Award Categories
The Outstanding Schools Awards are organised into institutional and leadership categories, recognising both whole-school excellence and individual impact. All categories are assessed using the same five core questions, with additional guidance highlighting what strong evidence looks like for each award. This ensures applications are consistent, contextual, and focused on demonstrable impact.
Eligibility & Judging Criteria
Who Can Be Nominated
Open to all international schools globally. Categories cover whole-school excellence (Institutional) and individual impact (Leadership). We welcome both self-nominations and peer-nominations.
What We Look For
Judges seek demonstrable impact and sustained excellence. We value evidence-based narratives showing how initiatives have transformed the educational experience for students and the school community.
How to Apply
01.
Category Selection
Select your category from the institutional or leadership lists available below.
02.
Evidence Preparation
Prepare your evidence based on the five core assessment questions and submission guidance.
03.
Final Submission
Submit your entry via our online portal before the December 15th deadline.
An Independent Panel of Global Experts
The integrity of the Outstanding Schools Awards is upheld by our independent panel of senior educators and practitioners. With no commercial affiliations, our judges bring decades of collective leadership experience to ensure each application is evaluated with total independence, rigorous objectivity, and a deep understanding of international school contexts.
Submission Guidance
Focus on quality over quantity. Use specific data points, parent/student testimonials, and clear examples of practice. Ensure your responses directly address the criteria for the chosen category.
Key Dates
20 April
Nominations Open
02 July
The online submission portal opens for early entries across all categories.
Submission Deadline
Mid Sept
The final date to complete and submit your nomination through the portal.
Finalists Announced
The shortlist for each category will be revealed on our website and social channels.
06 Nov
Awards Ceremony
A gala event to celebrate winners and institutional excellence in global education.
Ensure you have permission from your school leadership to apply. Review the character limits for each section and have your supporting documentation ready.
Guidance
Have your supporting documentation (PDFs, links, or images) ready for upload. Focus on clear examples of practice that address the category assessment questions.
Institutional Excellence Awards
Outstanding School Award
Recognises holistic educational excellence: sustained academic outcomes, meaningful inclusion, a strong community culture and a clear commitment to continuous improvement.
Leadership & Innovation Awards
Educational Leadership Award
Individual recognition for school leaders who demonstrate exceptional impact on teaching, learning and culture within their setting or region.