Winner of special national educational award

Talk Education Awards - winner Alice Rose AwardWestbourne House School has won a special national award – the Alice Rose Award - in the Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education.

The Alice Rose Award is awarded in memory of Talk Education's co-founder Alice, who sadly died in 2022. Talk Education is an independent guide to the world’s best independent schools.

Talk Education said: “In honour of Alice, the judges selected two schools that embody the qualities Alice was most passionate about - a school where children are allowed to be children, one that supports growth and learning but allows them to climb trees and get muddy knees, where confident, nurtured, happy children enjoy their childhood. A true home-from-home.

"The winner was chosen by the whole Talk Education team, as well as Alice's husband James and their three young boys.”

Headmaster Martin Barker of Westbourne House School commented: “I am incredibly proud that Westbourne House has won the Talk Education Alice Rose Award in their inaugural Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education.  This is a wonderful award to win for several reasons, but most of all because we didn’t apply for this award – rather we were selected based on the Talk Education team’s experience of Westbourne House School. We are really proud of the wonderful sense of freedom that children have at Westbourne House. Alongside this, we have broad and exciting curriculum and our children are eager to come to school each day to see all the opportunities the day brings. We encourage anyone looking for a school to come and meet us - staff and children - and get a feel for the buzz, joy and the special atmosphere at Westbourne House.”

“For our children each enriching experience – a visit to the beach, a close cricket match, meeting an author, a poetry recital, experiments in science, art in the woods, drama performance or concert – expands their interests, encourages them to follow their passions and develop self-belief.

Winning celebration

About Talk Education and the Alice Rose Award

Read Talk Education's review of Westbourne House.

The very special Alice Rose Award was awarded in honour of Talk Education’s inspirational co-founder. Much loved not only by the Talk team but by schools and parents alike, Alice sadly passed away in May 2022, but remains a driving force behind TE – and it is thanks to her brilliant vision, her positivity and inspiration that Talk has grown into the huge success story it is today.

Talk Education’s judges were looking for the school that embodies the qualities Alice was most passionate about – a school where children are allowed to be children, one that supports growth and learning but allows them to climb trees and get muddy knees, and enjoy their childhood. There was no shortlist for this award, and all schools were carefully considered.

In the summer, TE launched their inaugural Talk Education Awards for Innovation in Education.