A Walthamstow school has set out to prove that there does not have to be a link between poverty and poor education.
Around half of all the children at Hillyfield Primary Academy, which is among the largest in the country, come from disadvantaged backgrounds, yet the school has just been awarded Ofsted’s ‘outstanding’ rating for the second year in a row.
The school says teaching foreign languages and offering wide choice of after school clubs has contributed to its success.
The Oftsed report released on Friday said inspectors found children to be safe, positive and achieving well in all subject areas.
Headteacher Anna Mackenzie said success was also down to a "no exceptions culture".
“We have high expectations at the school and they are the same expectations for every child, regardless of their background,” she said.
“We are focused on giving the pupils are well-rounded, broad education.
"Over 80 per cent of the children take part in extra-curricular activities. We hope this will be 100 per cent by September.
“We expanded over two sites so we have a huge number of children at the school and maintain Outstanding is not easy, but the team here work so hard.
“Our saying is ‘brilliance in every child, excellence every day’.
“I tell the staff that every child must be ready for secondary school when they leave Hillyfield.
“There is an excellent team at the school of support staff. They work with children who have difficulties at home.”
The school has classes for IT and modern languages such as Mandarin, although 64 per cent of pupils speak English as a second language.
Chair of governors Roger Pryce said: “I am delighted that the achievements of pupils and staff have been recognized once again by Ofsted. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole school community”.
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