Award for 'outstanding' Telford Primary School

Staff at a Shropshire school working in an area of "high deprivation and low aspirations" have beaten the odds and been named Outstanding Primary School of the Year by a national newspaper.

Old Park Primary School in Malinslee, Telford, appeared an unlikely candidate for the top award after it was created just four years ago following the merger of three existing borough primaries.

But the school managed to beat hundreds of rivals to pick up the award at a ceremony in London hosted by impressionist Rory Bremner.

Staff made the trip to the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane where headteacher Mandie Haywood was given the award from The Times newspaper

A competition judge said: "Against a backdrop of difficult circumstances, Old Park Primary has proven the power of creative activities to engage children and parents."

He added the school had "created magical learning experiences that its pupils will remember for the rest of their lives".

Mrs Haywood said: "We work in challenging circumstances as we are in an area of high deprivation and low aspirations. But we have amazing staff and fantastic children and parents.

"What this means to us is that we realise that what we do every single day is important to our children and their future, we are thrilled and delighted that everyone's hard work has been recognised at such a high level.

"Yes, we have a new building but it is more about what we have done with the curriculum and the inventive way in which we ensure that pupils are inspired and taught."

An example of the way pupils learn is a recent project which saw two native Americans, Stone Bear and Snow Bird, pitching a tepee in the school grounds for three days.

This sparked a term-long project for the pupils on native Americans, which saw them divided into tribes to live and experience the culture first-hand.

Paul Watling, cabinet member for children and young people at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "Old Park is a fantastic school and the way children learn is really imaginative and exciting and it is wonderful news for both the borough and everyone connected with the school that they have won this fantastic award.

"Success like this really boosts the profile of Telford & Wrekin and I would like to say a big well done to the pupils, staff, parents and governors."