Announcing the Global Schools Prize Category Winners

We are delighted to unveil the Category winners and Top 10 finalists of the Global Schools Prize 2026.  Each category winner will receive $50,000 alongside a Global Schools Prize Badge, recognising their extraordinary leadership and impact in advancing education. The schools were selected from almost 3,000 nominations and applications across 113 countries worldwide.

Our category winners are as follows:

• AI Transformation Category - IISS Ettore Majorana

• Arts, Culture & Creativity Category - Freedom International Schools - Africa

• Character & Values Category -  Escuela de Talentos Guanajuato Azteca

• Global Citizenship & Peacebuilding Category - LEAD 359

• Health & Wellbeing Category - IES Carmen de Burgos Seguí

• Overcoming Adversity Category - Alsama Project

• SEND & Inclusive Category - Suubi Community Primary School & Secondary Schools

• STEM Education Category - Neeson Cripps Academy

• Sustainability Category - Institución Educativa Comercial de Envigado

• Teacher Development Category - Reach Academy Feltham

The overall winner of the Global Schools Prize, and recipient of an additional $500,000 prize to scale its impact, is set to be announced at the Education World Forum, in London, UK, on 19 May.

Founded by renowned education pioneer and philanthropist Sunny Varkey, the $1 million Global Schools Prize is the largest prize of its kind. Today’s top 10 announcement recognises outstanding schools worldwide that demonstrate exceptional drive and ambition for their students, regardless of circumstance, ensuring every learner has the chance to thrive.

Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation, the Global Schools Prize, and GEMS Education, said:  

“Congratulations to all schools. Their approach to teaching and learning powerfully demonstrates how schools play a defining role in equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to shape our rapidly evolving world. By highlighting achievements, we hope to inspire a global movement to reimagine learning and turn bold ideas into real-world impact. This is more than an award – it’s a platform to spark a global conversation about scaling the best ideas in education and advancing action far beyond the classroom.”

A Global Schools Prize Council, made up of some of the most respected and influential figures in global education, technology, and philanthropy, is guiding the prize and providing strategic insight. It is co-chaired by Stefania Giannini, former Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, and Dame Christine Ryan, former Chair of the Ofsted Board. Its members include Rosalia Arteaga, former President and Vice-President of Ecuador, Nuno Crato, Portugal’s former Education Minister, Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills at the OECD, Dina Ghobashy, Director of Education Transformation, Microsoft, Lasse Leponiemi, Co-Founder and Chairman,  HundrED Foundation, Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner, GSV Ventures and co-founder of the ASU+GSV Summit, Heekyung (Jo) Min, Executive Vice President, CJ CheilJedang, Jonnie Noakes, Director of The Tony Little Centre for Innovation and Research in Learning, Eton, 2019 Global Teacher Prize winner Peter Tabichi, 2023 Global Student Prize winner Nhial Deng, and Global Student Prize finalists Kenisha Arora and Kekhashan Basu.  

The Council is part of a wider Global Schools Prize Academy, which will choose the winner. 

The Global Schools Prize joins the Global Teacher Prize and Global Student Prize, completing a powerful trilogy that celebrates educators, learners, and now schools as institutions of innovation and change. Together, the three prizes spark a 360-degree conversation about what it takes to deliver the best possible education, equipping children to face the future with confidence - while rethinking the future of learning for generations to come.​