JSV Honoured to be Shortlisted for Tes Awards for International Schools

Back in January, we were delighted by the news that Junior School Vlaskamp (JSV) was shortlisted for the first-ever Tes Awards. JSV was entered into the Sustainability Award category for their Pond Redevelopment Project.

On 25 April, the winners were announced, and while JSV did not take home the award, we are truly honoured to have been nominated for the Sustainability Award, alongside seven other schools.

We are honoured to have been shortlisted, and we feel very grateful to have the pond redevelopment project along with the amazing staff and community who developed this incredible resource through their collaboration, perseverance, and creativity.

- Claire Waller, Junior School Vlaskamp Headteacher

Environmental Sustainability in Action

The Pond Redevelopment Project is one that was two years in the making – and is still ongoing. Thanks to the vision and direction of Pond Redevelopment Lead Hannah Loftus, and together with the help of many in our school community, starting in 2021, the previously unused pond was transformed into a purpose-built learning environment that is also a flourishing ecosystem. The pond now includes an Education Zone with an information board and viewing tank, a bug corner, a digging corner and a sensory zone.

Through this project, sustainability becomes a tangible concept for our students, one they can both enjoy and actively learn from.

It has been absolutely wonderful to lead a project that I’m so passionate about. The level of support from across the whole school community has been amazing from the start, and is an absolute testament to how important we all know it is to teach the children about sustainability and caring for the world around them.

- Hannah Loftus, Junior School Vlaskamp Teaching Assistant & Pond Redevelopment Lead

The Tes International School Awards

The shortlisted finalists have been selected by a panel of expert judges, including school leaders, experts, and education researchers. The judges’ objectivity, professionalism, and high standards help establish winning the Awards as a highly sought-after achievement.

The shortlisted schools and teachers represent 36 countries across the world, across 13 separate categories.

Dan Worth, International Editor for Tes Magazine, said, “The Tes Awards for International Schools give our inspiring international education colleagues worldwide an opportunity to celebrate educational innovation and success in a raft of important areas.”

“The shortlist highlights some incredible achievements across the sector and showcases the best that international schools delivering either the British Curriculum or International Baccalaureate have to offer across the world.”

More details on the winning schools and teaching staff can be found here: https://www.tes.com/schools-awards/international/winners

Hearty congratulations to the winner of the Sustainability Award, Dulwich College Singapore – and of course, to our fellow shortlisted schools and teaching staff!

A huge well done to the JSV (and wider BSN) Community and Hannah Loftus - thanks to their efforts, the new and improved pond is now a wonderful addition to the JSV campus: one that will benefit the school community for many years to come.