Mayflower Primary School Achieves Flagship Status Again

A Creative Curriculum

Mayflower Primary School is in Poplar in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which is the third most deprived borough in the country and Poplar is one of the most deprived areas within the borough. It was named the Sunday Times Primary School of the year in 2021 and was in the top three in 2022. Presently there are fifteen children with an EHCP and there are seven more in the pipeline. The school has a very good local reputation for addressing the additional needs of certain children. Although many of the classes are smaller than average, the leaders ensure that the top priority is to help each child reach their potential. This is a school with a deep understanding of inclusion. The Headteacher and her team have designed a curriculum which has made learning accessible to everyone. It is creative and flexible and the children’s participation is meaningful. The aim is to challenge everyone.

Opportunities For Success

The Headteacher encourages all of her teachers to create interesting learning books to encourage pupils to be curious and to use their imaginations. Problem-solving is encouraged throughout the school, finding opportunities for everybody to be successful.

Staff Are Supported

Many of the families are from Bangladesh and many have English as an additional language. The number of children with learning needs has steadily been increasing over the past few years, compounded by the pandemic. As one enters a classroom you cannot tell which children may or may not have SEN. All the staff feel supported and love the collaborative approach between all of their colleagues. They are encouraged to undertake their own research and to apply it with their children. It should be based on evidence and what is relevant to their children and be practically possible to address their needs.

Children Enjoy School

Children enjoy learning at Mayflower Primary School. They said that the lessons are interesting and they are never bored. There are school ambassadors who meet to discuss making changes to the outside areas. On the decking above the hall they will be growing vegetables and plants and there will be more bins for composting. The children think that the warning system is fair if they misbehave or make the wrong choices. They know who they would go to if they wanted to speak to someone in confidence. They said that the children here are kind to each other and there is little bullying. They like the marking system and their teachers will suggest ways how they could improve their work. They enjoy the Friday assembly where certificates and awards are distributed for various achievements. There are a number of after-school clubs they can join. Some children were interviewed on Channel 5 to discuss neurodiversity. Visits to the City and the local area are built into the curriculum. Whilst I was there, three classes were at Colchester Zoo.

A National Reputation

Mayflower has a national reputation and the modest Headteacher is pleased to welcome visits from local, national and international leaders. It is one of eleven schools in the Poplar Partnership. This is a small charity set up to try and tackle local problems at their root, by helping fund and support early intervention projects within the community. It has a collegiate approach to improving children’s opportunities. The school is also part of the Tower Hamlets Education Partnership which has equality and inclusion as one of its core values. The Assistant Headteacher and SENCo went to New York and on the trip to New York, the Assistant Headteacher was awarded a fellowship by the Churchill Trust through her own personal initiative. The exciting work taking part in the school pertaining to research is enabled by funding obtained from the Churchill Trust. The Assistant Head was successful in receiving 2 rounds of this funding through a solo application. Using funding from her first successful grant, she visited NEST schools in New York which are using flexible seating and zones of regulation to meet the needs of autistic pupils. The second grant enabled her to collaborate with the CRAE team at UCL to evaluate the use of flexible seating at Mayflower School, a project of which all staff are part of.

Wellbeing Is Important

Children’s mental wellbeing is at the heart of the curriculum. They are able to discuss their feelings because PATHS teaches them how to articulate their emotions. The zones of regulation are also embedded throughout the curriculum. This language is normalised and they are able to use higher forms of vocabulary to vocalise the management of their emotions.

Strong Partnerships

Parents believe that Mayflower Primary School helps all children to reach their potential. There is a strong partnership between home and school. Staff give regular feedback to parents whose children have an EHCP. Children can see the progress they have made and enjoy celebrating their successes.

Excellent Leadership

The Headteacher does not shout about the school’s successes from the rooftop, but it should be noted that because of her leadership style, she has formed a loyal team who believe wholeheartedly in her inclusive philosophy. The children here are indeed fortunate to attend a school that provides such a high standard of inclusive education.

Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award

If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team, please feel free to telephone: 028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm) or email: info@iqmaward.com for further details.