Congratulations to all our 2025 winners

Pascal Private School, Cyprus

Technology integration is central to Pascal Private School’s success, combining data-driven insights, feedback, and student-led innovation to create a sustainable model that equips learners with future-ready skills. Their groundbreaking AI Sustainable Cities project transforms abstract concepts into immersive, real-world experiences, enabling students to apply sustainability and technology through hands-on projects. By blending advanced software with cutting-edge hardware and diverse data sources, the school cultivates eco-literacy and digital fluency, empowering students to become innovators shaping the cities of tomorrow.

The judges said: “This initiative exemplifies strategic coherence and measurable impact, integrating technology and pedagogy across all ages to foster future-ready skills. By leveraging tech for real-world environmental challenges, it delivers holistic learning that engages the entire school community and drives meaningful change.”

International School Seychelles, Seychelles

To mark its 55th anniversary, International School Seychelles launched “55 Acts of Giving in 12 Months,” a year-long mission to complete 55 meaningful acts of service that strengthened ties with the wider community and instilled a lasting culture of giving among students. This initiative not only delivered tangible impact through active engagement with local partners, but also enriched learning by fostering empathy, social responsibility, and active citizenship. By championing environmental sustainability and prioritising personal development, the school ensures education is holistic, preparing students to excel academically while becoming socially conscious, proactive citizens.

The judges said: “International School Seychelles demonstrates true community engagement and embeds social responsibility into the school’s culture, creating a virtuous cycle of impact. Through strategic partnerships, health and education projects, and deep collaboration with local schools, it has empowered an entire island community and set a powerful model for sustainable change.”

Highly Commended: Agora Lledo International School, Spain

Tanglin Trust School, Singapore

Tanglin Trust School’s transformative Highlands Programme takes experiential learning to new heights through a five-week initiative at their Victorian Alps campus in Australia. Designed to nurture curiosity, confidence, and community, the programme immerses students in environments that bring subjects to life, delivering core academics through place-based learning such as river fieldwork, ecosystem exploration, and reflective writing. Confidence grows as students tackle challenging outdoor treks, while shared living and the absence of digital distractions foster a deep sense of community. This approach prepares learners not only for academic success but for life beyond school, cultivating resilience, curiosity, and social responsibility.

The judges said: “This bold and innovative programme stood out for its depth and ambition, adapting the curriculum to an outdoor environment while prioritising academic continuity and holistic development. Its thoughtful approach to social-emotional growth, digital detox, and community engagement makes it a courageous initiative with lasting impact.”

United World College Maastricht, Netherlands

United World College Maastricht launched a transformative Female Empowerment Project to support young women from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through education. Beginning with a network of women in the Netherlands committed to empowering others, the initiative reflects a deep belief in the power of education to create a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world. Through targeted scholarships and a holistic learning experience that blends rigorous academics with experiential learning, personal development, and community service, the project fosters inclusion, resilience, and social responsibility. By welcoming students from diverse cultures and perspectives, United World College Maastricht champions gender equality and prepares young women to become confident leaders and changemakers.

The judges said: “An outstanding initiative to empower women and harness the resources of the school and its community for global impact. This project is intentional, evidenced based and about harnessing the potential of international education through removing financial and geographical barriers, with evidence of project intention and implementation through to successful outcomes.”

DESS Oud Metha, United Arab Emirates

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, DESS Oud Metha, the oldest British curriculum school in Dubai, demonstrated resilience and vision during a period of uncertainty. While planning for expansion, the school chose to retain its historic site, maintaining enrolment stability, outstanding inspection results, and strong staff and family retention. Classrooms emphasise collaboration, inquiry, and child-led exploration, with technology enabling research and idea-sharing. Students grow as independent, confident learners through ownership of projects, peer collaboration, and enrichment beyond the curriculum, while respect and inclusivity underpin every relationship. Investing in staff development and curriculum innovation, the school fosters curiosity and resilience, ensuring a cohesive community and preparing learners for success in school and beyond.

The judges said: “DESS Oud Metha delivers exceptional academic and pastoral outcomes that has seen it marked as outstanding across multiple areas in both British School Overseas and KHDA inspections, driven by strong teacher development and extra-curricular initiatives.”

Mai Thuy – Reigate Grammar School Vietnam, Vietnam

Under Mai Thuy’s visionary leadership, Reigate Grammar School Vietnam has undergone a remarkable transformation, achieving multiple international accreditations, consistent enrolment growth, and a strong reputation within Hanoi’s competitive educational landscape. Her success is reflected not only in the school’s sustained excellence but in the calibre of leaders she has nurtured, many of whom have progressed to senior roles internationally. She has championed pioneering music, sports, and arts programmes, alongside major campus enhancements that provide world-class opportunities for students, including cultivating one of Hanoi’s strongest international school music programmes. Committed to empowering teachers to grow, innovate, and inspire, she has built a culture grounded in care, respect, and aspiration, ensuring motivated staff and thriving students stand as a testament to her impact.

The judges said: “Mai Thuy is exceptional, demonstrating transformative visionary leadership with achievements evident in academic progress, enrolment growth, staff morale, and student well-being. Her ability to launch innovative programmes, mentor future leaders, and foster international recognition truly sets her apart.”

Fiona Cottam – Hartland International School, United Arab Emirates

Under her visionary leadership, Fiona Cottam has achieved exceptional academic outcomes while sustaining a warm, inclusive culture. She has balanced rapid growth with quality by introducing strategic structures such as the SLT Breakfast Series to strengthen parent dialogue, a staff wellbeing committee, and professional learning communities to drive innovation. Her open-door ethos is lived daily, greeting families, visiting classrooms, and ensuring accessibility for parents, staff, and students – while initiatives like Welcome Coffee Mornings and advisory partnerships give parents a real voice in decision-making. By replacing administrative meetings with professional growth opportunities, she has empowered staff to share research, innovate, and lead change. Her courage, integrity, and compassion have transformed the school into a very connected community, where academic excellence coexists with wellbeing, creativity, and global citizenship.

The judges said: “Fiona Cottam exemplifies strategic brilliance and heartfelt humanity, leading phenomenal growth while preserving the school’s family ethos. Her courageous, values-driven decisions and global contributions to safeguarding reflect leadership as service and legacy, inspiring both her community and the wider educational world.”

Highly Commended: George Bowery – Al Mustaqbal School, Palestine

International School Brunei, Brunei

As Brunei’s first specialist education provision, International School Brunei sets a new standard for inclusive, personalised support for learners with diverse needs. Their success is evident in measurable improvements in confidence, functional skills, and social participation, achieved through bespoke programmes that nurture individual progress and independence. Using evidence-based tools such as dynamic assessment scales and goal attainment measures, the school captures academic, functional, and social development for a truly holistic view of each learner’s journey. A dedicated team works closely with families and external specialists to create tailored learning experiences, while continuous investment in staff development ensures excellence. Guided by the belief that every learner deserves high-quality education, International School Brunei fosters confidence, resilience, and lifelong learning.

The judges said: “This pioneering centre sets a new standard for specialist provision by building a system around the child rather than forcing the child into the system. Its transparent approach, authentic parental support, and unwavering commitment to learners with complex needs make this a bold and transformative model of inclusion.”

Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi has reimagined wellbeing as a structural priority through its pioneering #MEtime initiative, giving every staff member an hour each week to rest, exercise, or spend time with family. This commitment, supported by flexible scheduling and a holistic wellbeing ecosystem, has created a calm, positive environment where staff feel valued and connected. Evidence of success is clear: outstanding retention, low absenteeism, and high engagement in enrichment activities, alongside results showing strong community ties and friendships at work. By embedding wellbeing into the school day, not as a reactive measure but as a visible priority, Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi has cultivated a culture of balance, belonging, and professional growth that empowers staff to bring their best selves to work.

The judges said: “The #MEtime initiative is a winner because it transforms wellbeing from an add-on into the architecture of daily life, embodying the vision that thriving staff are the non-negotiable foundation for exceptional student experience and academic outcomes.”

Cambridge School of Bucharest, Romania

Cambridge School of Bucharest has revolutionised student wellbeing through its pioneering Wellness Wave Index, a student-designed tool inspired by the Human Development Index. This initiative transformed wellbeing from an abstract goal into a measurable, actionable reality, allowing students to quantify stress, coping, and happiness – and see their voices drive change. Far from being passive recipients, students became architects of their own wellbeing system, designing questions, running analytics, publishing findings, and turning data into policy within weeks. Refined with expert guidance and scaled nationally, the Wellness Wave Index represents a groundbreaking model for youth-led wellbeing governance, fostering agency, resilience, and a culture of mental health innovation.

The judges said: “This student-led initiative is remarkable for its innovation, scalability, and cultural impact. By creating a data-driven well-being index and sharing it with over 150 under-resourced schools, students have transformed mental health support into a collaborative, sustainable movement that empowers peers far beyond their own community.”

Kodaikanal International School, India

Kodaikanal International School has demonstrated outstanding commitment to environmental responsibility through its ambitious Carbon Net Neutral Project, a whole-school strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Built on scientific rigor and complete transparency, the initiative combines aggressive emissions reduction, ecological restoration, and community engagement, embedding sustainability as a cultural cornerstone. Student-led and evidence-based, the project reflects radical trust in learners, empowering them as researchers and innovators. Extensive data tracking validates significant reductions in the school’s carbon footprint, while the initiative transforms students from passive learners into active leaders driving measurable change toward a sustainable future.

The judges said: “Kodaikanal International School’s Carbon Net Neutral Project stands out for its scientific rigor, transparency, and measurable impact, driving a transformative journey toward carbon neutrality by 2030. With real-time dashboards, student-led innovations, and systemic action, it exemplifies sustainability as both a vision and a lived reality.”

Highly Commended: The International School @ ParkCity, Malaysia

Delma Bagayan – Hartland International School, United Arab Emirates

Delma Bagayan’s impact is evident through glowing parent feedback, improved student engagement, and her progression to Lead Science Learning Assistant. Recognised by staff for her expertise, she transforms learning through immersive experiences – creating immersive experiences, themed t-shirts, and hands-on experiments that spark curiosity. Her boundless energy sees her on her hands and knees to measure or jogging during heart-rate activities, while providing extra consolidation time for individuals and small groups to boost progress and confidence. From gardening initiatives that foster environmental responsibility to exceptional classroom displays, Delma nurtures strengths, addresses challenges constructively, and champions experiential learning that builds confident, creative, and environmentally conscious learners.

The judges said: “Delma Bagayan radiates positivity and dedication, bringing her whole self to work every day and making a profound impact across the school community. Her hands-on approach, personalised support, and unwavering commitment over a decade make her a cornerstone of excellence and an inspiring role model.”

Wellspring Hanoi International Bilingual School, Vietnam

Hanoi International Bilingual School’s interdisciplinary project “Happy Sharing, Happy Learning” applies project-based learning to tackle real social issues. After researching the daily lives of local students, Grade 9 learners identified challenges such as limited educational opportunities leading to early school dropout and child marriage. Motivated to make a difference, they designed English lessons, ran workshops, and organised fundraising, taking full ownership of planning and execution while teachers acted as mentors. Students worked in diverse roles – teachers, fundraisers, media writers, and event organisers – developing leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. This initiative not only strengthened resilience and empathy but also transformed teaching strategies, inspiring staff to adopt more student-centred, experiential approaches that connect learning to authentic community impact.

The judges said: “Wellspring Hanoi International Bilingual School set itself apart for its student-led approach and profound community impact. By designing and delivering a curriculum that blends academic and social learning, students not only supported a local school but helped shift mindsets about education’s value – creating lasting change beyond their own classrooms.”