2025 Pearson National Teaching Awards: The Bourne Academy and Canford School Awarded Certificate of Excellence - Celebrating their Educational Partnership

This national recognition celebrates the powerful and enduring collaboration between a state and an independent school, a relationship that has positively impacted thousands of students, educators, and families across the Bournemouth community and beyond. This certificate is a prestigious accolade highlighting the two schools’ outstanding contribution to educational practice in the UK.

The long-standing partnership began in 2010, following Canford’s  sponsorship of the then-struggling King’s High School, now The Bourne Academy. Over the past 15 years, the partnership has grown to include a wide range of joint academic and co-curricular initiatives, including:

• Oxbridge preparation and subject-specific mentoring
• Greenpower car racing, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, and cultural exchanges
• Shared sixth-form opportunities and university pathways
• Model United Nations and global citizenship programmes
• Staff development through joint INSET days and mentoring.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have received this Certificate of Excellence,” said Caroline Gobell – Business Director at The Bourne Academy. “This recognition from the Pearson Awards validates what we’ve always known — that when schools collaborate across sectors with a shared vision, the results can be transformative.”

The award also recognises the innovative structure of the partnership, which emphasises mutual growth and equity over traditional sponsorship models. Canford School’s involvement has focused not on financial contributions, but on time, expertise, and a commitment to shared learning and community impact.

Looking ahead, the two schools are excited to deepen their collaboration with upcoming environmental initiatives and expanded sixth-form programmes to help even more students access top university placements.