Following five nominations in 2018, Felsted School has been shortlisted for a further three TES (Times Educational Supplement) Independent School Awards 2019; Prep School of the Year, Sports Award and Marketing Campaign of the Year.

The awards celebrates excellent and innovative practice across the independent schools sector. For the Prep School Award, the judges wanted to see ‘alongside academic excellence and achievement, a commitment to demonstrating innovation and efforts to develop children in ways that go beyond the classroom'. Felsted Prep focuses on a growth mindset; the idea that you cannot do something ‘yet’ and through this regularly demonstrates success in all areas of the curriculum, including academic progress, sport, music, and the creative and performing arts. This is combined with a strong focus on mindfulness, wellbeing and learning outside the classroom in an onsite wellbeing centre, eco sensory and nature garden and forest school.

For the Sport Award, the judges wanted to see schools that 'demonstrate commitment to excellence and participation in school sport, and in promoting health, wellbeing and exercise among its pupils'. Felsted ranked 11th in the UK in School Sport Magazine’s Top 100 independent schools for sport 2017, as a result of regular national success in its core sports of rugby, hockey, netball, cricket and tennis, as well as claiming silverware in other disciplines such as riding, squash, athletics and golf

For the Marketing Campaign Award, judges wanted to see a school 'using a powerful strategy to promote some aspect of the school to a wider community, either on or offline'. Felsted adopts an individual approach to marketing, with personalised prospectuses, tours and timetabling to ensure that the school focuses on the individual family.

The award winners will be announced in February at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House and it is a huge accolade for Felsted to be invited for three out of the 15 categories, competing against the very best independent schools nationwide.

Being named as one of the top Prep Schools in the country is a wonderful testament to all that we try to do on a daily basis at Felsted Prep; whether it is in the classroom, on the stage, on the sports field or in any aspect of school life.
Head of Felsted Prep School, Mr Simon James

We received a record number of entries this year and the standard is the highest yet, so to be shortlisted is an extraordinary achievement for any school.
TES Editor Ann Mroz