Shrewsbury School shortlisted in National Education Awards for work with local charities

Shrewsbury School is proud to announce that it has been selected as a finalist in the Education Choices Awards 2025, in the category of Working with Local Charities.  

Shrewsbury is one of just a few independent schools that in 2024 was awarded the rare accolade of ‘significant strength’ by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), recognising the depth and range of our Partnership and Community Engagement (PCE) programme. 

Annually the Shrewsbury community raises over £150,000 for local, national and international charities, with 17 organisations being supported in 2025. In addition, over 200 pupils and staff actively volunteer weekly providing 500+ hours to local schools, care homes, the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Refugee Homework Club, charity shops and the Shrewsbury Museum. 

Shrewsbury Foodbank Plus is one of the main organisations that our community supports through fundraising at our music concerts, Christmas Fair and various pupil-led initiatives. In addition, our pupils and staff volunteer at the Foodbank weekly. 

In their report, the ISI reflected on this work by commenting: “The extent and sustained nature of pupils’ contribution to external communities through the school’s partnership and community engagement programme is a significant strength.” 

In addition, Shrewsbury also works in partnership with primary and secondary schools in Shropshire, with 950 4–14-year-olds learning to swim at the School. Further afield our pupils and staff spend over 850 hours at The Shewsy Youth Club in Everton supporting their members, raising funds for Restart Africa, our chosen international charity, for which we have raised over £24,000 enabling 67 children to be educated for a year, and welcoming over 1,300 pupils from Alpha Academies Trust, Stoke to Shrewsbury where all pupils mutually benefit from our co-designed programme for primary and secondary aged pupils.  

Shrewsbury was previously recognised with the national accolade for Community Outreach, contributing to the school being named as Independent School of the Year in 2020 by Independent School Parent Magazine. 

Leo Winkley, Headmaster of Shrewsbury School, said: “We are delighted to be recognised for the meaningful work our community is doing beyond the classroom.  

“With Charles Darwin as a famous former pupil at Shrewsbury, this accolade is a reflection of the survival of the kindest mindset. Pupils are encouraged to show compassion, initiative and dedication in building strong partnerships and making a real difference in the lives of others.” 

The Education Choices Awards judges commented: “We are incredibly grateful to have received so many submissions and are overwhelmed by the incredible strength of the applications and work taking place in schools.”