Record Year of National Recognition for Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury is celebrating one of the most successful years in its history for national recognition, with a record number of awards and accolades marking achievements across leadership, teaching and learning, partnership and community engagement, mentoring and international education.

The latest honours came this week, with Shrewsbury named winner of the ‘Best Partnerships’ category in The Week Independent Schools Guide’s 2026 Awards, winner of ‘Charitable Work Champion’ at the School House Awards 2026 and Finalist for the ‘Outstanding Fundraising Achievement’ category in the Independent School of the Year Awards 2026.

The School was also shortlisted by The Week for ‘Best Preparation for Life’ for its distinctive approach to whole person education — developing young people academically and personally, and equipping them to flourish for life.

The national publication highlighted Shrewsbury’s Partnership and Community Engagement programme, work also commended by the Independent Schools Inspectorate as a "significant strength", as a leading example in independent schools.

In 2025-26, over 1,100 Alpha Academies Trust pupils engaged in a co-designed programme of activities, supported by over 660 hours from more than 60 Shrewsbury staff. Alpha pupils visit for themed learning days, mentoring and academic enrichment, working alongside Salopians in classrooms, laboratories and on the sports field.

In the same year, Shrewsbury pupils raised more than £150,000 for charities, contributed over 850 hours of volunteering in the community and the whole school will soon embark on a 19 mile Sponsored Walk through the Shropshire Hills in support of their partner charity The Shewsy.

The Week praised the scale and impact of the programme, describing Shrewsbury as a ‘worthy winner for meaningful partnerships.'

In the School House Awards 2026, Shrewsbury’s longstanding culture of charitable engagement was also selected as leading on the national stage. Awards judge Dr Stephen Spurr said:

“Shrewsbury exemplifies an unmatched charitable culture. It is instilled early and meaningfully in each pupil and continues to build on what is an admirable historical and institutional strength of the school.”

On Thursday 10 September, the school was also selected among a few UK schools as a finalist for 'Outstanding Fundraising Achievement' by the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2026. The award celebrates 'exceptional innovation and impact' and how 'income generating efforts have expanded educational access.'

Shrewsbury’s Headmaster Leo Winkley said:

“It has been a tremendous year for Shrewsbury. We have received national recognition across the breadth of school life – from our excellent teaching and learning, whole person approach to education, mentoring and our Family of Schools.

“As we approach our 475th year, we are very proud to have won three national awards highlighting our Partnership and Community Engagement Programme, which is central to our ethos of ‘Survival of the Kindest’.

“All of our pupils benefit from the experience of caring for and connecting with others and developing a strong sense of social responsibility.

“Behind each award are the pupils and staff who live our Salopian values everyday – through volunteering, fundraising, mentoring and countless acts of kindness, commitment and encouragement.

“Their collective contribution is an important part of what makes Shrewsbury an inspiring and supportive community in which every individual is given the opportunity to flourish for life”.

 Shrewsbury’s 2026 accolades also include:

• Tatler Schools Awards 2026 – Winner, Best Head of a Public School
• Education Choices Awards 2026 – Winner, Working with Local Charities
• Spear’s Schools Index 2026 – Named among the 25 Best UK Senior Schools for the third consecutive year and among the World’s Top 100 Private Schools
• Oppidan Education Awards 2026 – Gold Award, following Gold recognition in 2025
• Tes Schools Awards 2026 – Shortlisted, Teacher Development Initiative
• Education Investor Awards 2026 – Finalist, Private School Operator and Exporting Excellence

You can read more about Shrewsbury's Awards and Accolades here