The Tree House International School Shortlisted for Two Tes Awards 2026 in the UK
Featured image: The Tree House International School’s dual shortlist recognition was reported by Hiru News. Image credit: Hiru News.
The Tree House International School for Children with Special Needs in Sri Lanka has been shortlisted in two categories at the Tes Awards for International Schools 2026, bringing international attention to its work in community engagement and the continuing professional development of staff.
The nominations recognise two distinct strands of the school’s approach to inclusion: Community Engagement Initiative of the Year, for Merak 2026, and Teacher Development Initiative of the Year, for the school’s ongoing training and development programme. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 8 December, with a video available to watch live or on demand.
For a small Sri Lankan school, the double shortlist places its community initiative and staff learning practices before an international audience of educators and school leaders. It also offers an opportunity to recognise the sustained work that helps build inclusive education: community awareness beyond school grounds, alongside the knowledge and skills educators bring to their daily practice.
Recognition for community engagement and staff learning
Merak 2026 is described as Sri Lanka’s largest national autism awareness initiative. Its stated aim is to reach populations that conventional awareness programmes may not engage effectively. The Community Engagement Initiative of the Year nomination therefore acknowledges an effort to extend awareness beyond familiar settings and make inclusion a broader community concern.
The second nomination, Teacher Development Initiative of the Year, recognises the school’s continuous training and development of staff. According to Principal and Founder of The Tree House International, Dr Anton James, learning opportunities and training take place every week, making professional development an ongoing part of the school’s culture.
The connection between the two categories is significant. Community awareness can help create a more informed environment for children and families, while ongoing staff development supports educators in strengthening their practice. The nominations recognise these as complementary areas of work rather than isolated achievements.
A meaningful milestone for a small Sri Lankan school
Dr James said the nominations were particularly meaningful because they recognise inclusion work undertaken by a small school in Sri Lanka. His full statement, provided to Lanka Business News, describes the school’s focus on both community engagement and professional development:
> “Being shortlisted for two awards at the Tes Awards for International Schools 2026 is particularly exciting for us as a small school in Sri Lanka. I believe that community engagement and continuous professional development of staff are essential indicators of inclusion, and we have invested considerable effort in all areas of inclusion, including these two. Our community engagement work includes Merak 2026, Sri Lanka’s largest national autism awareness initiative, designed specifically to reach populations that conventional awareness programmes often fail to engage. Equally, professional development is deeply embedded in the culture of The Tree House International, with training and learning opportunities taking place every week. Having both these aspects of our work recognised internationally is especially meaningful to us.”
The statement frames inclusion as something developed through both public engagement and consistent professional learning. That emphasis is important for families and educators: awareness initiatives can help communities better understand the experiences of children with additional learning needs, while regular training gives school staff opportunities to keep developing their knowledge and approaches.
An AI-generated illustration of a warm, inclusive classroom; it does not depict The Tree House International or its students.
The school’s nomination for teacher development specifically recognises continuing staff training. In his remarks on the shortlist, Dr James described training and learning opportunities as taking place every week. While the awards will determine the eventual category winners, the nomination itself draws attention to the value of making professional learning part of ordinary school practice.
An international education award
The Tes Awards, formerly known as the Times Educational Supplement Awards, recognise excellence, innovation and achievement among teachers, school leaders and educational institutions. The international awards celebrate educators and schools around the world and acknowledge the role of the international education sector in delivering quality education to millions of pupils.
The judging panel includes experienced international school leaders and prominent representatives of major education organisations. The international awards are supported by the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA), the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Tes International Editor and Chair of the judging panel, Dan Worth, congratulated the shortlisted schools and individuals, noting the quality and depth of this year’s entries:
> “A huge congratulations to all the schools and individuals shortlisted this year. We received a large number of entries of real depth and quality, which made our judges task of picking a shortlist and winners very tough, but they have done so with diligence and discernment. We look forward to celebrating the winners next month and saying thank you to educators everywhere for the amazing work they do around the world.”
The ceremony on 8 December will announce the winners. Tes has stated that the video will be available to watch live or on demand, allowing educators and interested families to follow the awards.
The Tree House International is based in Dehiwala. Image credit: The Tree House International.
Encouragement for families and educators
The two nominations offer a positive moment for inclusive education in Sri Lanka. They bring attention to a school’s efforts to engage communities through Merak 2026, while recognising the importance of regular professional development for staff. Both areas contribute to an environment in which children with special educational needs can be supported with care, understanding and informed teaching.
For families, the recognition is a reminder that inclusion involves more than the classroom alone. Community understanding and skilled educators are both important parts of the wider support that children need. For teachers and school leaders, the shortlist highlights the value of investing in learning and professional development as a continuing responsibility.
The result of the awards will be known after the December ceremony, but the shortlist has already placed these efforts within an international conversation about education and inclusion. Its significance extends beyond the award categories: it offers encouragement to educators and families in Sri Lanka and abroad who are working to create more informed, supportive learning communities.
Readers interested in other education initiatives in Sri Lanka may also enjoy eLanka’s report on an international partnership to strengthen higher education in hydrogen.
Source: Hiru News, Tree House International School shortlisted for two Tes Awards in UK
This article was written based on the sources https://hirunews.lk and https://www.lankabusinessnews.com, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
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