turned her hand to sustainability, the wilder side of travel, and spiritual wellbeing. She hosts the Hope Springs podcast for the Resurgence Trust, speaking to conservationists about their inspirations and motivations.
The Winners of the School House Awards 2026
Malvern College is this year’s Alumni Relationships Champion
Alumni Relationships Champion: Malvern College, Worcestershire
‘Alumni are a living part of our ethos,’ explains Malvern College. ‘Pupils understand from the outset that they are joining a lifelong community, not simply attending a school.’ Judge Eleanor Doughty was particularly struck by the school’s ethos: ‘tomorrow’s role models, shaped today’. Malvern College was a clear winner for her because ‘for this prize, it’s about the benefits to the school’s existing pupils and how it helps to shape them’.
Alumni Relationships Highly Commended: Bryanston School, Dorset
‘That the school’s culture stays with many after they leave is crucial,’ says Doughty. ‘Alumni support is clearly important to Bryanston beyond the scope of funding the future.’
Discover Bryanston School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/bryanston
Bishop’s Stortford College is this year’s Animal Support Champion
Animal Support Champion: Bishop’s Stortford College, Hertfordshire
Bishop’s Stortford College views animals as having a ‘powerful’ calming and confidence-building effect on children. ‘Working with animals helps develop empathy, patience and resilience.’ Eleanor Doughty felt that a lot of thought has gone into the ways that animals are used at the school, particularly liking the mock beehive that can be used in the classroom, alongside the active hive for pupils to study.
Animal Support Highly Commended: Milton Abbey School, Dorset
‘A wide range of animals – including stick insects, mini Shetland ponies and house cats – are a valued part of the community and help to create a calm, caring atmosphere,’ says Doughty.
Discover Milton Abbey School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/milton-abbey
Rugby School is this year’s Local Partnerships & Community Champion
Local Partnerships & Community Champion: Rugby School, Warwickshire
In its entry for this category, Rugby said: ‘Service is central to a Rugby education, as is the power of sharing this with our partner schools.’ For judge Dr Stephen Spurr, this whole-school participation – including teachers – really stood out among the other entries. He was particularly impressed by the way the school’s partnerships operate in two directions, with pupils going out to primaries and primary pupils coming into Rugby School.
Discover Rugby School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/rugby
Local Partnerships & Community Highly Commended: Wellington College, Berkshire
‘The school’s generous financial support through the Wellington College Arts Fund to over 70 local state primary and senior schools is particularly impressive,’ notes Dr Spurr.
Discover Wellington College: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/wellington-college
Shrewsbury School is this year’s Charitable Work Champion
Charitable Work Champion: Shrewsbury School, Shropshire
‘Charitable engagement is a defining feature of our education, inspired by Charles Darwin’s “survival of the kindest” principle,’ explains Shrewsbury School. For judge Dr Spurr, Shrewsbury exemplifies an ‘unmatched’ charitable culture. ‘It is instilled early and meaningfully in each pupil, and continues to build on what is an admirable historical and institutional strength of the school.’
Discover Shrewsbury School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/shrewsbury-school
Charitable Work Highly Commended: Solihull School, West Midlands
Solihull’s admirably diverse charitable programmes, in which all 1,560 pupils are involved, result in concrete, positive humanitarian impact and outcomes,’ says Dr Spurr.
Trinity School is this year’s Social Mobility Champion
Social Mobility Champion: Trinity School, London
According to Trinity School, social mobility is not a recent initiative – rather, it has shaped the school’s purpose for more than 140 years. Judge Annabel Heseltine was ‘moved by pupils’ dedication to supporting partner school St Mary’s when children with no outside space to play at home might lose their play areas. Trinity is committed to breaking down negative perceptions of independent schools.’
Discover Trinity School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/trinity-school-croydon
Social Mobility Highly Commended: Moon Hall School, Surrey
‘This was a really tough decision,’ says Heseltine, ‘but Moon Hall’s remit [as a specialist dyslexia school] is vital for the work it does supporting those who might otherwise be unable to access a good education.’
Brambletye School is this year’s Sustainability Champion
Sustainability Champion: Brambletye School, West Sussex
‘Our core value of “be kind” extends to the planet itself, driving a whole-school, interdisciplinary approach rather than a single eco-committee or termly assembly,’ explains Brambletye. This impressed Heseltine, who felt that the school is batting ‘well above its weight’ as a prep school. ‘It is visionary and innovative in its work, reducing energy use by 47 percent in parts of the school.’
Discover Brambletye School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/brambletye-school
Sustainability Highly Commended: Francis Holland Sloane Square, London
Heseltine enjoyed reading about the school’s Creative Perspectives on Climate Change project: ‘It partners with local schools and charities, achieving an impressive reduction in food waste.’
Highfield and Brookham is this year’s Mind Champion
Mind Champion: Highfield and Brookham, Hampshire
Mental health is a whole-school priority at Highfield and Brookham, embedded across every year group, and an open-door policy ensures children can speak with any member of staff at any time. Judge Emily Samuel particularly appreciated ‘the emphasis the school places not only on supporting children, but also parents and teachers. This is genuinely a whole-community approach to wellbeing.’
Discover Highfield and Brookham: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/highfield-and-brookham
Mind Highly Commended: Hampton Court House School, London
‘The student-led Wellbeing Champions programme stood out for the autonomy it gives pupils in understanding who they are and how to manage their teenage brains,’ explains Samuel.
Discover Hampton Court House School: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/hampton-court-house
Hazelwood School is this year’s Pastoral Care Champion
Pastoral Care Champion: Hazelwood School, Surrey
Hazelwood says: ‘School life is shaped by a people-centred philosophy that constantly asks: “What’s best for our children and community?”’ The school’s ‘highly relational and child-focused approach’ was key to its victory, with Samuel adding that she loved how ‘its attitude to pastoral care is not just a philosophy, but a philosophy that has been translated into tangible practice.’
Pastoral Care Highly Commended: Sherborne Boys, Dorset
‘The particular support given to pupils with parents and guardians serving in the armed forces, via the school’s military families team, makes Sherborne a worthy runner-up,’ says Doughty.
Discover Sherborne Boys: countryandtownhouse.com/schools/sherborne-boys
