The Boarding Schools’ Association has announced the winners of its annual Supporting Excellence Awards. The winners of the awards were unveiled at the BSA Annual Conference for Heads, sponsored by Schoolblazer, which took place at the Hilton Hotel, London Heathrow, on May 7-8, 2024.
First held in 2018, and now in its seventh year, the BSA Awards celebrate the achievements, hard work, and dedication of schools and individuals within the boarding sector.
With over 160 submissions across 14 categories, judges were delighted to see a huge variety of entries across the boarding community, and we thank all those who took the time to enter this year.
Three new award categories were introduced this year with great success. The first being the Sustainability in Boarding Award won by Sherborne Girls who presented a strong entry demonstrating the impact of appointing an Ecology, Sustainability and Conservation Ambassador and the impressive evidence of students taking an active lead in environmental action.
The second category newly introduced for 2024 is the Supporting International Boarders Award for Guardians and Agents. This award recognises an agent or guardian who has gone above and beyond to support international boarders. The Guardian Family Network were presented this award for a wonderful series of case studies demonstrating a hard-working team going above and beyond to care for students.
The Emma Pattison Award for Compassionate Leadership is the third new category in this year’s award line-up, introduced in memory of former Epsom College Head, Emma Pattison. This special award recognises an individual who consistently embodies compassion and kindness within their leadership role and someone who fosters trust, contributes to team morale and makes a meaningful and positive impact on those around them.
BSA were delighted to present Portia Putatunda, founder of the Planet Spiti Boarding School in a remote area of the Himalayas with this award. Judges said “Portia could be described as the ‘Mother Theresa’ of compassionate leadership in boarding. In running every aspect of a free boarding school for young children high in the Himalayas, Portia is embodying so many things, of which compassion is a shining characteristic. Her example is humbling and inspiring in equal measure.”
David Walker, Director, BSA said: “Our annual awards allow us such a fantastic opportunity to support excellence in our boarding community, and celebrate unwavering boarding staff commitment and everything they do to support boarders.
“I am delighted to see another excellent response to our awards this year and our judging panel have once again been hugely impressed by the standard of entries – selecting winners was certainly no easy task!
“Hearty congratulations once again to all those shortlisted this year. And special thanks to this year’s award sponsors for their support.”
Please see below a full list of the winners and highly commended finalists from this year’s BSA Supporting Excellence Awards:
Best Community Work via BSA ‘On Board’ Initiative Award (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: St Leonards
HIGHLY COMMENDED: New Hall School and Wellington School
Boarding House Extension or Refurbishment Award (sponsored by Witley Jones)
WINNER: Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jerudong International School and Mount Kelly
Boarding Innovation Award (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: Port Regis
HIGHLY COMMENDED: St Mary’s Cambridge and St Swithun’s School
*NEW* Sustainability in Boarding Award (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: Sherborne Girls
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Clifton College and Strathallan School
Wellbeing & Mental Health Initiative Award (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: Trent College
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Queen Anne’s and Slindon College
Supporting Junior Boarders Award (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: Godstowe Prep School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lockers Park Prep School and The International School Bangalore (TISB)
Supporting International Boarders Award (sponsored by Password)
WINNER: Wycombe Abbey School, Changzhou
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Abbey College, Cambridge
*NEW* Supporting International Boarders Award – Guardians and Agents (sponsored by Password)
WINNER: The Guardian Family Network LTD
HIGHLY COMMENDED: PJL Guardians and One School
International School of the Year Award (sponsored by i-DAT)
WINNER: The International School, Bangalore (TISB)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Amadeus International School, Vienna
Belonging and Inclusion Initiative Award (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: Perrott Hill
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Millfield School and Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate
Best New Artwork Project (sponsored by Shelleys the Printers)
WINNER: Gordonstoun (Ruby Mitcham, Year 11)
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Royal Hospital School (Niece Year 12 and Ovie Year 11) and Heathfield School (Ella)
Khadija Saye Photography Award (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: Malvern College
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Wellington School
*NEW* Emma Pattison Award for Compassionate Leadership (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: Portia Putatunda, Planet Spiti Boarding School, Himalayas
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Charlotte Avery, St Mary’s School, Cambridge and Dr Caroline Pascoe, The International School, Bangalore (TISB)
Stephen Winkley Award (sponsored by Schoolblazer)
WINNER: Sarah Gomm, Oakham School
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Justin Usher, Collège du Léman Sàrl and Carolyn Dunn, Abbey College, Cambridge
Categories: BSA News
