Education’s national ‘Oscars’ shine a spotlight on Harrogate school and its remarkable headteacher

A Harrogate headteacher has spoken of her pride in representing the North on the national stage in the education sector’s ‘Oscars’.

Rhiannon Wilkinson, Head of Ashville, was speaking after making the final of the prestigious Tes School Awards 2026 in the Headteacher of the Year (Independent) category.

“There is no shortage of inspiration in schools and their people across the country so I am thrilled that Ashville was represented at such prestigious awards - widely recognised as education’s ‘Oscars’,” said Rhiannon.

“To be a finalist in the Headteacher of the Year category filled me with immense pride, especially as this year attracted the highest number of nominations since the awards began in 2009.”

Ashville was the only school in the North of England to make the judges’ shortlist in the category, which shines a spotlight on excellence and innovation throughout the education sector.

The independent school has recently completed the first two phases of a multi-million-pound masterplan to transform its 70-acre campus – including the opening of the new Sixth Form Centre.

The past 12 months have also been marked by a continued rise in pupil numbers, the launch of a new Sixth Form experience Six@Ashville, and an expansion of co-curricular activities to more than 150 a week.

Rhiannon was selected as a finalist on the back of a year which saw Ashville College propelled into The Sunday Times Parent Power top 10 independent schools in the North, confirming its record-breaking A Level results as the best in Harrogate for another successive year.

Amid a record number of “exceptional” entries from every corner of the country, Rhiannon, the 11th and first female Head at Ashville, was pipped to the title by Michelle Catterson, of Moon Hall School, a multi award winning specialist dyslexia school in Surrey.

Congratulating the winner, Rhiannon said: “It was an honour to be part of an event that showcased the very best in our sector.

“On behalf of Ashville, my congratulations go to Michelle and all the other winners and finalists for their outstanding work in making a meaningful impact on pupils, staff and their communities.”