- Entry is free
- You will need to create an account with us in order to enter our awards, but your details will only be used by us for awards-related communications. Once you’ve created an account, your details will be retained on the site whenever you are logged in, so you will not be required to re-enter them when making additional submissions
- Once your account has been created, you can draft and revise your entries up until you decide to click on the ‘SUBMIT’ button. Just click ‘SAVE’ any time you wish to exit an incomplete submission – this will put the entry in your “BASKET”. To submit your entry from your basket you will need to click “COMPLETE” which will take you to the checkout where you can click “SUBMIT"
- All entries should be endorsed by your institution or organisation
- If your entry relates to an initiative or project carried out in collaboration with other schools, the submission should come from the lead school, and any shortlisting will be in the name of that school. If you are successful we will give credit to partner schools at the awards ceremony where appropriate
- These awards celebrate achievements during the 2020-2021 academic year and are open to all UK state and independent schools
We will accept submissions based on projects, initiatives or endeavours that commenced prior to the 2020-2021 academic year, provided that core achievements have taken place during this main period of focus. We will also accept any evidence that has come to light after the close of the 2020-2021 academic year if this further underlines success
- All entries must be submitted online. The submission text should be no more than 500 words in length, and must address the key criteria set out for the relevant category
- In addition, you may include up to three sets of supporting materials; each must be no more than two sides of A4 in length
Please see below for more details on the supporting material requirements
- If you wish to include tables please upload these as part of your supporting materials rather than including them within your submission text
- You can enter as many categories as you wish, but you must complete a separate submission for each
- You may also submit more than one entry per category when projects or initiatives are distinctive and unrelated. Otherwise, it is advisable to combine the best elements of each in a stronger single entry
- You may enter a project that has been undertaken in collaboration with an external public or private partner, but the award will be given to the winning institution only
- If there is no lead school in a collaborative project, to avoid multiple entries focusing on the same project please agree who will make the submission on behalf of the group. All partners will be credited at the awards evening
- If we do not receive sufficient entries to form a full shortlist for a specific category, we have the right to withdraw the category
- The website is open for entries until midnight on Friday 25 March 2022
Supporting material
A maximum of three supplementary documents are permitted
- Documents should be in PDF or Word doc. format
- Each document should not exceed two sides of A4
- Ofsted reports will not be accepted
Supporting material may include photographs, documents containing statistics, testimonials, supporting research, evaluation or press cuttings and promotional material; please highlight any sections you believe are particularly relevant. PowerPoint and video files will not be accepted; however, you may submit screenshots or a URL.
Any information submitted outside these guidelines will not be considered as part of the submission.
Preparing your entry
- When preparing your 500 word submission please review the entry criteria carefully
- Ensure that your submission contains sufficient robust information. Please include relevant facts and figures where possible. Some categories may ask you to include details of a particular initiative or initiatives; please think carefully about these and select those that best promote your expertise
- As well as completing the 'Institution name' field on the application form, please ensure that you also enter the specific team or project in the nominee field
Please note that we will use the 'institution name' rather than that of the project or team in our coverage, although on the awards day we will refer more specifically to the shortlisted project or team.
On receipt of your submission, a unique ID number will be generated and emailed to you. This will be quoted in subsequent Tes Schools Awards 2022 correspondence relating to your entry, including any notification of shortlisting, so please do cross-check this, particularly if your institution has submitted multiple entries in any given category.
The contact details you provide in your entry form will be used throughout the awards process. If these details change after the form has been submitted please send the new contact information by email to megan.liman@tes.com.
Frequently asked questions
These are the most frequently asked questions about the Tes Schools Awards. If you have any other questions, please contact megan.liman@tes.com.
- Submissions open in early February
- Submissions close end of March
- The independent expert judging panel selects the shortlisted individuals & schools
- The shortlist is announced in April
- Shortlisted individuals and schools will receive an email and shortlisting assets in April.
- Each judge will select two individuals or schools per category to put forward to the whole judging panel to be discussed and voted on as a panel to select the finalist.
- The expert judging panel selects finalists in May
- The gala dinner takes place on Friday 21st June at JW Marriott Grosvenor House where the winners are announced
No. Tes invests in these awards to support schools and teachers, so all entries to the awards are free. If you wish to attend the gala dinner, where winners are announced, there is a ticket cost.
No. Unlike most industry awards, Tes does not run these awards to make a profit. In fact, Tes budgets to run them at a significant loss, as an investment into raising the profile of the many fantastic efforts of school and teachers across the industry. The awards are sometimes supported by sponsors, which help reduce the cost of running these awards, but they are still not run to make a profit.
No, there is no connection between Tes’ many services provided to schools and a school’s ability to enter these awards. The Awards have had many entrants, finalists and winners that are not Tes customers.
The awards have a panel of independent industry experts who are highly respected in their fields. These judges are volunteers, are not paid and receive no incentives. The objectivity, professionalism and high standards of the Tes Schools Awards judges and the judging process has helped establish them as a well-respected achievement for any school chosen as a finalist or winner.
Entry is open to all UK state and independent early years settings, primary schools and secondary schools. Stand-alone sixth form colleges are not eligible to enter this year's Tes Schools Awards.
Anyone can submit a nomination for UK state and independent early years settings, primary schools and secondary schools. You can nominate yourself, a colleague or on behalf of your school.
Yes, you can. You can apply for as many categories as you like, that you feel best relate to you, your school, or your colleague.
No, there will be no judging visits as part of the application process.
You will only be able to view your application once it’s been submitted. You will not be able to make further edits to your application.
From the expert independent judging panel, a judge will be assigned a category based on their expertise. They will read through all the submissions within that category and select several individuals and or schools to be shortlisted.
The additional videos and photos requested by Tes will only be used as part of the Awards Ceremony, they will not be used as part of the judging criteria.
Feedback will not be given to individuals or schools who are not shortlisted.
Any other questions?
If you have any questions, please contact:
Events team megan.liman@tes.com