Education Business Awards 2026 shortlist revealed

The shortlist for the 2026 Education Business Awards has been unveiled, shining a spotlight on the outstanding achievements and dedication of schools and academies across the UK.

Now in their 17th year, the Awards have been recognising excellence in both state and independent schools since 2009. They celebrate success across more than twenty categories, highlighting best practice and innovation in areas including Outstanding Progress and Leadership, SEN Best Practice and Provision, ICT Innovation, Procurement, Security, Environmental Practice, Building and Catering.

This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Matthew Burton, star of Educating Yorkshire and Headteacher of Thornhill Primary Academy.

Educating Yorkshire returned to Channel 4 in 2025, bringing renewed national attention to the school and its community as it navigates the realities of daily school life with warmth and humour.

Matthew took on the role of Headteacher at Thornhill Community Academy in 2018, leading the school through a significant period of change and development. Alongside his leadership work, he is also an accomplished author. His books include Go Big, a practical survival guide supporting children aged 10 and over as they transition from primary to secondary school, and Back on Track, which focuses on motivation and helping pupils achieve success in education.

Winners will be announced at Education Business LIVE, the free-to-attend exhibition and conference for education professionals, taking place on 26 March at Old Billingsgate, London.

Education Business LIVE offers a full conference programme with expert speakers, as well as roundtable discussions and solution-providing exhibitors. Register for free, here.

2026 EB Awards shortlist:

Outstanding Progress - Primary School
Thomas Jones Primary School, London
St Charles’ RC Primary School, Newcastle
Goldsmith Primary Academy, West Midlands
Earley St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, Berkshire
Stanhope Primary School, London
The Downs Primary School and Nursery, Essex
Wootton Primary School, Northamptonshire
Nishkam Primary School, Wolverhampton

Outstanding Progress - Secondary School
Oasis Academy Hadley, Middlesex
Smestow Academy, West Midlands
Dame Alice Owen’s School, Hertfordshire
St Leonard’s RC School, Durham
Buile Hill Academy, Greater Manchester
Ark Alexandra Academy, East Sussex
Barclay Academy, Hertfordshire

Outstanding Progress - Independent School, sponsored by Hardsoft Computers
Bishop's Stortford College, Hertfordshire
Notting Hill Prep School, London
City of London Freemens School, Surrey
Guildford High School, Surrey
Churchers College, Hampshire
Hampton Court House, Surrey
Abbey College in Malvern, Worcestershire
King’s College Taunton, Somerset

SEN Provision Award, sponsored by nasen
Red Gates School, London
Hub Educational Services CIC, Leicestershire
Lift Pioneer, Essex
Abbot’s Lea School, Liverpool
Millgate School, Leicester
Fosse Way School, Somerset

ICT Innovation Award, sponsored by Chalkie AI
Vine Schools Trust, Essex
Whitefield Primary School, Merseyside
Clifton Special School, N Ireland
Lark Rise Academy, Bedfordshire
Chase High School, Essex
St Luke’s Church of England Primary School, West Midlands

School Procurement Award, sponsored by The Minibus Centre
Harbour Learning Trust, North East Lincolnshire
Redhill Academy Trust, Nottingham
Unity Schools Partnership, Suffolk
Bradgate Education Partnership, Leicestershire
Tonbridge Grammar School, Kent

School Business Manager Award, sponsored by ESPO
Dawn Boyes - United Learning
Tracey Parsons - Brockmoor & Brierley Hill Primary Schools
Steve Parkinson - The Vale Federation
Emma Searl - The New Guild Trust
Angela Ogden - St Damian's RC Science College
Gemma Singleton - Vine Schools Trust

Best Practice in Inclusive Education Award
Stanhope Primary School, London
Whitefield Primary School, Liverpool
Fairfax Academy, Birmingham
City Heights E-ACT Academy, London
Trinity Lewisham School, London
Sturry Church of England Primary School, Kent

School Building Award
Charter School East Dulwich, London
Fern House School, Enfield
Bedford Academy, Bedfordshire
Tulip Academy, Lincolnshire
Waltham Gateway Academy, North East Lincolnshire
Callerton Academy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Environmental Practice Award
Ashley Down Primary School, Bristol
St Andrew’s Church School, Somerset
Park Community School, Hampshire
Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, London
St Faith’s School, Cambridge
Dorothy Stringer School, East Sussex
Dulwich College, London

Community Award
Oasis Academy Immingham, North East Lincolnshire
Maghull High School, Merseyside
William Hulme's Grammar School, Manchester
Newman Catholic College, London
Bournville School, West Midlands
Downshall Primary School, Essex
Oasis Academy South Bank, London

School Recruitment Award
University Schools Trust, London
Creative Education Trust, London
Outwood Grange Academies Trust, West Yorkshire
Cabot Learning, Bristol
Star Academies, Lancashire
Thinking Schools Academy Trust, Kent

STEM Award
Maghull High School, Liverpool
St Damian's RC Science College, Lancashire
Lincoln Christ's Hospital School, Lincolnshire
Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Lancashire
Haberdashers' Boys' School, Hertfordshire

School Security Award
Tylers Green Middle School, Buckinghamshire
St John's CofE Primary School, London
Lord Williams's School, Oxfordshire
St Albans School, Hertfordshire
Compass School, Southampton

Educational Visits Award
Queen's Park Primary School, London 
Stockport Academy, Greater Manchester 
Laurel Park School, London 
St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, Bristol
Kingswood Academy, Hull
Archbishop Temple Church of England High School, Preston

School Catering Award
Stormont School, Hertfordshire
Brockhill Road, Malvern, Worcestershire
Jenny Hammond Primary School/Waltham Forest Catering Service, London
Telford Langley School, Shropshire
Brookfield Community School, Derbyshire
Endeavour Primary School, Hampshire

School Sports Award
Boxford Primary School, Suffolk
Westholme School, Lancashire
Bishop's Stortford College, Hertfordshire
Kingsdale Foundation School, London
Millfield School, Somerset
Spalding High School, Lincolnshire
Cardiff High School, Cardiff, Wales

Educational Resource Award - Secondary
Education Endowment Foundation - Evidence-based guidance reporting
Seneca Learning - Online revision platform
Teachwire - Secondary PE Planning resources
Evidence Based Education - The Great Teaching Toolkit
Picture News Secondary - Educational current affairs resource

Educational Resource Award - Primary
HFL Education - Essentialwriting Grammar instruction tool
Grammarsaurus - Morphology based spelling tool
Muse Wellbeing - RSHE Curriculum Tool
BooksForTopics - Digital literature tookit
Spike’s Sight Words - Educational board games