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.
Ackworth School is celebrating national recognition after being named a winner at the prestigious Music & Drama Education Awards 2026, a leading celebration of excellence and innovation in performing arts education across the UK.
The award recognises the strength and impact of Ackworth’s drama provision, highlighting the creativity, ambition and dedication of both pupils and staff. The Music & Drama Education Awards are judged by respected figures from across the creative and educational sectors, shining a spotlight on schools that demonstrate outstanding commitment to the arts.
In announcing the award, the judges praised Ackworth’s distinctive ethos and high standards:
“The judges liked the school’s integrated approach in balancing students’ needs and development with quality output. They were impressed with the level of internal support for the department and the challenging play choices made for productions.”
This commendation reflects Ackworth School’s belief that drama is about far more than performance alone. Through an ambitious programme of productions and curriculum drama, pupils are encouraged to take creative risks, explore complex themes and develop the confidence, resilience and collaboration skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Ackworth was shortlisted alongside a strong field of outstanding schools from across the country:
Ackworth School, West Yorkshire
Chiswick School, Chiswick
Guildford High School, Surrey
Hill House International Junior School, London
The Marlborough Science Academy, St Albans
Moreton Hall, Oswestry
Sevenoaks School, Kent
Trinity Catholic School, Nottingham
Wellington School, Somerset
To be recognised among such distinguished company underlines the national standing of Ackworth’s performing arts provision.
As a Steinway School, Ackworth is proud to place creativity at the heart of school life. Its drama success complements a broad and ambitious curriculum, strong academic outcomes and a rich co-curricular programme that enables every pupil to discover and develop their talents.
This latest national award further strengthens Ackworth School’s reputation as a leading independent day and boarding school, where academic excellence and creative opportunity go hand in hand.
You can view the full list of nominees and winners here.
For more information about joining Ackworth School and our range of performing arts opportunities, please contact us on admissions@ackworthschool.com or 01977 233621.
Sally Harby taught piano here at Ackworth School until a serious road accident in 1982 sadly put an end to her career.
Sally has lived in France for the last 16 years, but on February 3rd she visited Ackworth to see the school’s new Steinway pianos.
After a tour of the Music Department, Sally played a piece of Rachmaninoff on the Steinway Grand, much to the delight of a Coram House class. Her verdict on the Steinway was, “Formidable!”
In January 2019, Ackworth School became the 15th member of the All-Steinway Group of Schools. As a member of this prestigious group, we demonstrate a commitment to excellence and an unparallelled educational experience by providing our students with the rich, unrivalled sound, incomparable tone, and pristine touch of STEINWAY & SONS pianos.
These pianos inspire students to realise their artistic talents, and best prepare them to compete at the highest level in the professional world.
In this photo Sally is seen with family members, including her sister, Celia Wolfe (left) who taught History at Ackworth for 25 years, and now holds the position of Archivist, as well as Daniel Marks, Director of Music (second from right).
Here is a short clip of Sally playing the Steinway Grand.
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