The headteacher of a school which struggled to improve Ofsted results said the rise in standards they have seen is down to the "most talented, hardworking staff".

Mohsen Ojja, who joined Crest Academy in Neasden January 2015, said the transformation to come out of a "special measures" rating was possible by having a clear vision for the school with the teachers and the dedication of pupils who wanted things to change.

Speaking to getwestlondon as part of our Teach First campaign , Mr Ojja said: "You want to see students enjoy learning and feel safe when they make mistakes.

Mohsen Ojja said dedicated teachers have been able to turn around the school's Ofsted ratings and they play a crucial role in 'changing the lives of children'

"No other job in the world enables me and the staff to feel the range of emotions we did when we saw the change, it's true job satisfaction."

The school, which had a £1million refurbishment and is now a mixed boys and girls academy, "desperately needed change", according to the head, facing challenges such as retaining resilient teachers.

Discussing what makes an excellent teacher and how Teach First has helped the school, he said: "Teach First have made a professional approach to teaching and given us a pool of talent to pick teachers from if we wish.

"The job is constantly thinking about how to improve yourself, it's that continuous push for improvement which Teach First have also focused on.

"They've also made it clearer to understand that it's a professional role where there are standards and clarity on where you need to be in order to make a good teacher.

"What makes someone the best at this job is a belief that you can change the pupils' lives.

"It's also about being passionate about your subject otherwise you can't share the enthusiasm with your students.

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"For London, there also has to be a sheer passion to want to change social injustices."

Mr Ojja who had trained to be a lawyer at first, said people from other professions can make the transition into teaching, but should want to make an impact and put in the work needed.

"You're embarking on a lifelong journey," he said.

"The satisfaction you can get from it though if you put in the time and effort is second to none."

Persuaded that teaching could be your next challenge this year?

The Teach First Leadership Development Programme is a salaried, two-year programme that gives you real responsibility and the chance to make a difference to children's lives.

You will gain a fully-funded qualification and the key skills and personal qualities to make a real impact. Find out more at https://www.teachfirst.org.uk/challenge-impossible-ldp

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