Key Moments – Independent School of the Year

IndependentSchool of the Year

St Peter’s School was named Independent School of the Year at the Tes Independent School Awards in April 2021, one of the biggest nights in the UK education calendar.

St Peter’s School was shortlisted for the Prep School of the Year Award and took home the Pre-prep School of the Year Award, following up this accolade with the overall Independent School of the Year Award.

These awards reflect the continued excellence of St Peter’s School, which has been recognised with a number of prestigious awards in recent years including Tes Prep / Pre-Prep School of the Year 2018 and The Sunday Times North Independent School of the Year 2019. The Tes Independent School Awards celebrate the teachers and teams from independent schools across the UK that are raising the standards of education and making a positive impact on the personal and academic success of students and the wider community. This year’s awards have highlighted the extraordinary work that schools have done in spite of a most challenging year.

The judges felt that, in a competitive field, St Peter’s School stood out in exemplifying some of the best practice in the independent school sector.

The judges praised the school’s use of a range of approaches to support pupils’ wellbeing and personal growth, whether through its Forest School, encouraging pupils to use ICT independently or helping pupils champion a campaign to stop single-use plastic bottles in school.

Phil Hardy, Head of St Peter’s 2-8, said: “It is an honour to receive the PrePrep School of the Year Award for the second time in three years, and to follow this up with the accolade of Independent School of the Year is an astonishing achievement.

“These awards reflect the continued dedication of our incredible colleagues, both teaching and support staff, and the support of the wider school community including parents, governors and children. The awards have added poignancy this year as we reflect on all the challenges we have overcome as a school community in recent months.”

Andy Falconer, Head of St Peter’s 8-13, said: “We were thrilled to be short-listed for the Prep School of the Year Award. It is a wonderful reflection of all that the children, staff and parents have achieved together throughout a very different school year.”

Jeremy Walker, Head Master of St Peter’s School, York said: “I’m so incredibly proud of all my colleagues and our pupils for these awards. I’m delighted that the school has been recognised for the development of the whole pupil and for the promotion of fun and creativity. York offers some of the best schools in the country and these awards reflect everything that York and the wider region can offer.”

Jon Severs, Editor of Tes Magazine and Chief Judge of the Awards said: “The Tes Independent School Awards is a celebration of the fantastic achievements of the independent sector. These winning and shortlisted schools have shown ingenuity, ambition and perseverance during what has been an unbelievably challenging year.”

The Tes Independent School Awards were held virtually for the first time in April to comply with the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.