Beech Hall School Honoured as ‘Winner’ in Prestigious National School Awards

Staff and pupils at Beech Hall in Macclesfield are jubilant after the school was declared ‘Winner’ in the Excellence in Pupil Enrichment category at the much-coveted Tes School Awards 2026.

The awards represent the annual celebration of excellence in UK education, held to recognise the schools and teachers whose work is transforming outcomes for pupils and setting new standards across education in the UK.

The 2026 awards were presented at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 19 June, with comedian Katherine Ryan hosting the ceremony. This year also brought the highest number of nominations since the awards began in 2009.

Winners were selected by a panel of experienced school leaders and education experts across 23 categories spanning leadership, teaching, wellbeing, pupil outcomes and innovation.

James Allen, Headmaster at Beech Hall School commented:

“We feel incredibly honoured and grateful to receive such high recognition. Beech Hall is a small school that punches above its weight in terms of individual and collective opportunities and achievements, and we work very hard to enable every child to ‘find their thing’, whether this be singing, playing an instrument, basketball, swimming, acting, public speaking or maths.

“The school’s co-curricular programme offers a varied range of opportunities, sporting, musical, artistic, cerebral and academic, and in any given term in the last academic year, we have offered between 50 and 70 co-curricular clubs.

“Open water swimming has been particularly popular for the opportunities it offers our pupils. With two more successful junior teams crossing the English Channel in 2024/25, Beech Hall School became the world’s most successful junior squad to cross the English Channel. In the last six years, 25 children have completed an English Channel relay swim. They also topped £150,000 raised for Mencap. In October of 2024, Beech Hall pupils also became the first children to ever swim the 58.5km around 20 Bridges of Manhattan in relay, completing their challenge in 7 hours 22 minutes.”

When introducing the award, host Katherine Ryan, commented: “Judges said their biggest obstacle is brilliant and boy have they overcome that. Children – not elite athletes – can take their place in anything they believe in.”

Rod Williams, CEO of Tes, said:

“The Tes Schools Awards recognise the schools and teachers whose work is changing lives every day. This year’s winners represent the very best of UK education.

“They are raising standards, supporting their communities and finding new ways to help every pupil succeed. With a record number of entries this year, the quality of submissions was exceptional.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists for the extraordinary contribution they make to education.”

Beech Hall School is a non-selective independent school for children aged 4 to 18 years. It is situated in a beautiful sixteen-acre site on the edge of the Peak District, housing two listed buildings, playing fields and a swimming pool.

The school is committed to providing a child-centred approach to education. Small classes and a focus on the individual mean that quality teaching and learning leads to success. Opportunities beyond the curriculum are just as important as those in the classroom at the school, seeking to provide a truly unique curriculum for every child. A balanced focus on academic attainment, sporting opportunities, emphasising individual strengths and celebrating traditional values are at the core of everything that is important to Beech Hall.

To find out more about Beech Hall visit: 

www.beechhallschool.org