Celebrations are underway at The Totteridge Academy as the school won ‘Secondary School of the Year’ at the Tes Schools Awards last week.
Recognising excellence in education across the country, the Awards garner many high-quality nominations each year, so a win is a considerable feat. At the gala ceremony held on Friday at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, the panel of judges, all experts in their fields, announced the winners of each category from a highly competitive shortlist.
Being named ‘Secondary School of the Year’ further cements the transformation that The Totteridge Academy has celebrated over recent years. In 2016, when it joined national schools group United Learning, the school had the lowest progress score in the London Borough of Barnet. By summer 2022, the school had celebrated jumping to the top of the local league tables for its Progress 8 score of +1.03 – a score which puts it in the top 1.2% of schools nationally.
In winning the award, the academy has proved it is more than just an academic success story. Alongside the academic curriculum, students benefit from a range of opportunities to excel as individuals and gain new experiences as part of a supportive school community. This includes initiatives such as the academy’s bespoke on-site farm, which was set up with the charity GROW. Students take part in a range of activities and opportunities on the farm, such as AQA accredited courses, harvesting crops, learning about sustainable food growing and transporting the fresh produce to their school kitchen to enjoy it as part of their school lunches.
Chris Fairbairn, Principal at The Totteridge Academy, said:
“In 2016, we set ourselves the goal of becoming the most improved school in London. After the dedication, hard work, and passion of our students, staff and families to build the incredible learning environment that is The Totteridge Academy, we are bursting with pride to have been recognised as National Secondary School of the Year at this year’s Tes awards. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible. It is a privilege to be part of such a wonderful community.”