2017 Education Business Award winners revealed

The winners and commended schools have been announced at the 2017 Education Business Awards, which took place at London's Grange Hotel in St Paul's on July 6.

EB 2017 Winners Gallery - click here to view

The awards recognised the sterling work of schools across all sectors and were presented by Stephen Drew of reality TV show Educating Essex fame, who is currently headteacher at Brentwood County High School.

The winners are


Outstanding Progress - Secondary School


Sponsored by School Business Services


Winner: Havant Academy


Havant Academy is thought to be the most improved state secondary school in England over the last five years. Advances since joining the government’s academies programme are a blueprint for how schools can be transformed by great leadership and hard work from staff and pupils.


Commended:


Acklam Grange school

Ormiston Chadwick Academy

St Peter's School

Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School

Matravers School

Thomas Lord Audley School, Essex


Outstanding Progress - Independent School

Sponsored by Garran Lockers


Winner: Brighton College


In December last year, Brighton College was named as the highest performing co-educational school in England by the Sunday Times. Pupils outperformed several traditionally academic single-sex schools, which is attributed to the school’s recruitment and retention of truly outstanding teachers who inspire children to achieve.


Commended
:

Bromley High School

Wolverhampton Grammar School

Alleyn's School, London

Royal Grammar School, Guildford

Withington Girls School, Manchester


Outstanding Progress - Primary School

Sponsored by ISS Education


Winner: Woodside Primary Academy, London


Woodside was put into special measures by Ofsted in 2012, but changes made under headteacher Shane Tewes involved parents and pupils, and a remarkable turnaround now sees the school rated Outstanding. In 2015, the school was in the top one per cent of schools in the country for the rate of pupil progress.

Commended
:
Crosthwaite Church of England Primary School

Ravens Academy

Ridgeway Primary Academy, Tyne & Wear

Barnsole Primary School, Kent

The Brent Primary School, Kent


Academy Partnership Award


Sponsored by Ward Hendry


Winner: Brighton Aldridge Community Academy


The Aldridge KSD Construction Academy is a unique collaboration between education and industry to provide a technical training centre. The Academy is delivered in partnership with a national construction company, which sponsored the capital build and design costs and has committed to taking all graduates on as apprentices for the next 2/3 years. The curriculum aims to meet the skills gap across the city.

Commended
:
Parkwood E-ACT Academy

Dalziel High School

Glemsford Primary Academy, Suffolk

Oasis Academy Don Valley


Community Award


Sponsored by Thorpe Park Resort


Winner: Beddington Park Primary School


Community Action Support Hub, founded by Beddington Park Primary two years ago, unites local agencies, charities and services to improve the well-being of children and adults in the region. This year the school launched the Community Database, which contains information on various local and national organisations who can support families.

Commended

Kilgarth School

Beddington Park Primary School

Richmond Hill Primary School

Shrewsbury High School

Parkwood E-ACT Academy

Wolverhampton Grammar School


Educational Visits Award

Sponsored by Rainforest Cafe


Winner: Ellesmere College


The Monduli Green Project is close to pupils hearts at Ellesmere College. and works with several villages and five schools to support environmental, water and educational needs of three schools in Tanzania. Fourteen pupils volunteered their time to help with infrastructure projects at Sinoni, Olarash and Mtimnoja Primary Schools.

Commended
:
Mildenhall College Academy

Rendcomb College

Springfield School

The Link School Pallion

Matravers School


Environmental Practice Award


Sponsored by C Tech Building Solutions


Winner: Gilbrook School


Gilbrook, a maintained primary special school, was invited to help produce a report for a Commons Select Committee inquiry into the future of our parks. The report, Nature is Nurture reinforced the idea that there is a huge, positive impact on children’s mental health when using outdoor space and focused on how green spaces benefit our children. Use of the schools outside area is thoroughly embedded throughout the curriculum. This helps support the mental health and well-being of pupils and staff, and helps pupils understand and act on environmental issues.

Commended
:
Bootroyd Primary Academy

Bromley High School

Redmoor Academy


Excellence in Health and Safety Award


Sponsored by The Norse Group


Winner: Barnston Primary


A recent local authority audit in January 2017 comfirmed that Barnston Primary School has excellent health and safety practices which are intrinsic throughout the organisation. Health and safety features at the beginning of all staff meetings, whole school staff briefings and in meetings with the school’s F1 provider. Parents are updated via newsletters. Although fire safety, electrical safety, kitchen safety and playground area checks are carried out annually, the school caretaker undertakes in-house fire safety and playground checks every day. Ddisability pupils receive their own risk assessments which are shared with staff and parents. For the well-being of staff, a menopause group has been set up for six collaboration schools in order to help those who suffer and need support in the workplace.

Commended:

St Peter's Catholic Primary School

Clare Mount Specialist Sports College


ICT Facility Award


Sponsored by Dataphone


Winner: Rendcomb College


Five years ago, ICT lacked support and interest at Rendcombe, with the number of pupils taking the subject in decline. New courses and staff were introduced to reinvigorate STEM education at secondary level. Now, pupil engagement with technology-enhanced learning is at an all-time high. A recently introduced Digital Leaders scheme lets pupils become the teachers and coach their peers and staff in better use of technology.

Commended

Rotherithe Primary School, London

Blenheim Primary, Wales

All Saints Church in Wales Primary School

The Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Surrey


ICT Innovation Award


Sponsored by Ednex


Winner: Deighton Primary School


Deighton Primary School treats ICT as a core subject. 2017’s ‘Overdrive’ project with Cardiff Met’ University involves pupils working with students from the education and animation departments in developing a computer game based around driving. Next is a plan to build a working car with an electric motor. The project work this year has seen real-life working situations become part of the children’s school experience.

Commended:

Rendcomb College

Moredon Primary School, Swindon

The Queen’s School, Chester

Heathfield Knoll School, Kidderminster


Parking Management & Travel Planning Award


Sponsored by British Parking Association


Winner: Farnham Common Infant School


The school’s large on-site car park makes it easy for families to drop children at school and poster campaigns have promoted safety. Since 2012 the school has been encouraging families to leave their cars at home for the school journey, and has succeeded in reducing car use for the whole school journey from almost 68 per cent in 2012 to over 36 per cent in 2016.

Commended

University of Bradford

Cheadle Hulmes School, Cheshire

Chichester Free School, West Sussex

Caistor Church of England and Methodist Primary School


School Building Award

Sponsored by Ward Hendry


Winner: Robert Gordon's College


Building the Wood Foundation Centre for Science and Technology involved refitting a historic building to house 34 laboratories and classrooms to make the largest UK teaching facility for science and technology education. Specialist facilities include an Optics Laboratory, Design Workshop and a Technology Showcase Suite.

Commended

Rendcomb College

Merchant Taylors' School

Donhead Preparatory School

Roseacres Primary School

Holme Grange School


School Music Award


Sponsored by Stage Systems


Winner:The Ballard School


Teachers at Ballard are committed to making music fun and fulfilling. With Classical and Contemporary pathways, extensive ensemble programme, lunchtime recitals, regular concerts and large musical productions, the School enjoys stretching musicians with new repertoire and experiences. Ballard has won many awards (ISA, ISM, Arts Council) and has attracted many pupils because of its vibrant Music Department.

Commended

Ellesmere College

Robert Gordon's College

St. Peter’s School

Woodford County High for Girls


School Procurement Award


Sponsored by ESPO


Winner: Ormiston Academies Trust


Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) is a not-for-profit multi-academy trust, sponsoring over 31 primary and secondary academies, since 2008. Responsible for developing and maintaining a £700m estate, a key strategy has been to ensure value for money through effective procurement practices. OAT was keen to address condition issues and give benefit to its 26,000+ learners/students and teaching staff. Led by a team of experts, the Trust has used a blend of existing procurement routes (such as ESPO/YPO/CCS/CPS) and developed new OJEU compliant frameworks for future use. To date, routes to market have been put in place for annual Gas and electricity savings of £231k; IT Connectivity Services (Voice, Broadband and E-safety) savings of £286k, and; HR and Payroll annual savings of £111k.

Commended

Sutton Vallance School

University of Birmingham


School Recruitment Award


Sponsored by Eteach


Winner: The Weald School


Headteacher Peter Woodman continually revises his staffing plans throughout the year, meeting with the senior leadership team four times a week to discuss staffing. Together, they react quickly to staff turnover and to the school’s success in recruiting teachers, so an effective staffing structure is always in place.

Commended
:
North Yorkshire County Council

Teach in Herts - Herts for Learning

Newham Partnership Working

Bridge Multi-Academy Trust

Eden Academy


SEN Inclusion Award


Sponsored by Fujitsu


Winner: The Pingle Academy


The Pingle Academy is an 11-18 comprehensive school of 1040 students, with SEN students in mainstream as well as in specialist provisions, such as an Enhanced Resource Provision of 29 students with moderate and severe learning difficulties and an Autism Resource Centre of 10 students who attend mainstream lessons and play a full part in school life. The Academy works with a variety of agencies such as speech therapists and physical and visual impairment services. An additional provision has just been completed for autistic students who cannot access mainstream education. This is purpose built and students are currently on an induction programme, which has been positive. Current student and GB Paralympic Bonze medal swimmer, Lewis White achieved good GCSE grades alongside his heavy training schedule and is now studying for his A Levels.

Commended

Ernesettle Community School

Eversley Primary School

SEN Provision Award
, sponsored by Medpac


Winner: Hall Cliffe Primary School


During Hall Cliffe’s weekly school forum meetings, children brainstormed ideas on how they would like to be credited for progress, which resulted in the HERO’s (Helping Everyone, Respect Others) initiative. This encourages and rewards progress in academic success, showing good behaviour and being a positive role model.

Commended

Lakeside School

Oak View SEN School

Gilbrook School

St James C of E Primary (unit provision)

Clare Mount Specialist Sports College


Sports Award


sponsored by RedBoxVR


Winner: Plymouth College


Success over the last five years now sees Plymouth College attract over eighty world-class athletes from thirty six countries. Success has continued after the Rio Olympics with twelve medals at the English Schools’ Relay Championships. Investment in staff has seen the school develop its own strength and conditioning and sports science teams.

Commended

Hall Cliffe Primary School

The Nicholas Hamond Academy

Beech House School

Kingsway Primary School

St James CE Primary


STEM Award


Sponsored by Ultimaker


Winner: The Mossland School


Mosslands STE@M scholars programme offers further opportunities to experience STEM through a variety of visits, projects and problem-solving activities. Visits have included Toyota, Vauxhall, two power stations, Veolia Recycling and Silverstone, and the school has worked with five Universities as well as the Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry,and the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Commended

Shrewsbury High School

Avoch Primary School

The Mossland School

Calday Grange Grammar School

Bromley High School


Art & Craft Award

Sponsored by Mighty Writer


Winner: Chatsmore Catholic High School


As part of last years’ national commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Boar’s head, three students from Chatsmore who visited the battlefields of Somme and Ypres shared their experiences with Arts Award students, who used this INSET to develop their own resources to cascade to primary school students during workshops.

Commended

King's Ely
Matravers School

Beddington Park Primary School

Thomas Gainsborough School, Suffolk

Sacred Heart Catholic High School, Newcastle upon Tyne


School Security Award



Winner: Wolverhampton City Council Education eServices Team


Break-ins at over 60 schools in Wolverhampton have plummeted following the use of DNA forensic marking kits to protect valuable ICT equipment from theft. The crime reduction scheme was launched last year by West Midlands Police and Wolverhampton City Council eServices Team following a spate of burglaries at schools. All technology such as laptops and iPads in 61 local schools is now marked.

Commended

St Joseph’s School, Camden

George Spencer Academy

Haggerston School, London

Ark Academy, Wembley


School Catering Award



Winner: The Barlow RC High School & Specialist Science College


The Barlow RC High is proud of the service that Catering Manager Joanne oversees, motivating her team through continuous improvement and training, including enrolling them onto NVQ’s in Food preparation and Cooking. Students at the Barlow particularly enjoy the breakfast service and the new noodle and rice boxes which are packed with vegetables and come in recyclable containers.

Commended

Christ Church CE Primary School

Harrogate Grammar School

Falkner House, London

Lowerplace Primary School