NEW Hall School has been shortlisted for two prestigious Independent School Awards.

The leading Catholic school in Boreham is in the running for Best Independent-Maintained School Collaboration - following its successful sponsorship of Messing Primary School in Tiptree - and Boarding Initiative of the Year.

New Hall face competition from Sheffield High School, Shrewsbury High School and Town Close House Prep School for the Best Independent-Maintained School Collaboration and from CATS College Canterbury and Moor Park School for the Boarding Initative of the Year.

Being shortlisted for these two awards means New Hall also qualifies for the coveted Best Independent School of the Year award.

The top awards will be presented to one of eight shortlisted schools at a ceremony on Thursday 13 November 2014 at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel.

Hundreds of nominations for outstanding schools, departments and individuals were submitted across 12 categories covering the full range of independent school activities. 

The awards showcase and celebrate excellence in the fee-paying sector across the UK, providing benchmarks for the sector as a whole. 

Katherine Jeffrey, Principal of New Hall School, said: "Our link with Messing Primary School has provided us with an opportunity to create a new type of educational partnership in order to share our educational expertise and experience with a school in need in our local community, for the benefit of children’s learning.

"We are delighted our partnership has been recognised at the Independent School Awards and we are looking forward to celebrating with Messing Primary School, and with the other shortlisted schools, at the awards ceremony in November."

In September 2013, New Hall School became the first independent school in the country to sponsor a state primary school. Messing Primary School, near Tiptree, was placed in special measures by Ofsted in 2012 and had only 31 pupils before New Hall entered into a partnership with the village school. Today the school has doubled its roll and is celebrating a set of outstanding SATs results, well above the national average in Key Stages 1 and 2.