Staff and pupils at Felsted School in Essex are celebrating after winning the Boarding School of the Year Award.

The Tes School Awards, dubbed 'the Oscars of education', are now in their 15th year - originating from what was previously the Times Educational Supplement.

An awards ceremony was held on Friday, June 23 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Felsted School was praised for its academic programme, which judges said "embraces the latest thinking, approaches and technologies to give pupils a 21st century education".

According to judges, the school's co-curricular programme "develops personal attributes and characteristics that enable each student to make an active contribution to society and find fulfilment in life".

The award noted that four Felstedians were included in Forbes magazine's 30 under 30 feature, while current students engage in a range of charity fundraising and volunteering for initiatives at home and abroad.

Judge Gwen Byrom said: "We were impressed by the way topics such as diversity and inclusion as well as sustainability were woven right through the school and not just stand-alone programmes or initiatives.

"The school is also bucking the trend with their incredible over-subscription for admissions: this is clearly a fantastic school that people want to send their children to."

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Felsted has a commitment to widen access, with a £3.37 million fee assistance fund benefitting more than a third of students, as well as means-tested bursaries and hardship assistance, and free places for Ukrainian students.

Headteacher Chris Townsend said: "There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into running a school like ours and there are so many people working hard day in day out to make it the place that it is.

"This award is for all our staff and colleagues – I am very proud of them all."

Tes editor and chief judge of the Tes School Awards Jon Severs said: "These awards showcase just how vital our education professionals are to every facet of this country.

"Teachers, leaders and support staff all play such an important role in schools: this is our chance to say thank you for all that they do."