The Independent Schools Association (ISA) has announced the winners of the ISA Awards 2023.
Leighton Park School in Reading won Senior School of the Year while Finborough School in Suffolk won Junior School of the Year.
The award for Excellence and Innovation in Early Years went to Gosfield School in Essex and LVS Hassocks in Sussex won the inaugural SEND School of the Year Award.
ISA describes the awards as “a celebration of the diverse and fascinating ways in which the 646 schools across the association use their independence to provide something truly special to the children in their care.”
Three new ISA Awards were introduced for 2023, bringing the total to 15.
Special school LVS Hassocks was praised for “developing their curriculum to match the student, rather than the other way around”.
The first ISA Boarding School of the Year was awarded to TASIS England in Surrey, where pupil voice is “paramount”, the ISA said.
The first ISA Award for Excellence in Future Readiness went to King’s High School Warwick, who have placed core skills such as creative thinking and oracy at the centre of a “reimagined curriculum”.
Chief executive of the ISA, Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, added: “This is a fantastic set of winners. In all cases the schools have shown themselves to be outstanding in their category. These winners really show the different ways that independence can be used to meet the different and specific needs of pupils.”
The winners of the ISA Awards 2023 are:
ISA Senior School of the Year Award: Leighton Park School
ISA Junior School of the Year Award: Finborough School
ISA Award for Excellence and Innovation in Early Years: Gosfield School
ISA SEND School of the Year Award (New for 2023): LVS Hassocks
ISA Boarding School of the Year Award (New for 2023): TASIS England
ISA Award for Innovation in Independent Education: Maple Hayes Dyslexia School
ISA Award for Excellence in Future Readiness (New for 2023): King’s High School Warwick
ISA Award for Excellence and Innovation in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Chelsea Hall School
ISA Award for Excellence and Innovation in Mental Health and Wellbeing: Colchester Prep & High School
ISA Award for Outstanding Engagement in the Community: Claires Court
ISA Award for Excellence in Sustainability: Holme Grange School
ISA Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Performing Arts: Claremont Senior School
ISA Award for Excellence and Innovation in Art and Design: Eaton Square School
ISA Award for Outstanding Sport in a Small School: Brooke House College
ISA Award for Outstanding Sport in a Large School: Alleyn Court Preparatory School