Independent School of the Year

Ashford School and Ashford Friars Prep School were awarded the coveted title of Independent School of the Year 2010/11 at a ceremony held in Oxford in October 2010 as a result of the transformation of the School into a leading, coeducational school over the last few years.

Ashford School became eligible for the top award after winning the Outstanding Strategic Initiative.  This was in recognition of the school's highly successful introduction of Adventurous Learning which has led to a 30% increase in pupil numbers in the last few years.

"We are absolutely delighted to be named Independent School of the Year.  It is testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our staff who have enthusiastically embraced the freedom offered by Adventurous Learning to create a new culture which is widely welcomed by pupils, staff and parents and meets all their needs.  There is no challenge that we have put to the pupils that they have not succeeded in overcoming with enthusiasm.

The effective strategic and financial management of the school has played an integral role in raising pupil engagement and attainment as illustrated this summer when we achieved our best ever A level results with 80% of students gaining A*-B grades with nearly a quarter at A*." Mike Buchanan, Head

The schools represented at the finals included Ashford School, 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, The Manchester Grammar School, Sheffield High School GDST, Stamford Endowed Schools, Vinehall Preparatory School.

The panel of nine judges included the Chief Inspector of Schools, the former chair of HMC and Master of Dulwich College, London, the former chair of GSA and Head of Dame Alice Harpur School, the professor of marketing at Cranfield University and the former Bursar of Harrow.

"I congratulate Mike and his staff on this achievement which they so thoroughly deserve.  Ashford School has embarked on a number of ambitious projects in the past few years and has excelled at each one securing a strong, stable and vibrant future for itself." Shane Rutter-Jerome, Chair of the Judges