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Two GDST schools announced winners at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2024
We are thrilled to share that two GDST schools were crowned winners at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards this year. Congratulations to ‘London Independent School of the Year’ Notting Hill & Ealing High School and ‘Independent School of the Year for Diversity, Equality, Inclusion & Justice’ Northwood College for Girls. The GDST had 11 schools shortlisted by an independent panel of judges and the winners were selected from more than 700 nominations.
London Independent School of the Year
“As an outward-facing school, we are delighted this award recognises how we make the most of our location to forge connections with London’s world-leading institutions and broaden students’ horizons through immersive learning experiences,” said Notting Hill & Ealing High School’s Headmaster, Mr Matthew Shoults.
Through unique academic partnerships with prestigious London institutions, Notting Hill & Ealing High School has worked with 35 schools and reached over 1,100 pupils in 2023/24. These partnerships included the GreenSTEM Challenge, run with PhD researchers from Imperial College, and the NHEHS-Harrow Symposium academic research project. Other fantastic activities that the school showcased included a concert at Cadogan Hall, Sloane Square to celebrate the school’s 150th anniversary year. The concert saw over 200 students perform alongside alumnae and sing the world premiere of ‘Shooting Stars’, a commission by leading British composer Kerry Andrew.
Independent School of the Year for Diversity, Equality, Inclusion & Justice
Northwood College for Girls was crowned winner of the Independent School of the Year for Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ). The school’s commitment to DEIJ in the past year has resulted in many developments – from the introduction of Diversity Dolls that provide younger students with toys that they can identify with, to Junior and Senior School Diversity Inclusion Prefects. Northwood’s commitment to DEIJ is embedded across the curriculum and extracurricular offering, celebrating festivals, such as the Lohri Hindu Festival and Chinese New Year.
The school has also introduced curriculum topics, such as, the partition of the sub-Asian continent and its impact on Britain today and has facilitated student-led assemblies on Black History Month and LGBT+ History Month, whilst encouraging student-led activities, that have ranged from a Neurodiversity Sticker Art project to a Pride-themed Fashion Show and Disco. Teachers from Northwood College have also been invited as key speakers at events throughout the year to discuss DEIJ, including the Bradford Literary Festival and the ACEN Conference.
About the Girls’ Day School Trust
The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) is the leading network of all girls’ schools in the UK, with 23 independent schools and two academies, across England and Wales. As a registered charity, the GDST reinvests all its income back into its schools.
Find out more about the GDST
