A letter telling inner-city Becket Primary it is one of the top 100 most improved schools in the country came as a great shock and surprise to its staff and pupils. Education correspondent Zena Hawley speaks to them about the secret of their success.  

NESTLING among streets of terraced houses in one of Derby's most deprived areas, Becket Primary has emerged as a shining example of education success.

A letter from the Government has placed the inner-city school, which does not even have a useable playing field, in the top 100 most improved schools in the country over the past four years.

It comes shortly after Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls identified four other Derby schools as failing to reach national standards.

Yet teachers say there is no single initiative that has been responsible for the Becket improvement in its National Curriculum Test results, which prompted the letter.

They credit a combination of supportive teaching and engaging pupils to help them get the basics right.

Older pupils are encouraged to work with younger children as mentors and pupils from the across the school represent their classes on the school council.

In an open-door policy, parents are encouraged to come into school and discuss any family problems.

Long-serving staff offer continuity and security to pupils' lives in an area where home lives can be chaotic.

Because many parents can't afford to send their children on trips, the school uses the city as a learning resource, with outings to museums and the library.

Ask the school staff themselves what they are doing to achieve the top 100 accolade and they will simply reply they are "getting on with the job".

From the head teacher down, staff are modest about their school's achievement.

Head Susan James took over the job last September, after being deputy head for several years.

"Many of our children come from difficult backgrounds and come into the school with below average attainment levels," she said.

"This can lead to unauthorised absences, low aspirations and health and social problems.

"We make sure we work with our children individually and really get to know the families, so that we are aware of any problems that arise and can help to alleviate their impact at school.

"This is a fairly close-knit community, with staff who enjoy their jobs and stay with us, and we now have the children of former pupils coming here."

Becket Primary has improved its test results for 11-year-olds by just under 100 percentage points.

In 2006, pupils got 155 out of a possible 300 percentage points, calculated by adding together the percentage of pupils gaining level four or above in maths, English and science.

Last year's results were the best in the school's history, rising 99 percentage points to 254.

Mrs James said: "Our pastoral care system, good teaching and inclusion of staff in the decision-making process have all contributed to the school's improvement.

"We make learning fun and the children are encouraged to be interactive, doing activities such as drawing, painting and information technology, to illustrate the subject in their learning.

"By having a secure and steady base, pupils are then free to concentrate on their learning.

"We have had a problem with attendance but are working with the city council's education welfare department to reduce this."

Ironically, an inspection by the Office for Standards in Education in December did not share Schools Minister Vernon Coaker's effusive praise of the school.

Overall, the Monk Street school and its 230 pupils were graded "satisfactory".

The inspectors' comment on tests improvements said: "A trend of improvement in recent years means that pupils make satisfactory progress and, by the end of year six, attain standards that are broadly average in English, mathematics and science."

It contrasts sharply with Mr Coaker's letter, which said: "I am delighted to congratulate you on the excellent performance of your pupils... it is an enormous credit to your staff, governors and pupils for their hard work and dedication... this is a great achievement of which you and all at the school can be proud".

The Ofsted inspectors did, however, acknowledge the safe and caring aspect of the school and also the pupils' behaviour.

Chris Wynn, chairman of the school's governing body, plays an active part in the life of the school.

He cares passionately about what happens at the school and has been involved for more than five years.

He said: "We are not a school that jumps every time a new gimmick is promoted by the Government. We prefer to stick with the tried and tested systems we have established.

"Our children cannot cope with endless changes, particularly as some of them are migrant children whose own lives are in constant flux anyway.

"We need to remove uncertainty and to keep changing the way we teach and the way they learn is not going to help."

As an inner-city school, with limitations on the number of trips that parents can afford, the school relies on visitors to come in and speak to the children on a variety of subjects.

School residential trips become activity weeks in schools to cut down on cost.

Mr Wynn said: "Pupils are regularly taken to access the main city library and the museum, which are within walking distance for us.

"We see this is a an advantage for our pupils that other schools in the suburbs cannot do so easily."

Pupils in year five also have an advantage over some schools because each of them is encouraged to play a musical instrument.

Money given to the school some years ago enabled a cache of brass instruments to be purchased.

Since then, the school has formed a band and regularly performs at the Assembly Rooms in Derby.

"A number have the chance for one-to-one tuition," said Mr Wynn.

"We hope it builds aspirations in our younger children and also enhances social skills and experience for those playing instruments.

"The school council, with two members from each class, also helps to give a sense of responsibility and a say in the running of the school.

"They discuss school issues and even took part in interviewing Mrs James when she applied to be head teacher.

"And our year six pupils take part in a citizenship award scheme in school.

"This gives them responsibilities such as taking the register, supporting younger children in the playground, acting as peer mediators to sort disputes and mentors to younger children with reading, and it also rewards them with certificates."

Most schools who achieve good test results are usually worried that the following year, with a different group of children taking them, the results could dip.

Mr Wynn said: "Continued improvement has been steady and we have no reason to suppose it can't be maintained but inevitably some year groups will be better than others.

"At the end of the day, a school is made up of many aspects. Test results, for which we have been praised, are just one.

"We do what we think is best for our children and our results have improved.

"We are not claiming to do anything different to other schools but what we are doing is having a positive effect.

"But, importantly, we have a happy and contented school where children feel secure and parents are confident in what we do. Quite simply, we are getting on with our job."

Parent Christine Harrison, of Spinney Road, passes two other schools on her journey to take Jude, five, and Frank, four, to lessons at Becket Primary.

She said: "I got to know the school after my children attended the children's centre next door and liked what I heard from other parents.

"Both children are very happy there and the teachers are very friendly. You feel that if you have any problems you can go into the school to discuss them.

"It has a good atmosphere and I am very happy to walk the extra 10 minutes to ensure my children attend the school."

Another parent, Victoria Robertson, of Derby, has a son Kwasi, seven, at the school and an older son went there, who now attends Bemrose Community school.

She said: "My older son did really well at Becket and had the chance to learn the clarinet.

"He took part in a Romeo and Juliet concert at the Assembly Rooms and really enjoyed it.

"Kwasi has a statement of special needs and I feel confident that he is progressing very well."

Nicola Harkin, who has sons Tyler, four, and Troy, three, at the school, has recently become a parent-governor.

She said: "I feel comfortable that I chose the right school for my children.

"I have been very impressed with the way the school is run and the openness with which they treat parents.

"There is a range of cultures at the school and I think that this will be beneficial to my sons' experience in the long-term.

"It seemed natural to become a parent-governor and support the good work that is being done."