Terms and conditions

Our awards are simple to enter and open to all UK state and independent schools.

The information below will help you to prepare your entry.

• Entry is free.

• To enter our awards, you will need to create an account with us by simply clicking on the log in section of our entry page – this will give you the option to either log in or create an account if you haven’t got one already. 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 until you decide to click on the ‘SUBMIT’ button. Just click ‘SAVE’ any time you wish to exit an incomplete submission – this will put your 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’.

• 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.

• 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. All partner schools will be credited at the awards evening.

• 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.

• These awards celebrate achievements during the 2022-2023 academic year.

We will accept submissions based on projects, initiatives or endeavours that commenced prior to the 2022-2023 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 2022-2023 academic year if this further underlines success.

• All entries must be submitted online. The submission text should be no more than 300 words in length and must address the key criteria set out for the relevant category.

• If, for any reason, a category results in a low number of submissions, we reserve the right to change or remove this category from the awards process. Any nominations that have already been submitted for this category will therefore not continue through the judging process. Should the category be amended in any way we will contact the submission author to provide all necessary information.

• The website is open for entries until midnight on Friday 22 March 2023.

• 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.
• If you wish to include tables in your submission, please upload these as part of your supporting materials rather than including them within your submission text.
Any information submitted outside these guidelines will not be considered as part of the submission.

• When preparing your 300-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 2024 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.

If you have been shortlisted, please see the requirements below.
Photographs
• Please supply us with six different high-quality landscape photographs.
• Technical specifications for photographs:
–      Images should be at least 2,000 pixels wide
–      The formats we accept are jpeg, eps, pdf
–      Please don’t overlay logos or text on the photographs
If the photographs do not meet this criteria, we will contact you to request suitable images.
• These photos will be used for the presentation at the awards ceremony, which will be showcased online. The images may also be used in Tes coverage, Tes social media channels and PR before and after the event.
• Please make sure that you have the relevant written permissions from teachers and pupils in these photos before you send them to us for use.
• Ideally we’re looking for photographs that reflect your submission. It’s often more interesting to see the team / individuals behind the entry.
• Please supply your photos by Wednesday 24 April 2024.
• How to send your photographs:  
–      Photographs must be sent via email to paige.russell@tes.com*
–      Please clearly label your photographs for identification, please make sure you include the following information within the text of your email:
·       Category name
·       School name
·       Entry ID number
(Your ID number will have been sent to you via your entry confirmation and shortlist confirmation email)
* Please try to avoid sending photographs via WeTransfer as they will expire after one week meaning we will be unable to check these alongside the awards presentation for the evening.
Videos
• If your school has been shortlisted for any of the five awards categories listed below, we would like you to supply us with a 15-20 second video regarding your school/entry that we can showcase as part of the awards presentation, which will be featured online.
·       Primary School of the Year
·       Secondary School of the Year
·       Independent Prep School of the Year
·       Independent Senior School of the Year
·       Boarding School of the Year
Please note that videos will not be used for the judging process, they will only be used for the purpose of the presentation. If your video exceeds 20 seconds we may need to alter it slightly.
• Technical specifications for videos:
–      Our preferred video format is QuickTime files (Pro res 422 or H264 codec), 1920 x 1080 Pixels (16:9 format)
–      Please top and tail the video with your school logo
–      Your video must have some form of audio, whether it’s dialogue or music (music must be license free/library music) and the audio should fade out as it reaches the end logo
• Please make sure that you have the relevant written permissions from teachers and pupils in this video before you send it to us for use.
• Please supply your videos by Wednesday 24 April 2024.
• How to send your videos:
–      Videos in the above format can be submitted via WeTransfer, wetransfer.com, addressed to goccontent@icloud.com
 
Please note: WeTransfer is for sending videos only to this address
 
–      You must clearly label your video for identification, please make sure you include the following information when you make your submission:
·       Category name
·       School name
·       Entry ID number
(Your ID number will have been sent to you via your entry confirmation and shortlist confirmation email)
If you have any queries or require any further information please contact:
Events team
Email: megan.liman@tes.com