TWO primary schools in London’s deprived East End are named this-morning as being among the top 20 in the country for improvement “in challenging circumstances.” Nine London schools are listed in a report by Ofsted, the education watchdog, which rated them as outstanding’ at least twice

By Mike Brooke

TWO primary schools in London's deprived East End are named this-morning as being among the top 20 in the country for improvement "in challenging circumstances."

Nine London schools are listed in a report by Ofsted, the education watchdog, which rated them as 'outstanding' at least twice.

They include Bonner Primary in Bethnal Green and Cubitt Town Junior on the Isle of Dogs.

One other school on the list in East London is Dagenham's William Ford Junior.

The schools are said to defy the association of 'disadvantage' with 'low standards,' where pupils come from poorer backgrounds with a higher-than-average proportion getting free meals.

"These schools show others how they can reduce the gap between pupils from different backgrounds," said Chief Schools inspector Christine Gilbert, former chief executive at Tower Hamlets.

"They provide great service to children through their professionalism, where children are treated as individuals and staff are passionate about finding ways of doing things better."

Examples in the report include one Tower Hamlets school which has a staff member dedicated to liaising with parents. Another in Dagenham does not using general 'supply' teachers, but qualified experienced teachers such as a local ex-deputy head to retain continuity.