London: ZP School Jalindarnagar, a primary school in Taluka Khed, Maharashtra, has been named winner of the 2025 World's Best School Prizes Community Choice Award in London this week.

The World's Best School Prizes, founded by UK-headquartered T4 Education after COVID, recognise schools transforming lives in classrooms and beyond.

ZP School Jalindarnagar was commended for its Subject Friend system, a peer-learning model where students of different ages teach and learn from each other.

Dattatray Ware, a teacher at the school, said he felt “deeply honoured” by the recognition. “In 2022, the school had only three students and was on the verge of closure. In just two years, it has witnessed a remarkable transformation to a world-class standard,” he said.

The school won the Community Choice Award after receiving the most votes among 50 shortlisted schools in public voting. The award highlights its community impact, with skilled volunteers and parents teaching electronics, carpentry, plumbing, languages and science. The community also helped rebuild and maintain the school infrastructure and gardens.

Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education, said, “It is in schools like these that leaders worldwide can find the answers they need… their trailblazing work will inspire educators and policymakers across the globe.”

Winners of this year's prizes will attend the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15-16 to share best practices. Other winners include Franklin School, New Jersey (Innovation); A Favor del Nino, Mexico City (Community Collaboration); SK Putrajaya Presint 11(1), Malaysia (Supporting Healthy Lives); Arbor School, Dubai (Environmental Action); and Escola Estadual Parque dos Sonhos, Cubatao, Brazil (Overcoming Adversity)