2:32pm Tuesday 9th February 2010
By Elizabeth Pears
A GOVERNMENT minister visited a Tottenham primary school to praise pupils for its improved test results.
Schools minister, Diana Johnson MP, spent the morning at Devonshire Hill Primary School, in Weir Hall Road, after the school raised the number of its pupils achieving the Government targets in Key Stage 2 SATs.
A 2008 Ofsted inspection found the school provided "a satisfactory and improving education". Following the inspection, the primary school signed up to the London Challenge programme and can now celebrate making significant progress in SATs results and behaviour.
Over the past year, the school has increased the size of classrooms, recruited an extra teacher for Year 6 as well as developing the skills of the long-term staff.
Year 6 Pupils achieving the recommended Level 4 in their maths SATs climbed 24.5 percentage points, from 53 per cent in 2008 to 63 per cent in 2009.
In English, results have increased from 61 per cent to 68 per cent and in science, where the school does best, this figure has risen from 73 to 79.
Ms Johnson said: “It’s encouraging to see the good progress that Devonshire Hill Primary School is making with support from the London Challenge programme. We want every child to get the best start in life at school and London Challenge is one of the ways that we are supporting schools to make sure this happens.
"Teachers, parents and pupils should all be proud of their achievements so far and having spoken to them today I am sure they will continue to work hard to make even more progress."
The London Challenge encourages schools to share good practice and experience with schools that face similar challenges in boroughs across London.
Devonshire Hill is currently working with Tollgate School in Newham, east London, which has been named country’s most rapidly improving schools in recent years.
Councillor Lorna Reith, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Devonshire Hill Primary School has noticed a big difference in pupil behaviour and results since taking part in the London Challenge programme.
"The feedback is very positive and it is great that Diana Johnson has been able to see the results for herself. I am particularly pleased that she has had an opportunity to speak to pupils, and hear how the programme is helping them."
Headteacher Julie D'Abreu said she was "delighted" with the improvements since joining the scheme.
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