Ackworth School are delighted to announce that we have been named a Commended School in the Independent School of the Year for Performing Arts category at the prestigious Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2026.
Organised by Independent School Parent magazine, the Independent Schools of the Year Awards celebrate excellence across the independent education sector. This year’s awards attracted a record number of entries from schools across the UK, making the judges’ decisions more competitive than ever. Schools receiving a commendation now progress to the next stage of the judging process, with finalists announced on 10 September and winners revealed at the awards ceremony on 14 October.
The commendation is the latest in a series of national recognitions for Ackworth School’s flourishing performing arts provision. Earlier this year, the School was named Drama Department of the Year at the Music & Drama Education Awards 2026, recognising the exceptional work of our drama department. This latest commendation celebrates the wider strength of performing arts at Ackworth, recognising the collaboration between music and drama, and the wealth of opportunities available for our students to develop their talents both on and off the stage.
Alistar Boucher, Head of Drama, said:
“Following our recent Drama Department of the Year award, it is incredibly rewarding to see Ackworth recognised once again on the national stage. While that award celebrated the work of our drama department, this commendation acknowledges the strength of the performing arts across the whole School.
“The magic happens because of the collaboration between so many talented colleagues and the enthusiasm of our students. Whether they are acting, directing, designing, building sets or working backstage, every student plays a part in creating something special. This recognition belongs to all of them.”
Oliver McCarthy-Bell, Director of Music, added:
“This commendation reflects something we are incredibly proud of at Ackworth; that music and drama are not separate disciplines, but work together to create a rich and inspiring performing arts culture.
“Our students throw themselves into every opportunity, whether that’s performing in concerts, singing in choirs, playing in ensembles or supporting our theatre productions. Their creativity, commitment and willingness to challenge themselves are what make performing arts at Ackworth so special, and it is wonderful to see that recognised nationally.”
Performing arts are a cornerstone of life at Ackworth School, with students benefiting from an extensive programme of productions, concerts, ensembles, workshops and performance opportunities throughout the year. Underpinned by the School’s Quaker values, these experiences help young people develop confidence, creativity, resilience and compassion, while encouraging them to discover and nurture their individual talents.
Everyone at Ackworth School is immensely proud of this latest recognition. It is a tribute to the extraordinary commitment of our staff and the remarkable achievements of our students, whose creativity, hard work and willingness to embrace every opportunity continue to make Ackworth’s performing arts provision one of the finest in the country. We now look forward to the announcement of the finalists in September.