This award recognises schools working in partnership with the community and other public sector bodies on projects that bring specific benefits to the local community.
2026 Winner: Maghull High School, Merseyside
Maghull High School is proud of its strong role within the local community, instilling in students a sense of responsibility and active citizenship through the “Maghull High Way.” The school’s Student Leadership Team, working with Social Signature, has driven initiatives that make a tangible impact across the school and wider community. As an active member of MADCOS and Team Around the School, Maghull High leads collaborative projects and supports charitable causes, including Zoe’s Place, South Sefton Foodbank, and Know Knife Crime, while partnering with Merseyside Police, local councils, and Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs.
In response to local antisocial behaviour, the school coordinated a community litter-pick involving all local schools and organisations, transforming negative media narratives into positive action. This initiative also led to the creation of Maghull’s first Youth Council, with student leaders from Maghull High taking key roles in shaping opportunities for young people.
Through these efforts, Maghull High School demonstrates leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to empowering students to make meaningful change in their community.
Commended
Oasis Academy Immingham, North East Lincolnshire
Oasis Academy Immingham places the school at the heart of its community, creating a safe, welcoming hub that responds to local needs. In an area with limited access to leisure and wellbeing facilities, the academy has transformed under-used spaces into an inclusive community centre over the past three years. Central to this is an affordable gym and a wide range of structured activities promoting physical health, confidence, and social connection for all ages.
Partnerships have been key to success. Collaboration with Grimsby Town Foundation and Football Fun Factory delivers free football sessions for young people, while One Voice provides free netball and dance classes for children and adults, ensuring accessibility regardless of background.
The academy also supports families through the Holiday Activities and Food programme, on-site food bank, and uniform donation schemes, offering safe, structured activity and reducing financial pressures. By opening year-round, Oasis Academy Immingham fosters inclusion, wellbeing, and community cohesion, reinvesting income to sustain lasting impact.
William Hulme's Grammar School, Manchester (entered)
At William Hulme’s Grammar School, community engagement is central to school life from Nursery through Sixth Form. Students are encouraged to learn, lead, and positively impact their local area, reflecting the school’s belief that schools should be the heart of their communities.
In the primary phase, pupils take part in Careers Marketplace Day, social action projects such as foodbank collections, care home visits, and environmental campaigns, and family workshops like Learn With Me and Little Lions, fostering learning alongside parents. Secondary students continue this engagement by leading campaigns on mental health, diversity, kindness, and positive choices, developing empathy, resilience, and civic responsibility.
Transformative initiatives such as the School Pantry, Uniform Swap Shop, and student-led fundraising of over £20,000 for local and international charities demonstrate practical impact. Volunteering, mentoring, and the SMART School Council ensure students’ voices shape school life.
At William Hulme’s, students do not just participate—they lead, embodying values of kindness, leadership, and inclusion.
Newman Catholic College, London
Newman Catholic College is a Catholic secondary school in the London Borough of Brent, serving boys aged 11–19 with a mission to nurture every student academically, socially and spiritually. The school emphasises inclusion, with a diverse community representing many cultures and faiths, and describes itself as a UNICEF Rights Respecting School and a School of Sanctuary — welcoming those seeking safety and celebrating cultural diversity through education and pastoral support.
A key dimension of Newman’s community work is its commitment to Catholic Social Teaching, encouraging pupils to put faith into action through compassionate citizenship, volunteering, and outreach. Students engage in a wide range of charitable activities, supporting organisations such as CAFOD, the Catholic Children’s Society, Sufra Foodbank and Cancer Research, as well as responding to urgent global and local needs.
One of its most impactful initiatives is the Newman Foodbank, established during the COVID-19 pandemic to help families experiencing food insecurity in Harlesden and the wider NW10 community. The foodbank runs weekly during term time and is supported by partnerships with Caritas Westminster, local businesses and volunteers, including students and staff, offering essential food supplies and seasonal produce from a community garden.
Through these efforts, Newman works not only to educate young people but to strengthen its local community by addressing food poverty and promoting dignity, inclusion and service.
Bournville School, West Midlands
Bournville School is an all-through academy in Birmingham that places strong emphasis not just on education but on community engagement and outreach as part of its mission to support students and families beyond the classroom. The school’s ethos encourages partnership, wellbeing and shared responsibility with local families and organisations.
A key community initiative is the Community Room, a refurbished space officially opened in April 2025 by the local MP. This new facility acts as a hub for bridging the school with its wider neighbourhood. It hosts Parent Forums, SEND parent drop-in sessions, and meetings with external services and support agencies, fostering dialogue between families, educators and support professionals. Partnerships with organisations such as West Midlands Police and the charity Aquarius enable workshops on topics including substance awareness and healthy choices for young people — connecting school life with wider community safety and wellbeing initiatives.
The Community Room is used for a broad range of collaborative events like social service meetings, police and fire service workshops, and association gatherings, with more programmes in development, showing Bournville’s proactive approach to community support.
Beyond formal outreach spaces, the school supports student wellbeing through initiatives like the National School Breakfast Programme, providing nutritious meals, and the issuing of food bank vouchers for families facing hardship, underlining its role in supporting the whole community.
Downshall Primary School, Essex
Downshall Primary School in the London Borough of Redbridge has actively engaged its pupils in environmental and community outreach through collaborative planting projects with Redbridge Council’s neighbourhood and sustainability initiatives. As part of wider borough-wide community planting efforts, pupils from Downshall Primary joined local residents, volunteers and council teams to help plant seasonal flowers such as cyclamens and pansies in public spaces, contributing to the borough’s aim of creating greener, more attractive neighbourhoods that support wildlife and benefit residents.
These planting days are more than a physical project: they are designed to teach pupils about environmental stewardship, biodiversity and the benefits of green spaces, reinforcing curriculum themes linked to geography and sustainability while giving children hands-on experience of community action. Children reflected on how plants improve air quality, support pollinators and enhance local surroundings, and discussed issues like litter and recycling as part of the learning process.
Staff at the school expressed appreciation for the opportunity to participate, noting the positive experience for pupils and the chance to work alongside local partners.
By involving young people in these collaborative environmental activities, Downshall Primary helps foster a sense of civic responsibility, strengthens ties between the school and its wider community, and supports broader council goals on sustainability and neighbourhood wellbeing.
Oasis Academy South Bank
Oasis Academy South Bank, based on Westminster Bridge Road in Lambeth, is part of the Oasis Community Learning multi-academy trust. The Academy not only provides high-quality secondary education but also sits at the heart of the Oasis Hub Waterloo, a long-established network of community services that deliver practical support to local residents alongside schooling.
Through the Waterloo Hub, the school is integrated with community initiatives such as the Waterloo Foodbank, which provides emergency food support to people in crisis and works with local agencies distributing food vouchers and offering signposting to further services. The Hub also runs a debt advice centre offering free, confidential guidance for individuals struggling with financial difficulties, and a range of youth and family support programmes including mentoring, holiday clubs, and adult learning. This integrated model means pupils and their families benefit from wrap-around services that reinforce wellbeing, resilience and community cohesion, while students are encouraged to take part in volunteering and social action activities where appropriate.
2025 Winner: Etone College, Warwickshire
Etone College’s Community Champions lead initiatives to support local causes, raise funds, and engage in outreach. Pupils, selected through an application process, have raised £15,000 for charities, hosted Partnership Pancakes for elderly residents, and supported primary school pupils. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the College embraces values of integrity and care through projects like Guy’s Gift, Mary Evans Hospice, and Doorway. Staff also contribute, completing charity challenges and fundraising efforts. With a strong focus on community spirit, Etone College remains dedicated to making a lasting impact in Nuneaton, reinforcing its role as a school committed to social responsibility.
Commended
Woolenwick Infant and Nursery School, Herts
Woolenwick Infant and Nursery School in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, actively engages in community initiatives to enrich student development. Notably, they collaborate with Astonia Lodge retirement community, where children aged four and five visit weekly to interact with elderly residents, referred to as "grandfriends." This program fosters intergenerational bonds through activities like storytelling and crafts, enhancing children's social skills and confidence. Inspired by Channel 4's "Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds," this initiative addresses developmental delays observed post-pandemic. The school's commitment to community partnerships and innovative approaches earned them the Gold Award for Impact through Partnership at the 2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards.
Framlingham College, Suffolk
Framlingham College remains dedicated to supporting the community, especially after the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and severe storms. Pupils contribute over 10,000 volunteering hours annually, assisting with community gardens, dog-walking, charity shops, and elderly coffee mornings. Initiatives like the Christmas Hamper Drive and Phab Club aid local families and disabled youth. The College partners with charities such as Hour Community and The Nest, while the Combined Cadet Force plays a key civic role. Supporting local businesses, hosting events, and collaborating with schools further strengthen community ties, ensuring Framlingham College remains an integral part of Suffolk’s social fabric.
Wolsingham School, County Durham
Wolsingham School in County Durham is deeply committed to community engagement and social responsibility. Their Climate Action Team has led initiatives like installing filtered water coolers to reduce plastic waste and proposing a "Blue Nose Day" to promote energy conservation. Additionally, the school hosts community events such as the annual Christmas dinner, which raises funds for charitable causes, including a student trip to Nepal to support global outreach efforts (The Northern Echo). Wolsingham School also fosters leadership through its Cadet Force, emphasizing service and personal development, further strengthening its role as a pillar of the local community.
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University’s community engagement is outstanding, demonstrating a strong commitment to societal impact. The University is a signatory of the NCCPE’s Manifesto for Public Engagement and a member of the United Nations Academic Impact Network, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (MMU). It received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its work in public engagement with poetry and community languages. The University also enriches local communities through projects like OnCampus, which supports primary schools and embeds social responsibility. These efforts cement Manchester Metropolitan’s reputation as a leader in community-driven initiatives.
Gorse Hill Primary School, Swindon
Gorse Hill Primary School in Swindon serves a diverse community with 68% of pupils speaking a second language. It actively involves parents and families, regularly inviting them to participate in various activities, thereby strengthening community bonds. The school library moved to a larger space recently to encourage more families through the door. Headteacher Candida Hutchinson has said the stories in the library "unify" the pupils and help them to find "commonality no matter where you were raised".
2024 Winner: Lawley Village Academy
Shropshire's Lawley Village Academy sits between an assisted living care home and a nursing care home. Over the past 3 to 4 years, children and staff have worked hard to make strong and long-lasting community links with the carers and residents in both homes. The ongoing relationships prove to be a weekly highlight in the community, as well as being an opportunity for children to learn from the residents. Care staff have observed and reported exceptional levels of increased positive mental health, who look forward to the children bounding through the doors each week.
Commended
Etone College, Warwickshire
Northfleet School for Girls, Kent
Newent Community School and Sixth Form, Gloucestershire
Windsor Academy Trust, West Midlands
East Ward Primary School, Greater Manchester
2023 Winner: Dunoon Grammar School, Argyll
Serving a rural community in Scotland, Dunoon Grammar has been recognised for its work to tackle a lack of opportunities for young people in the area. After evaluating the community’s needs and gaps in the workplace, the school facilitated over 50 skill-based courses to empower students to work in professions vital to the local economy. A practical, experience-based curriculum allows students to learn about crucial industries such as travel, tourism and maritime studies.
Commended
Berkhamsted School, Hertfordshire
Newent Community School & Sixth Form, Gloucestershire
Swillington Primary School, West Yorkshire
2022 Winner
Shaftesbury Park Primary School, London
Commended
Wellington School, Somerset
Coppice Valley Primary School, North Yorkshire
Forest Hill School, London
2021 Winner
Castledon School, Essex
Castledon is integrated into the local and wider community and as such provides a meaningful student and community relationship, which is beneficial to all. In the last two years, the school has dedicated 144 working days to its local nature reserve. A variety of students help the local ‘happy hub’, a charity that supports the community by providing help to the homeless and people struggling with mental health.The school also runs a community cafe called Poppies, which is based in four different locations throughout the week, and has branched out into supporting local farms.
Commended
Heene Primary, Worthing / Sussex Partnership NHSFT
Bournehall Primary School / Hertfordshire Constabulary
St. Mary's CEVC Primary School / Avon and Somerset Constabulary
St. Stephen’s Primary School / Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHSFT
2020 Winner
Wrenbury Primary School, Cheshire
A partnership between Wrenbury Primary School, Wrenbury Medical Practice and Wrenbury Nursing Home involved Year 4 children visiting a Medical Practice to promote awareness about immunisation in their local community. Wrenbury Nursing Home also provided the children with personal stories of life pre-vaccination from some of the residents. The school followed their immunisation activity up by presenting what the children had learnt to parents and grandparents at their Summer term Sharing Afternoon. The children involved then went on to lead an assembly on the importance of immunisation.
Commended
Eastbury Community School and The Sydney Russell School, Essex
Hanson School, West Yorkshire
Downshall Primary School, Essex
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Lancashire
2019 Winner
Gilbrook Primary School, Wirral
Gilbrook has recognised that parents are as vulnerable as children, suffering from mental health problems, social deprivation and poor literacy skills. The school has forged links with a range of professionals to help support community cohesion. All children can access the school’s breakfast club; a parents’group supports families with benefits and housing issues. Working with local MPs, prisons, scout groups and other community organisations will help to improve outcomes for families.
Commended
New College Leicester
More than 2,500 local people make use of the New College Leicester’s sports facilities each week. Key relationships have been established with voluntary and professional clubs which have resulted in an explosion of sports participation that is helping to address wider social issues like wellbeing and community safety. Leicester Riders Basketball Club and Leicester City Football Club Community Trust use the facilities in a project to keep youngsters off the streets.
The Hayling College, Hampshire
The Hayling College, Hampshire, hosts the Heart of Hayling Boxing Academy which this year has seen an average of 150 young people a week come to train. Hampshire Police works closely with the academy - young people who are known to the police are welcome and there are even plans to assist with various court orders as part of rehabilitation. Donations to the Academy will be used to sponsor elite boxers and to help to create new coaches.
Marine Academy Primary, Devon
Marine Academy Primary has introduced ‘The Dudes Club!’, where dads, stepdads, grandads, uncles and other male role models can spend quality time with their children at the school. Children take part in a range of activities including a football training session with Plymouth Argyle, a boot camp session with Discovery Martial Arts, toasting marshmallows at a fire pit and making props for a Dudes Club photo. The well attended events created a community buzz.
Acklam Grange School, Middlesbrough
AGS ‘Then, Now and Forever’, the final strand of the AGS Remembers project, was launched with a community engagement evening. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the AGS Wall of Remembrance is a recognised war memorial and permanent feature of the community. Positioned outside of the inner courtyard so anyone can freely visit, it stands as a symbol of respect and a promise to educate future generations.
2018 Winner
Eastbourne College, East Sussex
As a major employer in the area and a significant part of the local economy, Eastbourne set up The Eastbourne Schools Partnership (ESP), which works to provide community, educational and sporting activities involving pupils, staff and the general public. ESP now comprises 12 schools and colleges and accounts for 14,000 children in the surrounding area.
Commended
Heswall Primary, Wirrall
Lutley Primary School, Werst Midlands
Bolton School, Greater Manchester
Parklands Primary School, Leeds
Wimboldsley Primary School, Cheshire
2017 Winner
Beddington Park Primary School
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Community Action Support Hub, founded by Beddington Park Primary two years ago, unites local agencies, charities and services to improve the well-being of children and adults in the region. This year the school launched the Community Database, which contains information on various local and national organisations who can support families.
Commended
Kilgarth School
Beddington Park Primary School
Richmond Hill Primary School
Shrewsbury High School
Parkwood E-ACT Academy
Wolverhampton Grammar School
2016 Winner
Shrewsbury High School, Shropshire
Shrewsbury High has become a Shropshire ‘hub’ for preparing potential medics thanks to its utilising of Keele University’s Medical Outreach Program and Shropshire Careers Service. The collaboration has ensured prospective medical students gain the right advice and direction on offer.
Commended
Beddington Park Primary School, Surrey
Parkwood Academy, Sheffield
North Liverpool Academy
Nansen Primary School, Birmingham
Plymouth School of Creative Arts, Devon
2015 Winner
Seaford College, West Sussex
Seaford College’s community work has been hugely recognisable this year with the school receiving an award at the ‘Making a Lasting Difference’ South Region Awards for the ‘Community Project of the Year.’ The award recognised Seaford College’s involvement in the Whyke Estate, Chichester, as part of the school’s Community Action Day in July. Students and staff carried out a variety of tasks to help those who are registered as vulnerable, due to physical disability, learning difficulties, or old age. It is likely that Seaford College will go through to the National Awards, and the school looks forward to returning to the Whyke Estate as part of the Community Action Day in 2015.
Commended
Anson Primary School, London
Epsom College, Surrey