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Two London schools among World's Best finalists

T4 Education A group of three children reading books, sat at a classroom table. They are reading different editions of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. T4 Education
One Degree Academy is a top 10 finalist for the World's Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity

Two "inspirational" London academies have been shortlisted for the World's Best School Prizes, which celebrate schools around the world that drive positive change.

Rivers Academy West London, a state secondary in Feltham is a top 10 finalist in the Supporting Healthy Lives category while One Degree Academy, a state-funded nursery and primary in Enfield, is in the Overcoming Adversity group.

The winners of the awards, organised by educational platform T4 Education, will be announced in the autumn.

London's deputy mayor for children and families, Joanne McCartney, said: "Both schools are shining examples of the life-changing impact education can have in our capital."

Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education and the World's Best School Prizes, said young people faced a "more precarious future than ever" as artificial intelligence continued to be developed and amid growing challenges of climate change.

"A good education, with humans at its heart, has never been more important," he said.

"It is in schools like Rivers Academy West London and One Degree Academy where we find the innovations and expertise that give us hope for a better future.

"Leaders and schools around the world have so much to learn from these inspirational London institutions."

'Better future'

An online school, based in London, has also been recognised within the Innovation category.

Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA) is an independent secondary school and the first UK online school to become a finalist.

Hugh Viney, founder and chief executive of MVA, said: "It is wonderful that online schools are now being recognised among some of the top educators in the world.

"There are still more than a million children out of education in the UK. Online schools like ours are perfectly placed to tackle this crisis by offering a modern, flexible education suitable for all kinds of children."

Mr Pota said of MVA: "It is in schools like Minerva Virtual Academy where we find the innovations and expertise that give us hope for a better future."

T4 Education A group of students wearing a black uniform with a white shirt, from Rivers Academy West London, are stood facing a lady wearing a green T-shirt. They are on a patch of grass outside, tasked with turning wasteland into an orchard. T4 Education
Rivers Academy West London is a finalist within the Supporting Healthy Lives category

There are five categories for the World's Best School Prizes:

  • Community Collaboration
  • Environmental Action
  • Innovation
  • Overcoming Adversity
  • Supporting Healthy Lives

The winners will be chosen by a judging panel and all 50 shortlisted schools across the five categories will also be part of a public vote, which opened on Wednesday, to determine the winner of a Community Choice Award.

All the winners will be announced in October.

The winners and finalists of the prizes will be invited to the World Schools Summit in the United Arab Emirates in November.

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