A primary school in Notting Hill has been ranked the best in England by the Sunday Times Schools Guide.

It is among six London schools to feature in the top ten.

Fox Primary School in Kensington Place topped the definitive school rankings, with the editor of the Sunday Times Schools Guide calling it the “stand out school at primary level in the country”.

The guide ranks the highest achieving primary schools based on three years of results in the annual SATS exams taken by 11-year-olds.

It found 93% of pupils at Fox had reached level 5 - the level of attainment considered to be that of a 13-year-old - in reading, writing and maths in 2015.

The figure was 86% in 2014 and 73% in 2013.

Launch of the Fox Pot cookery book at the Fox Primary School in Notting Hill.
Launch of the Fox Pot cookery book at the Fox Primary School in 2013

The proportion of children achieving level 5 in all of reading, writing and mathematics each year was added together to produce a score out of 300 for each primary school in England, and put Fox 30 points ahead of the second place school, Park Road Sale Primary, in Sale, Greater Manchester, with 252 points.

Its achievements are all the more remarkable as the school is undergoing a major rebuild with the children spread across a number of sites within two miles.

However, it is due to reunite at one location later this academic year.

The school’s executive head, Paul Cotter, insists the school is not competitive.

He said: “The last thing we want to come across as is a hot house, because we are the opposite of being a hot house.”

He puts the school’s success down to teaching the children “properly, slowly and in depth from reception to Year 6”.

Pupils enjoy a varied education, and grow their own food and keep their own bees to sell honey.

The kids have also produced its own cookbook .

There is also a strong emphasis on sport and PE with pupils representing Kensington and Chelsea in the London Youth Games in basketball, tag rugby and hockey.

The school’s girls team was also crowned national table tennis champions in 2014-15.

Emma Madden, head of school at Fox was delighted with the recognition.

She said: “We are very happy, excited and proud of our staff, our extended team and all the different people that work together to make our school a success.”

Referring to its varied curriculum, which also includes mindfulness, she said: “I think all of these rich experiences show how committed we are to developing the whole child."

'Provisions in place to support children not making sufficient progress'

She said there was also emphasis on development of staff, with a large number of courses for teachers.

Alastair McCall, editor of The Sunday Times Schools Guide said: “Whatever way we cut the data this year, at whatever level of attainment, Fox Primary emerged as the leading school in England.

"It is the stand out school at primary level in the country at present.

“Its success extends beyond the purely academic into all areas of the curriculum and beyond – the product of an enthusiastic, engaged and dynamic staff and outstanding leadership.

"The children who get a place here benefit from the best possible start to their education.”

The school also received plaudits from Kensington and Chelsea Council’s Cllr Emma Will. She said: “We are incredibly proud of all our primary schools.

“Therefore, it is very pleasing to see Fox Primary at the top of this important table. Clearly when it comes to ensuring pupils receive a first-rate education Fox excels.

“But it does so much more to nurture and develop children which is why it is thoroughly deserving of this accolade.”

Other London schools featuring in the top 10 include Barnes Primary School at third place, Akiva School in Finchley in fifth place, Bishop Gilpin CoE Primary School in Wimbledon in seventh place, St Peter's RC Primary School, Woolwhich in eighth place and All Saints' CoE Primary School in Putney Common in ninth place.

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