A SCHOOL has been rewarded for its excellence and innovation in its senior provision at the 2016 Independent Schools Association Awards.

Thorpe Hall School, in Southend, was recognised for its Girls on Board initiative, which helps its pupils with issues surrounding friendships and arms them with the skills they need to keep friendships stable.

Headteacher Andrew Hampton was presented with the Innovation award at the association’s annual conference by Fred Binley from the University of Southampton.

Mr Hampton said: “I am thrilled and delighted that Thorpe Hall has been recognised for excellence and innovation.

“Our work to help girls with their friendship problems has been very successful in school, and a number of other schools have now adopted our methods. I hope many more will now get in touch and see how the work developed here can benefit the girls in their community too.”

Dr Peter Woodroffe, deputy CEO of ISA, added: “The judges enjoyed Thorpe Hall’s creative and innovative approach to the issue of adolescent girls’ friendship problems and the impact these can have on small schools. “The judge even commented that they wanted to recommend it to pastoral heads of every secondary in the country.”