VARKEY FOUNDATION
Ontario School Named in the Top 50 Shortlist for $1 Million Global Schools Prize 2026

Pickering College in Newmarket, Ontario, has been named in the top 50 shortlist for the Global Schools Prize 2026, an initiative of the Varkey Foundation celebrating the world's most innovative and impactful schools that are reimagining education for the future.

The school was selected from almost 3,000 nominations and applications from 113 countries around the world. It is a finalist in the Sustainability category, supported by World's Largest Lesson, a global education initiative that brings the Sustainable Development Goals into classrooms around the world.

Founded by renowned education pioneer and philanthropist Sunny Varkey, the $1 million Global Schools Prize is the largest prize of its kind. Today's top 50 announcement recognises outstanding schools worldwide that demonstrate exceptional drive and ambition for their students, regardless of circumstance, ensuring every learner has the chance to thrive.

The top 50 shortlisted schools are awarded a Global Schools Prize Badge, symbolising world-class impact and achievement in areas ranging from AI transformation to teacher development. These schools are also welcomed into the Global Schools Network, gaining access to partnerships, professional development, and global collaboration opportunities with other leading institutions.

Founded by Quakers in 1842, Pickering College has placed sustainability and social justice at the heart of education for nearly two centuries. This JK-12 independent school of 550 students is applying for the Global Schools Prize 2026 in Sustainability, and its track record speaks for itself.

The school's 77-acre Blue & Silver Farm, gifted in 2021, has become a smart-farm learning laboratory where students build bat boxes with micro:bit sensors, develop solar-powered Wi-Fi systems, design robotic harvesters, and grow 1,200 kg of produce annually for local food banks. Through their CAP Framework and K-12 Global Leadership Program, all 540 students participate in experiential sustainability projects each year.

Pickering College is the first independent school in Ontario with full UNESCO Associated Schools Network membership, has held Ontario EcoSchools Platinum status for over a decade, and won the StudyTravel Ltd North American School Award 2022. Teacher Ethan Bishop received a 2024 Class ACT Award for reconciliation work. Educators regularly present at global conferences and partner with Queen's University.

Prize funds would eliminate invasive buckthorn and build a thermally-heated geodesic classroom, extending learning year-round.

Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation, the Global Schools Prize, and GEMS Education, said:  

"Congratulations, Pickering College. Your approach to teaching and learning powerfully demonstrates how schools play a defining role in equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to shape our rapidly evolving world. By highlighting your achievement, we hope to inspire a global movement to reimagine learning and turn bold ideas into real-world impact. This is more than an award - it's a platform to spark a global conversation about scaling the best ideas in education and advancing action far beyond the classroom."

Alison Bellwood, Executive Director Youth and Education, Project Everyone and World's Largest Lesson, said:

"World's Largest Lesson is honoured to support the Global Schools Prize's Sustainability category. Congratulations to this year's finalists - your commitment is not only transforming your communities, but inspiring schools everywhere to be creative, bold, and determined in building a better future for people and planet."

The Top 50 will be narrowed down to 10 category winners, who will each be awarded $50,000. Of those, one extraordinary school will receive the Global Schools Prize and $500,000 to scale its impact.

The categories are:

• AI Transformation
• Arts, Culture and Creativity
• Character and Values Driven Education
• Global Citizenship and Peacebuilding
• Health and Wellbeing
• Overcoming Adversity
• SEND/Inclusive Education
• STEM Education
• Sustainability
• Teacher Development

The winner is expected to be announced at the Education World Forum in London in May.

A Global Schools Prize Council, made up of some of the most respected and influential figures in global education, technology, and philanthropy, is guiding the prize and providing strategic insight. It is co-chaired by Stefania Giannini, former Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, and Dame Christine Ryan, former Chair of the Ofsted Board. Its members include Rosalia Arteaga, former President and Vice-President of Ecuador, Nuno Crato, Portugal's former Education Minister, Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills at the OECD, Dina Ghobashy, Director of Education Transformation, Microsoft, Lasse Leponiemi, Co-Founder and Chairman, HundrED Foundation, Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner, GSV Ventures and co-founder of the ASU+GSV Summit, Heekyung (Jo) Min, Executive Vice President, CJ CheilJedang, Jonnie Noakes, Director of The Tony Little Centre for Innovation and Research in Learning, Eton, 2019 Global Teacher Prize winner Peter Tabichi, 2023 Global Student Prize winner Nhial Deng, and Global Student Prize finalists Kenisha Arora and Kekhashan Basu.  

The Council is part of a wider Global Schools Prize Academy, which will choose the winner.

The Global Schools Prize joins the Global Teacher Prize and Global Student Prize, completing a powerful trilogy that celebrates educators, learners, and now schools as institutions of innovation and change. Together, the three prizes spark a 360-degree conversation about what it takes to deliver the best possible education, equipping children to face the future with confidence - while rethinking the future of learning for generations to come.

Interested schools were able to apply for the Global Schools Prize at www.globalteacherprize.org/global-schools-prize before the closing date.