The State School the Minister Rejected … And the Private School She Chose

By COLIN FERNANDEZ; OLINKA KOSTER

ON the edge of the City of London, English Martyrs Roman Catholic School is regarded as one of the best primaries in the area.

Often oversubscribed, it beat 64 other schools in the borough of Tower Hamlets to claim the title of top school in last year’s primary league tables.

Every single pupil passed National Curriculum tests for 11-year- olds in maths and science last year, with almost all making the grade in English.

Ofsted inspectors heaped praise on the 220-pupil school, particularly highlighting its strong provision for pupils with special educational needs.

‘Those with special educational needs make particularly good progress,’ they said in their latest report, issued in 2002.

‘The needs of these pupils are identified clearly.

‘They are given work that is well matched to their needs and effective support in lessons so they make good, often very good progress. The co-ordinator organises provision very effectively.’ Almost all youngsters with learning difficulties manage to achieve the national standards expected of 11-year-olds in three Rs, Ofsted said.

Residents say the school, which mainly serves Catholic families drawn from a wide radius around its gates, is easily the best in the area.

The grounds are well kept and boast two basketball courts. Locals say that in summer the school holds a ‘mini Wimbledon’ tennis tournament for pupils.

Gulum Mustafa, 65, is a Muslim but his children were accepted into the school. He said: ‘They all went there. It’s the best school in the area by far.’ He said the school was difficult to get into, adding: ‘Everybody wants to send their kids to this school it’s as good as a private school.’

English Martyrs, near the famous ‘gherkin’ building designed by Norman Foster, has a relatively high number of pupils who are not native English speakers.

Rundown council estates, where abandoned TVs and rolls of carpet can be seen in front gardens, are adjacent to million-pound apartments with riverside views.

WITH its grand, sweeping drive and stately appearance, the new school attended by Ruth Kelly’s son promises to open up a world of oppotunity.

Boasting of the outstanding education it provides for children with specific learning difficulties, it also prides itself on its family atmosphere.

At first glance, it has the air of one of England’s great universities, with oakpanelled floors, stained glass panels and chandeliers visible from the entrance.

But despite its grandeur and vast lawns, the Pounds 17,000a-year boarding school set in more than 20 acres in the Home Counties describes itself as ‘small and beautiful’.

Its selective entry system allows it to handpick a limited number of bright pupils who are underachieving in their current schools.

With only 60 boys aged seven to 13, it styles itself as a prep school which is particularly strong in preparing pupils with learning difficulties for places at leading public schools including Winchester and Harrow.

The school employs one teacher for every two pupils, allowing tiny classes and plentiful one-to-one tuition.

The facilities also include luxuries that will make the boys the envy of many state school pupils.

Pupils are given their own laptops, while ‘outdoor pursuits’ include horse riding, shooting, fishing and clay pigeon shooting.

The school has its own heated swimming pool and two tennis courts, and golf is available on a nearby 18-hole course.

Given Miss Kelly’s links with the devout Catholic organisation Opus Dei, it might raise eyebrows that the school she has chosen has a Church of England affiliation.

One parent who considered the school for her child said: ‘I went to have a look around the inside and I was very impressed.

‘I remember going up to the dormitories and they were in excellent condition I wouldn’t have minded living there myself.

‘I had a chat with one of the teachers and saw the headmaster who was dressed in an extremely smart suit. It was a lovely school but cost a lot of money.’

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