Brent art teacher Andria Zafirakou is among the judges of the new award
(Picture: Matt Writtle)Three London schools have been shortlisted for a new “world’s best school” award set up to celebrate education in the wake of Covid.
The best schools globally in five categories will each be given a share of a $250,000 (£200,000) prize.
The London Academy of Excellence, a selective state sixth form in Stratford, and the Totteridge Academy, a secondary school in Barnet, have been shortlisted in the supporting healthy lives category.
St Helen’s School, a private all-girls school in Northwood, is nominated in the innovation category.
Among the judges is Brent art teacher Andria Zafirakou, who was named the world’s best teacher at another global prize ceremony in 2018.
The new global schools award was set up by T4 Education, which is building an online community in a bid to celebrate schools in the wake of the pandemic.
Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education, said: “With more than 1.5 billion learners impacted by school and university closures, Covid has exacerbated a global education crisis in which, even before the pandemic, the UN warned progress was already too slow to achieve universal quality education by 2030.
“We have launched the prizes as a solution to help build the change needed. By telling the stories of inspirational schools that are transforming the lives of their students and making a real difference to their communities, schools can share their best practices.”
The London Academy of Excellence has been shortlisted for its well-being programme.
Totteridge Academy has been shortlisted for its work turning a disused field into a six-acre sustainable farm that it uses to grow food for school meals and for a vegetable box scheme.
St Helen’s School was nominated for its “nudge for learning” programme, which encourages students to take risks and celebrates critical thinking and curiosity.
In total, 10 schools have been shortlisted in each of the five categories. The winners will be given $50,000 each and will be announced in October.
