St Dunstan’s College named Most Progressive Independent School in south-east England

St Dunstan’s College, south London, is delighted to announce that it has been named Most Progressive Independent School in south-east England at LUXLife Magazine’s Private Education Awards 2025, marking the third consecutive year the College has received this prestigious accolade.

This distinguished awards programme is dedicated to celebrating excellence in the private education sector, recognising the institutions, educators, and organisations that are shaping the future of learning with innovation, dedication, and outstanding achievements.

Speaking about the news, Head of Senior School, Jade McLellan, said:

‘Being named the Most Progressive Independent School in south-east England for the third consecutive year is a powerful endorsement of who we are and what we stand for as a community. At St Dunstan’s we are unapologetically ambitious for our young people, not only in their academic outcomes, but in the kind of individuals they become.

‘This award reflects our commitment to innovation in the classroom, a culture of integrity and kindness, and an environment where every student is encouraged to think independently and be themselves. I am immensely proud of our students and staff, whose curiosity, creativity and hard work make recognition like this possible.’

Last autumn, St Dunstan’s become one of the first schools in the country to receive two significant strengths as part of its ISI inspection.

The report praised the broad and varied curriculums on offer to students at St Dunstan’s, explaining:

‘Leaders have put in place an ambitious, timetabled curriculum which provides extensive opportunities for pupils to acquire the broadest of learning experiences. Leaders have taken great care in the design of this multi-faceted programme which is included as part of the school day.  

‘There are four separate strands; together these provide the full range of curriculum subjects, an extensive offering of broader learning experiences, a programme of teaching skills for the future and one that focuses on building pupils’ wellbeing and self-awareness. The breadth and relevance of this curriculum and leaders’ decision that all pupils participate in these opportunities, is a significant strength.’ 

The second ‘significant strength’ applauded the school’s dedication to celebrating diversity within the school. 

‘The school’s ethos supports leaders in creating a strong community where diversity is celebrated,’ the report found. ‘This works through many facets of school life: through the curriculum, through the varied groups in school, led by pupils which celebrate diversity, and through producing events such as the annual St Dunstan’s festival. All these promote respect and understanding among the pupils for everyone in their own school and in the wider local community. This is a significant strength of the school.’ 

St Dunstan’s won Independent Senior School of the Year at the Tes Schools Awards in 2022. The College’s sport department was also praised for its Diversity and Inclusion efforts at the Education Choices Awards 2024 and 2025.