Award Categories

1. Outstanding Strategic Initiative: this recognises initiatives in strategic planning, including: your school’s website, marketing campaign, a legal initiative, innovative recruitment drive, excellence in governance etc.
   

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2. Outstanding Financial/Commercial Initiative: this recognises initiatives in financial planning, investments, property planning, commercial enterprise, fees strategy, raising bursaries etc.
   

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3. Outstanding Fundraising Initiative: this recognises initiatives in fundraising and development that have raised income for the school directly. Applicants are expected to show innovation in some way.

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4. Outstanding Community Initiative: this recognises initiatives that involves working with external groups such as parents and the local community (also either inside or outside a charitable school's objectives, where appropriate). It could also include a link up with an overseas school.
   

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5. Best Independent-Maintained School Collaboration: this recognises initiatives with a leading role with a state school(s).
   

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6. Education Initiative of the Year: this recognises a project that has helped children to fulfil their potential and to improve learning outcomes. It could be a commercial product, but not necessarily. 

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7. Special Needs Initiative of the Year: this recognises a project that has helped children with special needs to fulfil their potential and to improve learning outcomes.

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8. Outstanding Senior Leadership Team of the Year: an SLT that has shown inspirational leadership of a school.

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9. Outstanding Governing Body of the Year: this recognises an inspirational contribution to a school.
   

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10. Lifetime Achievement Award: a school leader who has shown a commitment to and achievement in the independent school sector over many years.

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11. British International School of the Year: an inspirational school based outside the UK that espouses a British education and has made an outstanding strategic or financial achievement.

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12. Independent School of the Year (chosen from one of the winners of the first eight categories).
    Please note that it is not possible to apply directly for this award.
    

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There will be up to four shortlisted candidates for each award, except for the Independent School of the Year award, which will be chosen from one of the winners of the first eight categories.