A school says it is “so proud” after its trailblazing student programme saw it nominated for a prize that honours the best schools globally.
St Helen’s School in Northwood is the only school in the UK to be shortlisted for T4’s inaugural World’s Best School Prize for innovation.
The private school will receive a share of a £250,000 prize pot if it wins the innovation category it has been shortlisted in.
Headteacher Alice Lucas said: “If St Helen’s were to win the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation, we would use the prize money to help other schools curate their own Nudge programme to roll out with their pupils and reap the same rewards that our students have experienced.
“As teachers and school leaders we are in the privileged position of shaping the next generation. Our ultimate aim is to create a generation of intellectually engaged and independent young people with a lifelong love of learning.”
St Helen’s has been hailed for its Nudge for Learning programme mentorship and tutorial programme for pupils.
The school says Nudge for Learning takes the “best aspects of the Oxbridge supervision model” and offers this to the girls at a school level.
Through small-group mentoring and reflective learning practices, students are ‘nudged’ to take intellectual risks and engage in critical thinking, leading to pupils becoming more excited and curious by what they are being taught.
Glenn Bezalel, director of teaching and learning, added: “Whilst nudge theory has had such a huge impact in many aspects of our lives, it has been curiously under-explored within schools.
“Our experience has taught us that small changes can make huge differences at little cost. So we believe that our ‘Nudge for Learning’ programme can help level up education across the country.”
Winners of T4’s World’s Best School Prizes will be announced during World Education Week in October.
T4 Education founder Vikas Pota said: “I want to congratulate all the schools for making the top 10 shortlists for the inaugural World’s Best School Prizes.
“Educators all over the world will now be able to learn from the examples of these outstanding UK schools.”
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