A Harrow school which encourages children to take philosophy, yoga and meditation classes has been shortlisted for the prestigious World’s Best School award, with a prize of $50,000 (£39,000). Avanti House Secondary School is one of 10 schools shortlisted for the award in the Community Collaboration category. The award consists of five categories, with a separate shortlist for each category.
Avanti House, a Hindu secondary school in Stanmore, has been praised for its “unique values-based model of education” in response to the pressures of schooling and exams. It is the second north London school to be nominated for the “Best Schools in the World” award, after Barham Primary was shortlisted last year.
The school has been described as a “trailblazer” for its “holistic approach” to education, with a focus on enhancing students’ wellbeing by “integrating mental, spiritual and physical health.” In addition to traditional subjects, classes in philosophy, ethics, yoga and meditation are integrated into the curriculum rather than as extra-curricular activities, ensuring that all students can take part.
In keeping with the school’s health-conscious approach, a vegetarian meal program is offered, designed to help students understand the “importance of diet in overall health” and foster environmental and sustainability awareness.
The school’s leadership was said to be “vital in fostering an environment which values spiritual insight and character development as much as educational excellence” and creating a culture of “respect and mutual understanding”. The principal and deputy principal were praised for “driving the school’s vision” with their focus on inclusive practice and community engagement.
Principal Simon Arnell said the school was “extremely proud” to have been shortlisted for the award, highlighting the importance he places on the mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing of staff and pupils. Arnell told LDRS: “Staff and pupils take part in a range of activities including yoga, mindfulness, student retreats, sangha and journaling, and we provide a fantastic vegetarian menu for everyone at our communal lunchtimes. All of this is not just an add-on to school life, it is closely linked to our curriculum.”
He added: “The impact of this work is not just seen in pupils’ attendance and excellent exam results, but also in how they contribute and lead healthy lives both inside and outside their school communities. We look forward to the next steps – working with fantastic schools around the world through T4 is truly exciting for our staff and pupils, demonstrating the power of educational collaboration.”
The prize was launched in 2022 by T4 Education in partnership with Accenture, American Express and the Leman Foundation. The winners in each of the five categories – Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Living – will each receive an equal prize of $250,000 (£195,000). Avanti House is one of the candidates to win in the ‘Community Collaboration’ category.
The top three finalists in each category will be announced in September, with the overall winner expected to be announced in November. Nominees will be judged by a panel of judges made up of global leaders including academics, educators, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, government and the private sector.
Kingsford Community School, a public secondary school in Newham, was also nominated for an award in the “Overcoming Adversity” category. It was praised for “transforming adversity into excellence” by tackling “deep-rooted social issues” such as knife crime. Of its 1,500 pupils, 72% speak English as a second language and almost half receive free school meals.
Joan McCartney, London’s Deputy Mayor for Children and Families, said: “I’m delighted that Kingsford Community School and Avanti House Secondary School have been nominated for these prestigious awards. Both schools are leading examples of what’s great about London and their teachers are committed to creating brighter, healthier futures for their students. These nominations are testament to the hard work of the staff, pupils and local communities at these fantastic schools.”
He added: “Pioneering London schools like Avanti House Secondary School and Kingsford Community School have shown that by cultivating a strong culture and not being afraid to innovate, they can make a difference to many people’s lives. Now schools around the world can learn from their solutions and it’s time for governments to do so too.”
