Department for Education
Education Secretary Justine Greening heard first-hand how the transformation of a school in Romford from the bottom 10% to the top 1% in the country has changed its pupils lives.
Broadford Primary School hosted the visit on Thursday 30 November after it was crowned School of the Year at the 2017 TES Schools Awards.
Meeting with pupils and teachers, the Education Secretary saw how the school, which rose from Special Measures in 2011 to Outstanding in 2014, gained this prestigious accolade.
To help raise standards the school introduced a training programme for phonics to help improve literacy levels for pupils, and has started a coaching scheme for its teachers to support their career development. Since July last year it has been a National Teaching School, helping to share its example of best practice with schools across the country.
As a result of the hard work of teachers like those at Broadford Primary School and the governments reforms, there are now 1.9 million more children being taught in schools that are rated good or outstanding than in 2010.
Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening said:
We want all children to get a world-class education and help create a Britain that is fit for the future. We already have 1.9 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010 standards are continuing to rise and by sharing best practice and celebrating excellence in our schools we can continue to build on this success.
Broadford Primary is a deserving winner of the TES School of the Year 2017 award. It has been a pleasure to meet with pupils and teachers today and to see how their hard work has transformed this truly outstanding school. We want every child to reach their potential, wherever they are growing up having access to a highly quality education like that offered at Broadford is at the heart of our ambition.
The TES School Awards ensure great schools are recognised for their efforts, and Broadford Primary is a deserving winner of School of the Year 2017.
Malcolm Drakes, Executive Headteacher at Broadford & Mead Primary said:
At Broadford Primary our vision is to ensure that no childs future is limited by their background. To be able to show Justine Greening the different strategies that we have used to raise aspirations and outcomes for some of Haverings most vulnerable pupils was a real privilege. For the Secretary of State to take the time to talk to teachers, listen to pupils and demonstrate a very clear understanding of some practical ways we can improve our system for the benefit of the most vulnerable was so encouraging.
Our Learning Federation has promoted meaningful links with businesses like Bloomberg and PwC. To hear today about the Skills Summit and the Department for Educations efforts to make these links more structured is very positive. To provide a golden thread all the way through a childs education, linking their experiences and lessons to future employment will only aid mobility.
Now in its ninth year, the TES awards, which are run by the TES, a news outlet for the profession, recognise the outstanding contributions made by schools and teachers. Broadford Primary School was celebrated for its achievements at a gala event at Londons Grosvenor House earlier this year.