Ashford School named 'Independent School of the Year'
12 November 2010
Ashford School has been awarded the coveted title of ‘Independent School of the Year’. The school, a co-educational day and boarding school in Kent and a member of the United Church Schools Trust (UCST), received the prestigious award at the Independent School Awards ceremony held yesterday in Oxford.
The Independent School Awards recognise excellence in the strategic and financial management of independent schools. Applicants are evaluated against nine key areas: measurement of effects on the school as a business, measurement of effects on pupils, leadership, planning, innovation, enterprise, sustainability, accountability, inclusion of stakeholders and people development. The TUI Education Division, VISA and Coutts are amongst the event’s corporate sponsors.
Ashford School joined an array of independent schools from across the country at the ceremony, including Giggleswick School, Beachborough School; Ruthin School; University College School; King Edward's School, Birmingham; The Portsmouth Grammar School; Bolton School Boys' Division; Royal Grammar School, Guildford; and The Manchester Grammar School.
The distinguished panel of judges included Christine Ryan, the chief inspector and CEO of the Independent Schools Inspectorate; Graham Able, the former chair of HMC and master of Dulwich College; Jill Berry, the former chair of GSA and head of Dame Alice Harpur School; Professor Malcolm McDonald, former professor of marketing and deputy director of the Cranfield University School of Management; and Nick Shyrane, former bursar of the Harrow School Foundation.
