Lydiard Park Academy in West Swindon has achieved a remarkable milestone by being shortlisted in the Top 10 for the World’s Best School Prize for Supporting Healthy Lives.
This prestigious recognition is part of the World’s Best School Prizes 2024, founded by T4 Education in collaboration with Accenture, American Express, and the Lemann Foundation. This year’s winners will share a $50,000 prize fund.
Lydiard Park Academy, known for its innovative “School of Solutions” programme, has been acknowledged for its significant impact on at-risk students. This unique initiative, a school within a school, provides targeted support for students at risk of exclusion or those struggling to attend, achieving impressive results.
David Williams, Executive Director of Inclusion at The Park Academies Trust, expressed his delight: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prizes. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our staff and students in our pioneering ‘School of Solutions’. The early intervention work we do has enabled many students to continue their education and realise their potential.”
Lydiard Park Academy is part of The Park Academies Trust and has formed valuable partnerships with The Happy Confident Company and NoticeAbility, organisations that provide wellbeing resources and support for dyslexic students, respectively. These partnerships have led to decreased anxiety, increased self-esteem, and enhanced feelings of inclusion and acceptance among students.
Nadim Saad, CEO and Founder of The Happy Confident Company, praised the programme’s impact: “The transformation in mindset and self-belief among students at Lydiard Park Academy has been phenomenal. It’s inspiring to see students who struggled now thriving in a regular school setting and beyond.”
Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, commented on the broader implications: “Unless we address the urgent challenges facing global education – from learning gaps exacerbated by COVID to the teacher wellbeing and retention crisis – we risk failing the next generation. Schools like Lydiard Park Academy show what can be achieved with innovation and a strong culture. It’s time for governments to take note and learn from these solutions.”
The Top 3 finalists for each of the five World’s Best School Prizes will be announced in September 2024, with the winners revealed in November. Each winner will receive an award of $10,000. Additionally, the school with the most public votes will receive the Community Choice Award and membership to the Best School to Work programme.
