Barton Court Celebrates Fourth Consecutive Win at Prestigious John Downton Awards
Posted on: 15/02/2026Following our announcement that eight exceptional young artists from Barton Court were shortlisted for the prestigious John Downton Awards – an annual celebration recognising and encouraging the creative talents of young people in Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media and Photography – we are delighted to share that Barton Court has won Best School for the fourth consecutive year.
Adding to this remarkable achievement, Sam secured the Photography Prize in the 17–18 age category for his outstanding work (attached). This year marked the 25th and final year of the John Downton Awards, making the recognition even more meaningful. The standard of entries was extraordinary, with 453 submissions from 36 schools across Kent, showcasing the incredible depth of artistic talent among young people aged 11–18.
The exhibition of shortlisted and winning works is currently open to the public at County Hall in Maidstone and will run until 20 February.
