Two Tower Hamlets schools have been ranked in the top ten in a table of the nation’s best 1,600 schools.
The Sunday Times’ Parent Power Schools Guide provided a list of the nation’s 1,600 highest-achieving state and independent schools in the UK, ranked by their most recent, pre-pandemic, examination results.
All Eastlondonlines boroughs featured in the list’s top 500. Croydon impressed with some schools in the top fifty, but Lewisham and Hackney fared less well.
In Tower Hamlets, Mayflower Primary School in Poplar ranked third, while George Green’s School – a mixed comprehensive secondary school in the Isle of Dogs, ranked tenth.
Having two schools in the top ten will be seen as an achievement for efforts to improve education in a borough where the schools were once labelled the worst in the UK.
In a statement, John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “Our schools are an engine of opportunity, giving children and young people some of the best education in the country.”
“We have a fantastic family of schools in Tower Hamlets, and we work very hard together to ensure our children and young people receive the high-quality education they deserve.”
At primary school level, 72 per cent of the borough’s pupils achieved the expected reading, writing and mathematics standard by the end of year 6 compared to 65 per cent nationally at the end of 2019.
Dee Bleach, headteacher of Mayflower Primary School, said: “The Mayflower School community are extremely proud to be recognised as one of the top three Primary schools nationally.”
“This achievement is a real tribute to the hard work of our staff, pupils and the wider community who supports us.”
Bleach also said Tower Hamlets schools have, for over two decades, been “continuously improving” to the extent where 96 per cent of schools were at least rated “good” by Ofsted.
Education throughout Tower Hamlets is aided by the Tower Hamlets’ Education Partnership. The organisation, created by school leaders, looks to collaborate with schools to help raise standards and achieve high-quality improvements.
In a statement, executive director Tracy Smith said that a joint focus on learning, teaching and school leadership has paved the way for improvement in the borough’s schools.
“All children can succeed. There is no secret to our success, other than the hard work, dedication and high expectations of our staff, children, and their families.”
In Croydon, the highest ranked schools were Oakwood School (21) – a mixed independent Catholic school for ages 3-11, Beaumont Primary School (27), and Trinity School (43) – an independent boys’ school for ages 10-18.
Alasdair Kennedy, Headmaster of Trinity School, said on their website: “I am very pleased for our students that their achievements and hard work are being recognised in this way.
“Their success does reflect the character and values that enabled them to get the most from their academic opportunities at school.”
Lewisham and Hackney also had schools featured in the guide, appearing further down the ranks.
In Lewisham, Sydenham High School GDST (163), St Dunstan’s College (170) and St Margaret’s Lee C of E Primary School (317) featured, while, in Hackney, Grazebook Primary School (125), Mossbourne Community Academy (184), and Sebright Primary School (399) featured.
