My family and I live in Tyburnia, just off Edgware Road. Twenty-two years ago we (well, my wife) started looking for a primary school for our two daughters.
My wife soon found out about a Church of England state primary, Hampden Gurney, just around the corner, which was run by the extraordinary Evelyn Chua and was a school that was positively glimmering with academic success.
It was immediately impressive: there were children representing most religions and races in London - when our children joined, around 60. The school was representative of the area (which includes Lisson Grove, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Westminster), meaning that half the pupils were on free school meals. The discipline was obviously adhered to, as it was quiet, orderly, and the children seemed incapable of not smiling. The school soon became one of the most successful in London, then the country as a whole, and is still regularly ranked in the top five nationally.
This story is from the January 22, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the January 22, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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