Key Points
- Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson commended Avanti House Secondary School in Stanmore, Harrow, for excellent outcomes achieved by disadvantaged pupils at the end of the 2024/25 academic year.
- The school ranks among the “very best nationally” for progress and attainment of disadvantaged pupils, reflecting staff dedication and pupil hard work.
- Ms Phillipson sent a letter to Principal Simon Arnell and his team, congratulating them and thanking them for providing children with the best opportunities to succeed.
- She urged the school to continue sharing best practices and collaborating with others to raise standards across the sector, positioning it as a leader.
- Principal Simon Arnell stated that the recognition is warmly received by staff and students, testament to their hard work in ensuring outstanding progress and fulfilling pupils’ potential as changemakers.
- The school supports other schools through nationally recognised RISE schemes and networks across the capital and beyond.
- Avanti House Secondary School is a coeducational Hindu faith free school for ages 11-18, part of Avanti Schools Trust, opened in 2012 on Wemborough Road, Stanmore.
- Rated ‘Outstanding’ in all categories (Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, Leadership and management, Sixth form provision) by Ofsted on 10 June 2025.
- Named Top 3 Finalist in World’s Best School Prizes 2024 in the “Supporting Healthy Lives” category for its vegetarian lunch programme, yoga, meditation, and wellbeing initiatives.
- Won national Pupil Choice Award and Listening & Acting Award – Pupil Feedback in the 2025 Edurio Awards.
- School has 1182 pupils against capacity of 1260, mixed gender, in London Borough of Harrow.
- Part of Avanti Schools Trust, which runs multiple Hindu faith schools across England.
Stanmore, Harrow (West London News) January 29, 2026 – Avanti House Secondary School has received high praise from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for its exceptional progress with disadvantaged pupils.
The state-funded Hindu faith school on Wemborough Road was commended in a personal letter to Principal Simon Arnell and his team for ranking among the very best nationally at the end of the 2024/25 academic year.
Who is Bridget Phillipson and Why Did She Praise the School?
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, highlighted the school’s achievements in a letter stating:
“Congratulations to you and your team on the excellent outcomes the disadvantaged pupils at Avanti House School achieved at the end of the 2024/25 academic year. Your school’s performance places it among the very best nationally, and this is a significant achievement.”
As reported by Harrow Online, Ms Phillipson added:
“This success reflects the dedication of your staff and the hard work of your pupils. It shows what can be achieved when ambition and commitment come together. Thank you for everything you do to give children the best possible opportunities to succeed.”
She further encouraged the school to lead by sharing best practices, noting:
“Thank you for everything you do to give children the best possible opportunities to succeed,”
and urged collaboration to raise standards sector-wide.
What Did Principal Simon Arnell Say in Response?
Simon Arnell, Principal of Avanti House Secondary School, responded warmly to the recognition. In a statement shared via the school’s communications and reported across sources, he said:
“To gain recognition from the Minister of Education, Ms Phillipson, has been warmly received by staff and students. It is testament to the hard work of all staff across the school to ensure all students make outstanding progress and are able to fulfil their full potential as changemakers in society.”
Mr Arnell also emphasised the school’s broader impact:
“The school is working to support schools across the capital and beyond, developing networks through the nationally recognised RISE schemes.”
A LinkedIn post by Simon Arnell further noted:
“We are delighted to have received a letter from Bridget Phillipson, acknowledging the work being carried out at Avanti House Secondary School.”
The school’s official Facebook page echoed:
“We were delighted to receive a letter from Bridget Phillipson acknowledging the work taking place at Avanti House Secondary School.”
What is the Background of Avanti House Secondary School?
Avanti House Secondary School is a coeducational Hindu faith free school serving pupils aged 11 to 18. It opened in 2012 and now operates from a purpose-built campus on Wemborough Road, Stanmore, in the London Borough of Harrow.
The school forms part of the Avanti Schools Trust, which manages several Hindu faith schools across England, including primaries like Krishna Avanti Primary School in Harrow and Leicester.
It combines the national curriculum with a focus on values, character development, and wellbeing, enrolling 1182 pupils against a capacity of 1260.
As per Harrow Online, the school has featured prominently for its strong performance in national league tables, ranking highly in Harrow and nationally for measures such as Attainment 8.
Why Was the School Rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
The praise from Ms Phillipson follows an Ofsted inspection on 10 June 2025, where Avanti House was rated ‘Outstanding’ across all categories: Quality of education, Behaviour and attitudes, Personal development, Leadership and management, and Sixth form provision.
Ofsted inspectors commended pupils’ love of learning, tenacity, and high achievement across subjects, describing the curriculum as “ambitious” and “engaging”.
As reported by Harrow Online in July 2025, Dr James Biddulph MBE, incoming CEO of Avanti Schools Trust, said of the inspection:
“I am delighted with the excellent Ofsted result for Avanti House School. This is down to the commitment of our educators, teachers and support teams, great administrators, and site teams, empowered by deeply inspired leaders. These results are a testament to their commitment to provide an exceptional educational journey for every child, inspiring spiritually compassionate changemakers.”
From September 2024, Ofsted no longer issues overall effectiveness judgements, but all graded areas were top-rated.
What Achievements Led to the World’s Best School Finalist Status?
Avanti House was named a Top 3 Finalist in the World’s Best School Prizes 2024, in the “Supporting Healthy Lives” category, organised by T4 Education with partners like Accenture and the Lemann Foundation.
The recognition spotlighted the school’s unique vegetarian lunch programme, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and activities like poetry, gardening, Kirtan, and journaling to support mental and spiritual growth.
Simon Arnell, Principal, stated:
“Through the Avanti Way students, staff and the community engage in a holistic journey in excellence in education for all. Collectively students from all ages across the school will engage in a vast variety of activities to support their wellbeing and their mental and spiritual growth. Mindfulness, yoga, poetry, gardening, Kirtan, journaling, Sanga are just a few of the activities that students choose to start their day at Avanti House.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan congratulated the school:
“It’s fantastic that Avanti House has been nominated for the World’s Best School Prize, and I’d like to congratulate the teachers, parents and pupils for all their hard work. The school puts the health and wellbeing of pupils at the heart of everything it does, supporting their physical and mental health in its curriculum and achieves impressive results. They are a brilliant example of what is great about our capital as we build a better London for everyone.”
Yoga teacher Kate Raghvani (Kishori Yogini Dasi) told BBC London News: “…yoga is part of the curriculum actually….”
The Avanti Schools Trust commented:
“This recognition reflects our commitment to promoting well-being, mindfulness, and a balanced lifestyle for all our students. Together, we strive to create a healthy, nurturing environment that empowers young minds to flourish.”
What Did Avanti House Win in the 2025 Edurio Awards?
In the 2025 Edurio Awards, Avanti House Secondary School in Stanmore won the national Pupil Choice Award and the Listening & Acting Award – Pupil Feedback.
These recognise top-performing schools based on surveys of pupils, parents, staff, and stakeholders.
Dr James Biddulph MBE, Avanti Schools Trust CEO, said:
“We are incredibly proud that several of our schools have been recognised with Edurio Awards this year. These awards are testament to the dedication, care, and commitment of our staff, communities, and young people in creating environments where everyone can thrive.”
He added:
“Receiving multiple Edurio awards is a powerful reflection of the Avanti Way in action, demonstrating a shared commitment to educational excellence, character development, and spiritual insight. Listening to our school communities and acting on their feedback is at the heart of continuous improvement and these awards show that our collective efforts are making a real difference in inspiring spiritually compassionate changemakers.”
Other Avanti schools also succeeded: Krishna Avanti Primary School (Harrow) won national Pupil Choice Award; Avanti House Primary School (Stanmore) won regional Listening & Acting Award; Krishna Avanti Primary School (Leicester) won regional awards.
How Does This Fit into Broader Recognition for Avanti Schools Trust?
The commendation aligns with ongoing successes for Avanti Schools Trust schools. For instance, Avanti House Primary School in Stanmore maintained ‘Good’ in a May 2025 ungraded inspection, with potential for ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust’s philosophy emphasises educational excellence, character formation, and spiritual insight, as stated on their website.
National league tables show Avanti House ranking highly for Attainment 8 scores locally and nationally.
What Role Does the School Play in the Community?
Avanti House actively supports other schools via RISE schemes, as noted by Principal Arnell, fostering networks in London and beyond.
Its holistic approach, including Hindu values and wellbeing, positions it as a model for disadvantaged pupil progress.
Contact details include telephone 020 8249 6830 and website avanti.org.uk/avantihouse-secondary/.
This recognition underscores the school’s impact amid government priorities on closing attainment gaps.
