April 24, 2026
Withington Girls’ School has been named a finalist in the new Teacher Development Initiative of the Year category at the Tes Schools Awards 2026, one of the most prestigious and widely recognised awards programmes in the UK education sector.
Withington is one of only two independent schools in Greater Manchester to be shortlisted across all categories in this record-breaking year of entries. The shortlisting recognises our Non‑Verbal Feedback initiative, an original research‑led review into how teachers’ non-verbal communication shapes learning experiences in the classroom.
A team of WGS teachers worked as practitioner‑researchers, using lesson video analysis, shared frameworks and pupil feedback to explore how often unconscious behaviours such as gesture, expression, tone and proximity influence learning. As a result, they became more intentional and precise in giving immediate, unobtrusive feedback, while pupils reported increased independence and confidence. The purposeful, non‑verbal cues helped them refine responses, deepen understanding and participate more actively in lessons.
The work has national recognition beyond Withington. It is featured as a full chapter in The Teacher Toolkit Guide to Feedback by Ross Morrison McGill, founder of Teacher Toolkit and one of the UK’s most widely read education commentators.
The TES Schools Awards celebrate outstanding schools and educators from across the state and independent sectors in the UK. There are 23 awards to be won, with categories recognising excellence across schools, trusts and individual professionals. This shortlist was selected by a panel of expert judges including experienced school leaders and education specialists.
Mrs Sarah Haslam, Headmistress, Withington Girls’ School, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for this award. This recognition speaks to our rich learning culture, where curiosity, self‑development and joy in learning are valued just as highly for staff as they are for pupils.
Central to this work is a genuine partnership between pupils and teachers, with students engaging thoughtfully in the learning process and helping to shape classroom practice. We are proud that this work not only strengthens our own classrooms but contributes to wider conversations across the sector.”
The initiative sits within a longstanding culture of practitioner enquiry at Withington, including teacher research groups and cross‑school partnerships, ensuring the work is sustained, scalable and continually developing.
Winners of the Tes Awards 2026 will be announced at a national awards ceremony in London in June.
View the full shortlist here: www.tes.com/schools-awards/uk
