Best in Everyone National Awards Ceremony

Held annually since 2013, the Best in Everyone Awards celebrate the achievements of students and staff at United Learning’s schools across the country. Following an in-school awards ceremony to highlight students’ outstanding academic or extracurricular achievements, each school then nominates their best winners for a National Award. Selected out of an impressive field of candidates, these winners are invited to receive their awards at the prestigious ceremony, this year held at Oxford Town Hall.

Mr Hall said:
“The Best in Everyone Awards provide an great opportunity to recognise outstanding young people and teaching nationwide. For a school to win one award is impressive, for a school to win three in one year is quite exceptional. This year’s ceremony in Oxford highlighted the achievements of our category winners in Performing Arts, Sport and Fine Art, leaving everyone involved with these pupils proud and excited for their futures. Congratulations to everyone involved, particularly their teachers and coaches.”

Ava, who won the prize for Art, said: “The timing couldn’t have been better really. I was having a really awful day and was mid self-indulgent rant when I got the notification on my phone. I was overjoyed, but I didn’t realise how big a deal it was until that Monday morning when Mr Hall mentioned it in assembly.

I feel so honoured and grateful to Mrs Rayner for recognising me. It is all thanks my art teachers (Mrs and Mr Rayner, Mrs Johnston , Mr Foy Philp and Ms Spires-Harold). They genuinely approach every student idea with ‘wonder and joy’. I think the teachers enjoy learning just as much as the students do. Often art lessons go beyond mere painting practice and we discuss really important topics, the studio has become a safe, creative haven in Ashford.

Now, I’m starting to create a portfolio which will to go towards university applications, taking inspiration from the joys of everyday life. I don’t think art needs to be deep or macabre to be meaningful. I would also thank my family, Mum, Dad and Max for always encouraging my artistic endeavours.”

Christian Brodie, Chair of the UL Trustees, presented the award for Sports Team of the Year to the Ashford School Girls First XI who won the National Plate Competition.

Jessie one of the hugely successful Hockey team players said: “Ashford Girls First XI Hockey Team are all really good friends. This means that we bring the best out of each other and enjoy playing together.

Winning the national title and playing at Lee Valley Stadium was a wonderful and memorable moment for us all. Winning well and being ‘good sports’ while winning, is really important for us. Not just in Hockey, but when playing any sport. We are always careful to ensure everyone is respectful and that we play in the best interests of the game, not just the team or themselves. 

For the 25/26 season we will be playing in the Tier 2 England hockey competition. and new players will be welcomed into the squad. Some of the squad are aiming for continued talent academy participation and a route into hockey trials for the England Team.”

The third Best in Everyone award was won by Isaac a Year 9er in Prep School. He has taken a leading role in the development of boys dance at Ashford Prep School, pioneering change and acceptance in an all-boys group. A first at Ashford school. His versatility and maturity in weekly Drama club was just one of several roles that Isaac played including a brilliant and quite scary Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Mrs Heath, Faculty Head, said “Isaac is a fantastic, humble leader with exceptional talent in drama and dance. His award is well deserved”.

Sir Jon Coles, Chief Executive of United Learning, said:
Congratulations to all our highly deserving award winners who we celebrated at this year’s Best in Everyone Awards ceremony in Oxford. From highlighting outstanding academic achievements to sporting and musical prowess, as well as those who go above and beyond to support others, the awards are a fantastic reflection of the wonderful students, staff and teams that we are lucky to have across United Learning. Each year, I am hugely impressed by our award winners and their extraordinary accomplishments, and this year was no exception. I hope they are all very proud of their success.”