Eversfield named Independent Prep School of the Year
Recognising and honouring the very best schools within the UK independent and state education settings, the Tes Schools Awards, celebrates the extraordinary commitment, quality and innovation shown by teachers and support staff across the UK.
Eversfield Preparatory School was named as Independent Prep School of the Year at the prestigious awards ceremony, dubbed the ‘Oscars of Education’, which took place on Friday 23rd June at the Grosvenor House Hotel, on London’s Park Lane.
The objectivity, professionalism and high standards of the Tes Schools Awards judges and the judging process has helped establish the awards as a well-respected achievement for any school chosen as a finalist or category winner.
For the judging panel Eversfield Preparatory School’s vision for education differs from many and it set them apart from other independent schools across the UK. The school avoids claims to support a child to reach their full potential, aiming instead for all its pupils to achieve beyond any boundaries set by expectations.
Robert Yates, Headmaster at Eversfield said: “Our approach signifies that we have a limitless belief in the capabilities of our pupils, whatever their talents and abilities may be, and that their learning will be lifelong.
“It is a great honour to receive this national accolade for the school and I am truly pleased for all the staff, pupils and community. It reflects the commitment and passion that I see every day at Eversfield. As the Independent Prep School of the Year we are proud of our achievements and look forward to many more successes.”
Pupils certainly achieve at Eversfield, leaving with academic, music, arts and sports scholarships. Many pupils represent the county at sport, and are later offered professional contracts, while the school’s talented musicians gain places at conservatoires and the Royal Academy of Music.
Wellbeing and the development of the whole child are centre stage. Upper School pupils take a lead in managing their own welfare, participating in anti-bullying, peer mentoring, and mental health and wellbeing training programmes as part of The Diana Award, while a buddy system sees each Reception child supported through their first year by Form 6 pupils.
There’s an impressive co-curricular programme, with pupils from Reception to Year 6 taking part in more than 65 clubs and activities each week.
Eversfield’s commitment to pupil wellbeing and achievement is reflected in the professional development of staff. Every teacher carries out their own research project linked to the Chartered College of Teaching and all are given the time or financial support to pursue further academic qualifications.
Simon Larter-Evans, spokesperson for the expert panel of Tes Award judges, said: "A number of schools feature their investment in CPD, often supporting Master’s programmes, but none of them feature teachers being supported on EdD programmes, which are significant in their demands. Non-selective Eversfield’s pragmatic focus on staff CPD appears to have been instrumental in helping the school thrive in many ways. Eversfield eschews the usual rhetoric and instead has created a whole community, staff and pupils, actively engaged in and supported with their own learning, with clear and unambiguous leadership. Powerful stuff.”