A private school in Blackburn has been named in two education awards this year.

Westholme School is celebrating after being named finalist in the Independent Schools of the Year 2023 Awards.

Organisers say the focus of this year’s event will be to celebrate the demonstrable benefits of an independent school education and to showcase the “life-affirming, future-enhancing student experience”.

Westholme School, which costs up to £4,550 per term, says its entry focuses on the enviable student careers programme – which has seen their largest ever cohort of students applying for, and receiving apprenticeship offers, reflecting the school’s ongoing commitment to educating students about alternative routes into the workplace.

These apprenticeship offers are in addition to the independent school’s annual university success – which saw 91 per cent of students secure their first place offers last year.

The announcement comes just weeks after they were highly commended at the Education Business Awards.

Principal Dr Richard Robson and Director of Sport Lee Purdy travelled to London to represent Westholme School at this year’s national event.

Dr Robson said: “We were very honoured to be selected as finalists from all the schools in the UK and invited to the award ceremony to be recognised for the innovation and pioneering educational approach that we are delivering at Westholme.”

The guest speaker at the Education Business Awards event was former Olympic sprinter Donna Fraser, who spoke passionately about the Olympian values of excellence, respect, and friendship.

Dr Robson added: “These certainly chimed with what we hold dear to us at Westholme and are incredibly fortunate to experience every day throughout our School; from Prep Reception all through to the Upper INSPIRED Sixth Formers.”

The winners of the Independent Schools of the Year 2023 Awards will be unveiled at an awards ceremony in September.