We’ve Won Senior School of the Year!

We are delighted and humbled to have won Senior School of the Year in the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Awards 2023. The ISA is the largest independent schools’ body in the UK. This success comes on the back of Leighton Park also being acknowledged as one of the country’s best independent schools in the prestigious TES Schools Awards 2023.  

Among the factors considered by the judges were the School’s academic success, with our Sixth Formers achieving the best academic progress in Berkshire, our award-winning pupil personal development programme and sector-leading pastoral care. Our award submission gave details about our distinctive emphasis on problem-based learning, our values-led education based on the school’s Quaker values and the focus on nurturing future-ready leaders. 

Rudolf Eliot Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer at ISA explained: “At Leighton Park School, the culture of creativity, activity and service has given rise to mutually beneficial student-led partnerships which aim to tackle the challenges of today’s world. Personal development remains at the heart of the school’s ethos as reflection is built into different parts of the day, allowing young people proper opportunity to contemplate progress against their individual targets. It is an honour to name Leighton Park the ISA Senior School of the Year.”

Head, Matthew LS Judd, commented: “It is a humbling and wonderful achievement to be acknowledged as both the best independent school in the country by the largest independent schools’ body and as one of the very best in the TES Schools Awards. This is a phenomenal recognition of all the hard work and dedication of our entire community, including our excellent staff and governors, talented students and supportive parents and OLs.”  

Chair of Governors, Eme Dean-Lewis reflected: “Leighton Park is a vibrant learning community based on Quaker values, where everyone is encouraged to imagine a better world. The School nurtures each student to reflect on who they are and what they want to achieve – helping each individual to distil their sense of purpose. The School works tirelessly to support each student to achieve their goals, through close tutor support, inspiring teaching and by fostering a determined desire to be the ethical changemakers of the future.” 

In the same awards, we were also a Finalist for the Award for Excellence in Sustainability. This recognition further reinforces our success in this area, with Leighton Park winning the Green Senior School Award 2023 and also being recognised as Finalists in the Independent Schools of the Year 2023 Award for Environmental Achievement.  

Sustainability Co-ordinator and Head of Geography, Oliver Staines, commented: “Working in this school and environment, it is such a special privilege to witness and be involved in helping to facilitate the passionate work of so many students and members of staff committed to leaving the community in a more sustainable place than they found it.” 

Leighton Park has received several recent accolades. The most recent UK Government analysis shows that the school’s Sixth Form leavers achieve the best academic progress in Berkshire, while the Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded it excellent in all areas in January 2022 – the highest possible attainment for an independent school. 

The School was recognised as a national leader for Pupil Personal Development in 2022, winning the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Award for Excellence in this area. In the same, year the School gained the Wellbeing Award for Schools, accredited by the National Children’s Bureau. Leighton Park won the national ISA Award for Outstanding Local Community Involvement in both 2021 and 2020. In 2020, the school won the national Award for Excellence in STEAM Education – reflecting the school’s strong reputation for teaching creative problem-solving – combining the analytical skills from Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), with creativity from the Arts. The School is also a Yamaha Flagship Music Education Partner, the only school in Europe to hold this level of partnership.