Independent School of the Year Award for Sporting Achievements

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Independent School of the Year Award for Sporting Achievements. This is a wonderful recognition of the passion and commitment shown by our staff and pupils across the School, who work tirelessly to excel in every area, with Sport being a particular strength.

It was a fantastic evening, and we were honoured to be finalists alongside some of the country’s leading schools for sport. We are immensely proud of this achievement and of the continued hard work reflected in our ongoing analysis of Sports Participation and Academic Performance. Last academic year, we released a pioneering and comprehensive Sports Participation and Academic Performance report, which analysed two years of school data. The findings confirm a strong positive correlation between increased sports participation and improved academic outcomes, attendance, effort grades, and pupil wellbeing.

The report indicated that pupils who engaged in a greater number of fixtures achieved better GCSE and A-Level results, exhibited more positive behaviours, as recorded in our iSAMS system, and were significantly more likely to progress to first-choice universities. These findings validate our holistic ethos and reinforce the central role of sport in pupil success.

Reflecting on the award, Mr Aaron Liffchak, Director of Sport, said:

“I am incredibly proud that Mill Hill has been recognised as Independent School of the Year for Sporting Achievement 2024–25. This award reflects our commitment to evidence-informed practice, inclusive participation, and elite performance. It is a celebration of our pupils, whose achievements on and off the field embody the power of sport to drive academic success, personal growth, and community connection. None of this would have been possible without the hard work, passion, and commitment of our brilliant Sport & PE Department.”

Last year, Mill Hill pupils have achieved record-breaking representative honours. Highlights include: two rugby players representing England, two more selected for national camps and professional contracts, a U18 England footballer excelling at Arsenal and two Middlesex County cricketers. A hockey player securing a scholarship to Duke University alongside six others part of the England Hockey Talent Academy. Beyond traditional school sports, pupils have also represented Great Britain in fencing, American football, and ice hockey, with one co-captaining the U16 national team. Additional achievements include a British Indoor Athletics champion, an alpine skier racing at the French Alpine Championships, and an international judo athlete medalling in international competitions.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Independent Schools of the Year Awards for recognising us with this honour, and to offer our warmest congratulations to all the other schools who were shortlisted and reached the finals.