A school with an exceptionally good record and reputation, to which others look as an example; (specifically in the U.K.) one of a number of such schools which, since 1998, have been granted extra government funding in return for advising other schools on their methods.
Origin
1980s.
Definition of beacon school in US English:
beacon school
noun
A school with an exceptionally good record and reputation, to which others look as an example; (specifically in the U.K.) one of a number of such schools which, since 1998, have been granted extra government funding in return for advising other schools on their methods.