We are proud to announce that Zouch Academy in Tidworth, part of The White Horse Federation (TWHF), has been named ‘Early Years Setting of the Year’ at the Tes Schools Awards, recognising the exceptional quality of its provision for their youngest learners. The awards are widely regarded as the Oscars of the education sector.
The Trust was also proud to have been nominated for the prestigious ‘Trust of the Year’ Award for trusts with 10 schools or more, highlighting the strength and impact of the organisation across all its schools and communities.
The TES Schools Awards shortlist is compiled by a panel of expert judges, including school leaders and sector specialists, and recognises the very best from state and independent schools across the UK.
The ceremony took place on Friday 19 June 2026 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
The win for Zouch Academy represents a significant achievement and reflects the trust’s continued commitment to excellence, inclusion and strong early years foundations.
Zouch Academy was also recently recognised as a ‘Rise Best Start in Life School’, having been chosen by the Department for Education as one of only five schools in the South West of England to lead a new national programme aimed at improving the quality of reception year education.
Dr Dan Nicholls, CEO, said:
“Huge congratulations to Nina and the team at Zouch – this is an amazing achievement for the whole team and thoroughly deserved.
“We are also very proud to have been shortlisted for Trust of the Year. This reflects the collective effort of colleagues across the organisation, who are completely committed to inspiring lives with greater opportunity and choice.
“We look forward to continuing to build on these successes to serve local communities.”
Nina Johnson, Executive Headteacher at Zouch Academy, said:
“We are incredibly proud to have been named EYFS Setting of the Year. It is extremely important that we ensure our children are school ready, settle well, build outstanding relationships and truly have the very best start possible, especially in a school where many pupils join us in different year groups due to their parents serving in the military.
“We are very lucky with the level of expertise in our Early Years and the commitment the staff have towards the children's learning experiences and opportunities. We endeavour to ensure that each day, and each session, our youngest children have an invitation to learn so that learning opportunities become irresistible to our children.
“We are also very proud of our consistent end of year outcomes. We know that high expectations along with the right environment and quality-first teaching have the most impact on the beginning of our children's learning journey. Our children are safe, happy, well cared for. They learn exceptionally well and make fantastic progress from their starting points.”
To view all the winners, visit the Tes 2026 winners page.