Tuesday, October 14, marked a special occasion for Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools (Habs) as they won the overall top accolade of Independent School of the Year 2025, as well as Independent School of the Year for Outstanding Educational Partnerships at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards hosted at The Law Society in Central London.
The Outstanding Educational Partnerships Award was given to Habs in recognition of its long-term commitment to social impact through deep, sustained collaborations with state sector partners in the local community.
The judging panel said they were impressed by the “resilience the school has shown in staying true to its vision, rather than swerving the challenges of the moment”, adding that “it represents the very best qualities of the independent sector — a voice that helps the wider world to understand the powerful and positive impact of this sector”. The annual awards celebrate excellence across the UK’s independent education sector.
Gus Lock, executive principal of Habs Elstree Schools, commented: “Our students and staff work together for mutual enrichment, making a tangible impact and helping to improve student attendance across our partner schools.
“I cannot express enough how proud I am of our staff, students and community. Everyone at Habs works incredibly hard, despite what has been a tough time for the sector. Yet their unwavering commitment to one another, to our schools and to the idea that their work can genuinely change lives, while helping them to make a meaningful difference to the world, is inspiring.”
The Habs Partnerships Programme, which aims to build educational opportunities for the local community centred around the WD6 postcode, is formed of strong and mutually beneficial partnerships between the Habs Elstree Schools and six local state partner schools.
These include Cowley Hill Primary School, Borehamwood; Fairfield Junior School, Radlett; Hertswood Academy, Borehamwood; Meryfield Primary School, Borehamwood; Monksmead Primary School, Borehamwood; and London Academy School, Edgware.
Joshua Plotkin, director of partnerships at Habs, said: “As part of a programme that trains, guides and supports them, we put our students into the wider world and enable them to have a profound impact.
“Our work in partnership has raised average school attendance amongst disadvantaged pupils, and not just attendance at partnership sessions, but at school overall by 10.1 per cent, which is equivalent to an extra full day of school every two weeks.”
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