AWARDS

International School
Awards

Hosted in January every year, the Awards aim to acknowledge innovative practices in schools supporting the needs of a changing world. Celebrate your school!

ABOUT

2024 International School Awards

Organised by ISC Research in January every year, and followed by the international schools community, media and associations, the International School Awards spotlight inspiring initiatives developed and run by international school leaders, educators and students.

The 2024 International School Awards have taken a big step on the journey that many international schools are already taking. Changes will create more opportunities for international schools in different contexts to be celebrated.

Instead of isolated categories, all successful applications will be rooted around central pillars that support intercultural understanding, diversity, equity, inclusion and/or justice of students, and one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; pillars that are rooting many long-term school initiatives today. Applications will need to include evidence of how the school is sharing its initiative amongst the wider K-12 schools community; whether that is within the international school community, within a school locality, or broader.

    PARTICIPATION

    Spotlight on your school

    The International School Awards aim to acknowledge innovative practices in schools supporting the needs of a changing world. They provide an opportunity for your school to highlight one of its impactful initiatives.

    Recognising that no two schools and initiatives are the same, all schools within each fee category that meet a strict judging threshold will receive an International School Award. This will be in the form of a badge that can be displayed on winning schools’ public channels and marketing and admissions materials. This is a valuable quality mark for schools. Winning initiatives will be recognised throughout the year on the ISC Research website news, community and in International School Leader Magazine.

    Quote from an International School Award winner

    CRITERIA

    Application criteria

    The Awards provide an opportunity to highlight your community’s good practice, creative endeavours and innovation. Your application should focus on one specific initiative that meets the following three criteria:

    • Supporting at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
    • Rooting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ)
    • Supporting the K-12 schools community

    PEOPLE

    Judges

    A panel of independent judges select all award recipients.
    Polly Akhurst
    Polly Akhurst

    Job title - Co-founder and Co-Executive Director, Amala

    Polly Akhurst is the Co-founder and Co Executive Director of Amala, a not for profit organisation which uses the power of education to transform the lives of refugees, their communities and the world. Amala has developed the first high school ... View profile

    Dr Samia Al Farra
    Dr Samia Al Farra

    Job title - International Education Consultant

    Dr Samia Al Farra works as a consultant in school improvement and excellence in education K-12. Currently she serves on three boards of international schools in Dubai, Riyadh and Kuwait. She was the Chief Education Officer of Taaleem Management ... View profile

    Alun Cooper
    Alun Cooper

    Job title - Former Head of International Schools

    Alun Cooper has a distinguished career within education and the international schools market, with more than 40 years of senior leadership experience at prestigious international institutions in Thailand, Vietnam, Belgium, South America along ... View profile

    Jeremy Lewis
    Jeremy Lewis

    Job title - Head of School, ACS Egham International School, UK

    Jeremy Lewis served as Head of School at ACS Egham International School in the UK for 12 years.  Prior to joining ACS Egham, Jeremy held leadership roles in Turkey, Vietnam, Hungary, Japan and Kuwait.  During his 38 years in international ... View profile

    Anu Monga
    Anu Monga

    Job title - Founder and Chair of TAISI

    Anu Monga has a distinguished career within education in India and the international schools market. She has more than thirty years of senior leadership experience and has worked in different leadership capacities with leading schools in Delhi, ... View profile

    Ango Mwakisu
    Ango Mwakisu

    Job title - Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

    Ango Mwakisu has been working in international higher education for more than 10 years. Originally from the land of Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, Tanzania, Ango is an alumnus of Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany where he earned both his ... View profile

    Mónica Pérez-Bedmar
    Mónica Pérez-Bedmar

    Job title - Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, Saint Louis University, Madrid, Spain

    Mónica Pérez-Bedmar is a double national Spanish-American. Upon completion of primary and secondary school in her hometown of Madrid, she received a scholarship to study in Florida Tech University, where she completed a BS in Oceanography and ... View profile

    Paul Regan
    Paul Regan

    Job title - Former Principal of Oaktree International School, Kolkata, India

    Paul has worked in the field of education as teacher, head teacher and principal for over thirty years, fifteen of them in international education. He has run schools in Kenya, the Ukraine, Bosnia and India and, as founding head, he has started ... View profile

    Dr Kevin Ruth
    Dr Kevin Ruth

    Job title - Managing Director, Westlake Global

    Dr Kevin Ruth is Managing Director of Westlake Global, an innovation and growth firm for K-12 independent and international schools, as well as domestic (US) and international post-secondary institutions and institutions of higher education. ... View profile

    Dr Helen Wright
    Dr Helen Wright

    Job title - International Education Advisor

    Helen has an energetic career spanning 25 years to date in the UK and international education sector, including 13 years leading schools as Head, as well as a number of national and international roles, including as Vice-Chair of the ... View profile

    OPPORTUNITIES

    Sponsorship

    Raise further awareness of your brand by sponsoring the International School Awards.

    GOOD PRACTICE NEWS

    Stay informed

    Read our news to keep informed of the International School Awards. View all ISC Research news.

    Landing in Bangkok –  the first Festival of Education Thailand
    Landing in Bangkok – the first Festival of Education Thailand

    The inaugural Festival of Education in Thailand, set to be hosted at Wellington College International School Bangkok on Saturday, 18th November, is a landmark event for educators across the region. Read more

    Celebrating excellence: the 2024 International School Awards
    Celebrating excellence: the 2024 International School Awards

    Join us in counting down to our exciting announcement, where we will unveil the 2024 International School Award winners on Wednesday 24th January 2024. With this date rapidly approaching, we extend a warm invitation for you to join us in the lively discussions surrounding the remarkable school initiatives submitted for consideration. Read more

    The impacts of winning an International School Award
    The impacts of winning an International School Award

    Here at ISC Research, we were keen to learn about how previous winners of the International School Awards have continued to develop their initiatives. We’ve been fortunate enough to speak with some winners who are willing to share insights into what happened next for their school. With just 3 weeks to go until applications close for the 2024 International School Awards, let’s talk about how winning the prestigious award can impact your school. Read more