A year of national recognition for Bancroft’s School

Published by Bancroft's School on Monday 14th of September 2026

Bancroft's School in Woodford Green is celebrating a strong run of national and regional recognition across learning support, pastoral care, Sixth Form provision and sport.

For the second year running, the School has reached the final for London Independent School of the Year. The 2026 shortlist places Bancroft's among six finalists from across the capital. The School also reached the final in the same category in 2025.

This follows another major national result: Bancroft's was named Best SEND School in The Week Independent Schools Guide's Best of the Best Senior Schools Awards 2026. The School's Sixth Form was also Commended in the Best Sixth Form category.

Pastoral care has also been recognised. Bancroft's is a finalist in the Pastoral Care & Wellbeing category of the Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education 2026, marking the second consecutive year the School has reached the final in this area.

The School was also named a finalist for Inclusive SEN Provision in the Education Choices Awards 2026, adding to the recent recognition for the individual support offered to pupils across Bancroft's.

Sport has also been in the winners list as Bancroft's was named Essex Tennis School of the Year 2025/26 in the LTA Awards, celebrating the breadth and inclusivity of the School's tennis programme.

These latest announcements build on two national wins in 2025. Bancroft's was named Pastoral Care Champion 2025 by School House Magazine and won the Alice Rose Award at the Talk Education Awards 2025.

The recognition comes alongside a strong academic year. In 2026, 75% of A Level grades were awarded A* or A, while half of all GCSEs were awarded Grade 9.

Taken together, the awards reflect many different parts of school life: academic ambition, inclusive learning, pastoral care, co-curricular opportunity and the work of staff and pupils across the School.

The winner of London Independent School of the Year 2026 will be announced in October.