The countdown to one of the UK’s most anticipated education events has begun, as Tes today unveils the shortlist for the Tes Schools Awards 2026. Celebrating outstanding practice across early years, primary, secondary and special education, the awards highlight the teachers, leaders and support staff whose work is reshaping classrooms and communities nationwide. From innovative curriculum design to pioneering inclusion initiatives, this year’s finalists offer a snapshot of a school system brimming with creativity, resilience and ambition at a time of continued change and pressure.
Key highlights from the Tes Schools Awards UK 2026 shortlist
From pioneering climate literacy initiatives in primary classrooms to AI-powered pastoral systems redefining student support, this year’s contenders showcase how innovation is now hardwired into everyday school life. Standout stories include a rural secondary transforming its farm into a live sustainability lab, a city academy boosting reading ages by two years through a community-led library project, and a special school using immersive technology to open up the curriculum. Across the board, judges noted a sharper focus on equity, wellbeing and digital inclusion, with many shortlisted schools demonstrating measurable impact in attendance, attainment and staff retention.
The breadth of categories also underlines how excellence in education is increasingly collaborative. Multi-academy trusts, early years settings and alternative provision feature strongly alongside individual classroom teachers and support staff. Notably, entries in EdTech Innovation, Inclusive Practice and Community Engagement saw record submissions, reflecting sector-wide priorities for 2026. Highlights include cross-phase partnerships that smooth transitions between key stages, as well as parent-led initiatives that have reshaped behavior policies and enrichment programmes.
- Strongest growth in entries for digital and inclusion categories
- Rising recognition of support staff and pastoral teams
- Clear evidence of impact through data-led evaluation
- Deep community links driving attendance and engagement
| Category | Key Trend in 2026 |
|---|---|
| EdTech Innovation | AI and data dashboards for personalised learning |
| Inclusive Practice | Trauma-informed and neurodiversity-aware classrooms |
| Sustainability | Student-led climate action embedded in the curriculum |
| Community Engagement | Co-designed projects with families and local partners |
How shortlisted schools are raising standards in teaching and learning
The 2026 shortlist showcases classrooms where innovation is no longer a pilot project but part of the everyday fabric of school life. These schools are blending evidence-informed practice with bold experimentation, using technology and data not as a headline, but as a quiet engine for better outcomes. Across phases, teachers are working in cross-curricular teams, testing new approaches, and sharing findings with a rigour once reserved for academic research. Common threads include:
- Instructional coaching models that prioritise live feedback over one-off training days
- Curriculum redesign that foregrounds disciplinary thinking and real-world problem-solving
- Targeted use of edtech to personalise learning journeys and reduce teacher workload
- Student voice panels shaping how lessons are planned, delivered and assessed
In many shortlisted schools, professional progress has been reframed as a collective endeavour, with staff collaborating across departments, phases and even trusts to refine pedagogy and track impact over time. Leaders are investing in deliberate practice, carving out protected time for teachers to observe one another, rehearse strategies and analyze pupil work against ambitious benchmarks.The result is a sharper focus on what makes the greatest difference in the classroom, captured in approaches such as:
| Focus Area | Typical Practice | Impact Seen |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson design | Small-step modelling | Clearer explanations |
| Assessment | Low-stakes quizzing | Faster feedback loops |
| Inclusion | Universal design tweaks | Higher engagement |
| Collaboration | Peer review of planning | Shared high standards |
What the 2026 Tes Schools Awards reveal about the future of UK education
The latest shortlist sketches a system in transition: one that treats wellbeing, inclusion and innovation as non‑negotiables rather than add‑ons. From rural primaries using AI‑driven assessment to small special schools pioneering sensory‑rich curricula, this year’s contenders show how quickly classroom practice is diverging from a one‑size‑fits‑all model. Standout entries emphasise staff collaboration across trusts, parents as co‑educators, and pupils as co‑designers of learning. The message is clear: the schools setting the pace are those ready to blend academic rigour with therapeutic support, digital fluency and community outreach in a single, coherent offer.
Across categories,certain themes repeat with striking consistency:
- Tech with purpose – AI and edtech used to close gaps,not simply impress.
- Local roots, global lens – curricula shaped by community needs yet outward‑looking.
- Staff development as strategy – CPD targeted at evidence‑based pedagogy and leadership.
- Pupil voice – learners influencing timetables, enrichment and even behaviour policies.
| Trend | What Shortlisted Schools Are Doing |
|---|---|
| AI & data | Using adaptive tools to personalise revision and reduce teacher workload. |
| Inclusion | Embedding trauma‑informed practice and flexible pathways to qualifications. |
| Community links | Partnering with local employers for real‑world projects and mentoring. |
| Green education | Building sustainability into science, design and whole‑school culture. |
Practical steps for schools aiming for future Tes awards recognition
For leaders looking beyond applause towards lasting impact,the path starts with clarifying what your school wants to be known for and building evidence around it. Define a distinctive, values-driven focus – whether that’s community inclusion, digital innovation, or staff development – and embed it in daily practice, not just policy. Encourage staff to collect tangible proof of impact as they go: pupil work, progress data, community feedback, and staff voice. Tools such as internal “innovation logs” or impact journals can definitely help capture outcomes in real time, making future award submissions more grounded and compelling. Alongside this, involve students as co-designers of change, inviting them onto working groups and listening panels so any success story is authentically shared, not top-down.
- Audit current practice against previous Tes award categories to spot gaps and quick wins.
- Ringfence time in staff meetings for sharing small-scale innovations and reflective discussion.
- Partner strategically with local organisations, MATs or universities to add depth and reach.
- Create a evidence hub on your intranet where photos, case studies and data are stored and tagged.
- Train a small bid-writing team – teachers, support staff and governors – to shape clear, concise narratives.
| Focus Area | Simple Action | Evidence to Capture |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Launch a pupil-led diversity forum | Meeting notes, pupil surveys, policy changes |
| Curriculum | Run cross-subject project weeks | Work samples, assessment data, parent feedback |
| Staff Culture | Introduce peer coaching cycles | Coaching logs, retention figures, staff surveys |
| Community | Co-design events with local partners | Attendance records, media coverage, testimonials |
To Conclude
As the sector digests this year’s shortlist, one thing is already clear: the Tes Schools Awards 2026 are not just a roll call of outstanding practice, but a barometer of where UK education is heading.
From innovative curriculum design to unwavering pastoral support, the schools and individuals recognised this year demonstrate how much can be achieved, frequently enough in the face of intense pressures on budgets, workload and pupil needs.
The winners will be announced later this year, but irrespective of the final outcome, the shortlisted nominees have set a formidable benchmark. Their work will continue to shape debates on policy and practice long after the trophies are handed out – and will provide powerful examples for schools across the UK seeking to improve outcomes for every pupil.
