Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools wins awards for Outstanding Educational Partnerships AND the overall top accolade of Independent School of the Year 2025, recognising its long-term commitment to social impact through deep, sustained collaborations with state sector partners.
“This year’s Independent School of the Year has demonstrated its resilience in staying true to its vision, rather than swerving the challenges of the moment,” said the judging panel.
“It represents the very best qualities of the independent sector — a voice that helps the wider world to understand the powerful and positive impact of this sector.”
In a landmark evening for the school, Habs was also awarded the overall top award title of Independent School of the Year 2025.
The annual awards celebrate excellence across the UK’s independent education sector, and this year, Habs stood out from a strong field of national winners to take the overall top honour — awarded to the school that most clearly embodies the best of independent education today.
A Vision for Impact
Habs traces its heritage back many centuries, within the context of the Haberdashers’ Livery Company, to a philanthropic vision intended to provide education and opportunity to the least privileged in society.
At the heart of Habs Elstree’s success is a clearly defined purpose: to empower young people to have a profound impact in the world.
The Habs Partnerships Programme is formed of strong and mutually beneficial partnerships between the Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools and six local state partner schools (Cowley Hill Primary School, Borehamwood; Fairfield Junior School, Radlett; Hertswood Academy, Borehamwood; Meryfield Primary School, Borehamwood; Monksmead Primary School, Borehamwood and London Academy School, Edgware) aimed to build educational opportunities for our local community centred around the WD6 postcode.
The partner schools all serve communities with average or above-average levels of disadvantage, and face persistent challenges in educational attainment, access to specialist subjects, and extracurricular enrichment opportunities.
Through its pioneering partnerships programme Habs delivers over 52 hours of curriculum support and enrichment every week with almost 2000 students benefitting from an average of 12 hours of sessions each. This involves over 500 Habs students in Years 10 to 13 who are specially trained to lead and support sessions, fostering leadership, communication and adaptability and 56 Habs staff members contribute weekly, supporting curriculum alignment and ensuring quality provision.
Demonstrable impact
The work in partnership has raised average school attendance among disadvantaged pupils – i.e. not just attendance at partnerships sessions, but at school overall – by 10.1%, equivalent to a full extra day of school every two weeks. Raising attendance is one of the key challenges for state schools; it is now clear that a regular programme of partnerships work is a powerful tool for tackling this challenge, given that attendance is the most powerful predictor of school outcomes for young people.
“In a highly competitive field, the judges were impressed by our brilliant programme in which our students and staff work together for mutual enrichment with partner schools, making a tangible impact, including helping to improve student attendance in our partner schools. I cannot put into words how proud I am of our schools, staff, students and community. Everyone at Habs works incredibly hard, and at a tough time for the sector and our schools, but your commitment to one another, to our schools, and to the idea that our work can genuinely change lives and will help our brilliant pupils to make a meaningful difference to the world, is inspiring. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all that you do for our students, our colleagues and our community.” said Gus Lock, Executive Principal of Habs Elstree Schools.
Joshua Plotkin, Director of Partnerships at Habs, added: “As part of a programme which trains, guides and supports them, we put our students into the wider world and enable them to have a profound impact.”
Recognition of Purpose
These awards are not just a celebration of academic excellence — they recognise a school actively using its resources, people, and purpose to drive social mobility and create a positive legacy beyond its campus.
The double win signals national recognition for Habs’ distinctive approach to education: one that fuses ambition with action, excellence with empathy, and leadership with service.
Apply now, to join Habs Elstree Schools.
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