Ballard School has reached the finals in two national independent education sector awards.

The New Milton-based institution, which caters to children aged two to 16, is vying for the Co-Educational School of the Year in the Independent School of the Year Awards.

Organised by Independent School Parent magazine, these awards attract numerous entries from schools across the UK.

Ballard School was first shortlisted and then named a finalist following an entry highlighting its inclusive approach, empowering pupils to make the most of the opportunities available.

Ballard is also one of three finalists in the Independent School Association (ISA) Award for Excellence in Fine Arts & Design, following an entry showcasing its design offer.

The school has invested significantly in its design technology labs in recent years and has supported an enriched array of in-class and co-curricular opportunities in design.

This has resulted in increased interest in the subject, with more than half of Year 9 pupils opting to take it at GCSE last year, including more than a third being girls.

The recent introduction of textiles through to GCSE has created further opportunities, proving popular with the GCSE pupils.

It is Ballard’s third time in the finals of the Independent School of the Year Awards; the school was a finalist in the Sporting Achievement Award last year and in the Excellence in Performing Arts Award in 2022. The school has also previously won the Award for Excellence in Arts in the ISA Awards.

The Independent Schools of the Year Awards celebrate the achievements of students, staff, and wider school communities during the 2023-24 academic year.

Headmaster, Andrew McCleave, said: "These fiercely competitive awards capture stories of the great work being undertaken across the independent sector, so it is incredibly pleasing to see Ballard among the finalists, alongside some of the UK leading public schools.

"We are proud of the culture we have developed in our school community. Within an atmosphere of kindness and inclusivity, every child is stretched and challenged and encouraged to tackle whatever comes their way. We want all our pupils to feel empowered and seize the opportunities before them."

The awards ceremony takes place in October.