Talk Education Awards
for Innovation in Education

Now in their third year, Talk Education’s Awards are back for 2024 and even bigger and better than ever. We’re using our in-depth, insider knowledge of the independent schools world to celebrate those who have impressed us the most over the past year.
SEE OUR 2024 WINNERS HERE
There are a lot of awards out there in the world of independent education, so we wanted to make ours different.

Following on from last year’s incredibly successful awards, we were hugely excited to launch Talk Education’s Awards for Innovation in Education 2024.

We’re rewarding schools who are forging boldly ahead with new, revolutionary ideas which are changing the face of independent education. Schools who are not just thinking outside the box, but setting fire to it and then building something new, cleverer, better. We want to sing the praises of schools who are doing inspiring work in a particular field, whether it's a new approach to community engagement or an inspiring programme to help prepare pupils for life beyond school.

We were blown away by the number and quality of entries from hundreds of schools all across the globe, and our team of dedicated informers and judges – experienced researchers and educational experts, former heads, teachers and advisors, all with their eyes and ears to the ground – spent the summer locked away in very heated discussion!

No school had to pay or subscribe to TE to enter our Awards, so it was a completely open playing field. In fact, schools didn't have to do anything at all to enter. The last thing we wanted to do was make more work for overloaded marketing departments; and more importantly we already know schools inside and out. 

Our winners have now been announced. Thank you to all of the schools who took the time to tell us about the amazing, innovative things they are up to – a wonderful reflection of the incredible commitment of so many schools across the globe.

See you next year!

2024 Categories

This could be a new catering team, a change in dining facilities, a revised menu to encourage pupils to eat more healthily or a new approach to monitor pupils at risk of eating disorders.
For inspiring and encouraging eco-awareness in pupils or creating an eco-innovative learning space or building (everything from farms to carbon neutral classrooms).
For a school which has found a new way to open its doors to the wider community, or pioneered a new approach to raise money for charities at home or overseas.
This could be the launch of an ambitious new foundation or a successful new approach to publicising a school's bursaries scheme, resulting in an increased number of candidates.
We're less interested in how much schools have spent or how many shiny Macs they have, but in how effectively they use tech to enhance pupils' learning.

From encouraging members of the F-team to nurturing future Olympians, we’re interested in achievements and initiatives related to anything that gets pupils active: be it sailing or squash, cricket or CCF.
All schools tell us that their pastoral care is top-notch – we're interested in the initiatives schools have introduced to guarantee that theirs is unparalleled.
How do schools inspire pupils to think beyond the core and challenge themselves to take their interest in a subject further?

We want to celebrate schools' innovation in the teaching of music, art, drama, dance, photography, D&T and anything else that gets pupils’ creative juices flowing.

Instead of telling us how many pupils got into their first-choice university, we want to know what your school is doing to help ensure pupils are fully prepared to bid goodbye to their school bubble and tackle an increasingly competitive further education market head on.

Lip-service doesn’t cut it: we want to hear how your school is going above and beyond to make a genuine impact and ensure every single member of the school community feels included, represented and celebrated.

Today’s pupils need to be prepared for jobs that don’t currently exist –how are you coaching and empowering the leaders of tomorrow?

The important bits

What is the timeline for the Awards?

Entries to our awards have now closed. The shortlist was announced on Thursday 29th August in time for schools to shout loudly about their achievements as the new academic year begins. Winners were announced on Thursday 5th September. 

Remember, schools didn't need to enter our Awards. With our on-the-ground knowledge, we know what amazing things lots of schools are doing, and so all schools are automatically entered. If you’re a school and you’re on our site then we considered you, especially where we’ve seen that you're doing something amazing.

Who is doing the judging?

The shortlist and winners were chosen by our editorial panel, who between them boast over 350 years of visiting independent schools up and down the country and across the globe. Our panel of Talk Education professionals comprises an experienced team of researchers and educational experts, former heads, teachers and advisors, all with their eyes and ears to the ground, constantly involved with schools changing and growing, and always at the forefront of what's new in the world of education. For those schools we haven't visited in person this year, we have done virtual visits; for those we haven’t virtually visited don’t worry, we know about you! 

The judges have selected the shortlist and finalists. If any judge had a conflict of interest with any particular school, they were not able to vote on the entry. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

How do I know I’ve won?

We have contacted all of our shortlisted and winning schools personally to tell them the good news. We also sent them some social media artwork so that they can tell their followers and fans that their amazing work has been recognised by educational professionals with an in-depth knowledge of education and schools the world over. We also celebrated our winners on our social media channels and on our website.

How can I get advice or help on my entry, and information about Talk Education's Awards for Innovation in Education 2025?

Please email talk@talkeducation.com and a member of the team will be more than happy to help. 
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