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Tuesday 8th Oct 2024
Christ’s Hospital Named Independent School of the Year 2024
Christ’s Hospital has been awarded the prestigious title of Independent School of the Year 2024 by Independent School Parent magazine and the Telegraph Media Group. At the awards ceremony in London on 8 October 2024 the school also gained first place in the Performing Arts category.
Christ’s Hospital was chosen by the judges to be the overall Independent School of The Year from amongst the winners of all the awards categories standing out amongst 700 nominations from many of the most high-profile independent schools in the UK. The awards were chaired by Dr Helen Wright, international Education Adviser and past Vice Chair of the ISC, supported by a panel of judges which includes leading head teachers and representatives of the professional associations.
In making the award to Christ’s Hospital, the judges said:
‘To be the Independent School of the Year means representing some of the very best qualities of the sector and taking on the responsibility of leading the way in the tremendous work that is happening in the sector. And so, after careful consideration by the judges, this year, the Independent School of the Year Award goes to a school which embodies accessibility, sensitivity and responsiveness to pupil need, and an unremitting determination to offer to all the kind of education that every child deserves.’
Simon Reid, Head Teacher of Christ’s Hospital, said:
‘It brings real joy to see the hard work of everyone at the school acknowledged by the overall award for Independent School of the Year and, also, to be recognised for our work in Performing Arts. Our near 500-year-old mission is to provide a nurturing education to transform the lives of children – many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. More than 75 per cent of CH students are supported by our unique bursary programme – with an overall value of £23 million per year. Recognition like this award reaffirms our standing as one of the leading schools in the UK educational landscape – and an engine for social mobility’.
On presenting the winner of the Performing Arts category, the judges said:
‘The winner this year is a school which takes its pupils on a very special journey in the performing arts. The majority of the pupils who join this school have had very limited prior experience of the performing arts, and this makes the wide take-up of, and success in, music and drama throughout the school of particular note. Its significant outreach programme is an added reason why Christ’s Hospital is the winner of this category this year.’
Christ’s Hospital’s Director of Music, James Bartlett, said:
‘Music straddles the arts and the sciences unlike any other subject: universities and employers love it for that reason. The set of skills one cultivates to be a successful musician – self-discipline, dedication, persistence, co-operation, teamwork, graft, confidence – are precisely the skills which set a student up for academic success, and for success in other aspects of their life in, and beyond, school. We are especially proud that, at Christ’s Hospital, every single student has the opportunity either to perform, or experience performances by their peers, on all seven days of the week. The enormous range of opportunities our students enjoy set them up for stellar achievement beyond Christ’s Hospital – all whilst having a tremendous amount of fun.’
Director of Drama at Christ’s Hospital, Dawn Wylie, said:
‘How fantastic to see the courage, creativity and commitment of the performing arts departments recognised in the winning of this award. Drama and music are at the very heart of the Christ’s Hospital experience and this recognition will inspire the dedicated staff and our ultra-talented students to even greater achievements!’
The performing arts provide the heartbeat to Christ’s Hospital. It is perhaps the only school in the world where students can experience music and/or drama seven days a week – whether marching to lunch led by the magnificent 100-strong Christ’s Hospital Band, attending concerts and music in chapel or embracing the school’s Globe-designed theatre. When pupils join Christ’s Hospital, they can immediately embark on their music and drama journey and by the time they leave, the majority have a grade in at least one instrument with 45% achieving at least a Grade 5. Participation in drama is extremely popular with 40 students a year taking GCSE/A level courses as well as participating on stage or behind the scenes in school productions.