The International School Awards continue to spotlight exceptional achievements in international education, showcasing the innovative ways school communities encourage social responsibility and empower their students to become global changemakers.
This year, we received nearly 200 applications split across three different tuition fee categories: Category A for schools operating with a low fee band, Category B for mid-range fee bands, and Category C for premium fee bands. Regardless of the school’s size and available resources, all evaluations were strictly focused on the submitted initiatives and their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ), as well as their support for the wider community. The result was fourteen outstanding winning schools representing nine different countries, each addressing some of the world’s most critical challenges.
Pioneering sustainability though school culture
According to the UN, there is no country in the world that remains untouched by the effects of climate change. It looks to address the continued rise of greenhouse emissions by integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning, as well as enhancing climate education and strengthening institutional capacities to mitigate impacts.
To align with this stance, sustainability has become a guiding and intrinsic principle to school operations and classroom practices around the world. The Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology (QASMT) in Australia, one of this year’s winners in Category A, exemplifies this commitment. Since 2019, QASMT has implemented a Net Zero initiative where students and educators work together to eliminate single-use plastics on campus and reduce the institution’s carbon emissions. A major achievement of this is the transformation of the International School Science Fair (ISSF) – an annual fair coordinated by the world’s specialist science secondary schools – into a carbon neutral event. Students sourced sustainable catering options and eco-friendly packaging, minimised food and material waste, and prioritised low-emission transport options during the event.
Sustainability is embedded in school culture at QASMT, with students carrying reusable water bottles made from recyclable materials and raising awareness for events such as Clean Up Australia Day and World Water Day. Students are empowered to become climate-conscious global citizens, equipping themselves with the knowledge and skills to tackle sustainability challenges in line with the UN’s strategy for climate action.
Winners of Category A
Category A, partnered with EDT&Partners, is dedicated to international schools implementing outstanding initiatives within a lower fee band.
- GEMS Legacy School, Dubai [United Arab Emirates]
- Kopila Valley School [Nepal]
- Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology [Australia]
- Zhuji Ronghuai Foreign Language School [China]
Tackling health inequalities through education
Though important progress has been made towards improving global health, inequalities in healthcare persist, with a significant portion of the world’s population lacking access to vital medicines, equipment, and healthcare practitioners. Climate change, rapid urbanisation, and widening economic and social disparities are contributing to emerging and prevailing healthcare challenges, highlighting the need for urgent change on both global and local levels.
As part of this mission, Pearls Garden School in Nigeria – a winner of Category B – is tackling the rising rates of Type 2 diabetes in the country. Currently, seven million Nigerians are estimated to be affected by the condition, and they are facing a 300-400% increase in medication costs which is making the option unaffordable for most. Students and educators have responded to this by organising a Community Health Day – a day of free medical checkups for the local community, including BMI measurements and blood sugar level tests, in addition to specialist lectures from healthcare professionals on the symptoms, treatment options, and prevention methods of diabetes.
Source: Pearls Garden School
Pearls Garden School is now securing the support of the school administration to integrate the Community Healthcare Day into its annual calendar, ensuring it becomes a recurring event. By making this a longstanding initiative and partnering with local health organisations, hospitals, and medical professionals, the school is committing to providing ongoing medical expertise and increasing access to essential healthcare in their local area. This community-focused initiative highlights how international schools can be catalysts for change, empowering individuals to make informed, health-conscious decisions in a step to reaching global health equity.
Winners of Category B
Partnered with UCAS, Category B represents exceptional international schools operating in a mid-range fee band.
- Cogdel Cranleigh School, Changsha [China]
- Concordia International School, Shanghai [China]
- DPS International, Gurgaon [India]
- PASCAL Private School, Larnaka [Cyprus]
- Pearls Garden School [Nigeria]
Addressing economic disparities through social entrepreneurship
The eradication of poverty remains “one of the greatest challenges facing humanity”, with nearly 600 million people predicted to be living in extreme poverty in 2030. The SDGs are a commitment to ending poverty in all its forms, necessitating governments, schools, and individuals to find sustainable ways to increase the availability of basic resources and services to society’s most vulnerable communities.
This year’s International School Awards have seen students tackle this challenge head-on. At Yew Chung International School of Shanghai in China – a winner of Category C – students lead a social enterprise called Hope Beans, the aim of which is to support low-income families through compassionate leadership and ethical decision making. In collaboration with an environmentally-friendly supplier from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, the enterprise sells locally-produced coffee beans at external markets and events. The students then donate 30% of proceeds to Light of Life – a charity supporting low-income families affected by HIV/AIDS. This provides financial assistance and comprehensive care for affected individuals, addressing the intersection between economic hardship and a lack of access to healthcare.
Students are involved in every part of the business – creating a brand name and logo, sourcing the supplier, and marketing and selling the final product. Their efforts have so far raised over RMB 4,000 ($550 USD), with one ex-student having set up a branch of Hope Beans in Toronto. Through a shared passion for creativity and real-world experience, students see the business world as a platform for social change, making a tangible difference in local low-income communities.
Source: Yew Chung International School of Shanghai
Winners of Category C
Partnered with Pearson, Category C showcases outstanding initiatives led by international schools with a premium fee band.
- Nexus International School [Malaysia]
- Pathways School, Noida [India]
- St Christopher’s School [Bahrain]
- Western Academy of Beijing [China]
- Yew Chung International School of Shanghai [China]
Many congratulations to this year’s winning schools, and huge thank you to each of our sponsors for making the International School Awards free and accessible to everyone: JCS, ISC Insight, NoTosh, Hachette Learning, Riverside Insights, BrandEd, EIW Architects, and Field Studies Council.
