In brief: Jersey College for Girls has won a national award for diversity and inclusion at the 2026 Independent Schools of the Year Awards in London. The St Saviour secondary school was selected from more than 1,000 nominations and praised for work shaped largely by its own students.
A national honour for a Jersey school
Jersey College for Girls has taken home the title of Independent School of the Year for Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Justice at the 2026 Independent Schools of the Year Awards, held in London on Wednesday. The BBC reports that the awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the independent education sector, with winners chosen from a field of more than 1,000 nominations recognising what organisers describe as “remarkable achievements within the independent education community.”
The school, based in St Saviour, educates more than 700 students aged 11 to 18. It is one of Jersey’s most established independent secondary schools, and this recognition places it firmly on the national map alongside institutions from across the United Kingdom.
Students at the heart of the achievement
Principal Carl Howarth was keen to share the credit, saying the award celebrated the efforts and the positive culture that students themselves helped create, while “reinforcing our commitment to building a school where everyone is valued, respected and able to succeed.” He added that “belong is one of our four core values and diversity, equity, inclusion and justice are central to our commitment to ensuring every member of our community feels that they belong and can thrive.”
Notably, Howarth was clear that much of the work being celebrated was “shaped and led by our young women, who have demonstrated passion, courage and leadership.” That is a refreshing acknowledgement in an era when schools sometimes receive awards for initiatives dreamed up in the staffroom rather than the playground.
The BBC reports that the school has been involved with Jersey’s Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce since 2020. That involvement has included supporting island-wide awareness campaigns and delivering educational workshops to peers, giving students a direct role in community-level change rather than simply sitting through assemblies about it.
What this means for Jersey
For an island of Jersey’s size, having a school recognised at a national level from a pool of more than 1,000 nominations is a genuine achievement. Independent schools in Jersey operate in a distinct environment, serving both local families and those from further afield, and their reputations matter to the island’s broader appeal as a place to live and raise a family.
The school’s sustained engagement with the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce since 2020 also speaks to a practical, community-rooted approach rather than a purely theoretical one. Whatever one’s views on the broader language of diversity and inclusion in education, the involvement of young people in real awareness campaigns and peer workshops is a concrete contribution to island life.
Source: BBC News
