A new global competition - the World’s Best School Prizes - has been launched to recognise schools “especially in the wake of Covid”.

Schools can compete to win $50,000 - around £37,000 - in five categories: community collaboration, environmental action, innovation, overcoming adversity and supporting healthy lives.

The winners will be selected by a panel of academics, educators, NGOs, social entrepreneurs and other government, civil society and private sector leaders, including award-winning London-based teacher Andria Zafirakou MBE and Dame Alison Peacock, chief executive of the Chartered College of Teaching.

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Dame Alison said: “Schools and all who work within them deserve recognition and praise. The pandemic has brought the world closer together in our shared endeavour of supporting children and young people to learn in the face of adversity. I hope these new global prizes will increase cooperation, collegiality and kindness.”

Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, said it is important to remember the “vital” roles that schools play as the world copes with the Covid pandemic.

Mr Pota said: “Strong schools will not only equip the next generation to fulfil their full potential, but empower them to tackle the greatest challenges our societies face, from inequality to environmental destruction and rapid technological change.

“We have launched the World’s Best School Prizes to bring to light the stories of schools that are building stronger societies, and give them a voice at the top table to help transform education so that every child can achieve the quality education that should be their right by birth.”

A top 10 shortlist for each prize will be announced later this year, followed by the top three finalists for each prize.

The winners will be announced in October 2022 during World Education Week. A prize of $250,000 will be equally shared among the five winners with each receiving an award of $50,000.

All 50 shortlisted schools across the five prizes will share their best practices through toolkits that showcase their innovative approaches to learning to help other schools.

Applications close on 1 March at 11.45 pm. Schools can apply online at worldsbestschool.org