Ofsted report praises school and predicts bright future

Streatham Guardian 9 February 2006

Dunraven  "one of the new stars" says

The BBC published a table (autumn 2005) of the 102 state secondary schools in England which have most improved their 5 A*-C GCSE-level performance on the new measure which includes English and maths. Dunraven comes in second place nationally, with a rise of 29 percentage points over the past four years.

Read more on the BBC website

Dunraven becomes a Pathfinder school

Dunraven has been chosen as one of 32 schools nationally to take part in "a ground-breaking £4m project to create the classroom of the 21st century".  This exciting initiative, which runs until July 2003, will explore new ways of working to tackle workload, in order to free teachers to teach and raise standards in the classroom.  "Government sources said there had been massive interest from prospective participants, with the first stage of the scheme over-subscribed approximately 20-fold."

The schools will receive a package of support to tackle workload issues that will include:-

• a laptop for every teacher, 
• additional teaching assistants, bursarial staff and administrative support staff
• increased time for teachers to free them up for lesson planning, marking, professional development and school planning activities.

For further details:
DfES
TES report June 2002 
Guardian April 2002

Dunraven a beacon school

Dunraven School joined the new wave of beacon schools, announced on 27 May 2002.  Minister for Young People, Ivan Lewis, announced 166 new beacon schools – comprising 105 primaries, 44 secondaries, 11 special and 6 nurseries.

Beacon schools play a vital role raising standards by sharing good ideas and best practice with other schools in their area.

Dunraven received a school achievement award in March 2003, the second year running it has received this award.  Awards were given to schools "where pupils' results in 2002 were substantially better than in 1999 or where results in 2002 were better than most schools in similar circumstances in that year". Details from DfES

Dunraven was inspected in 2005 and its Investors in People status was renewed. This award is a national standard, which in July 1999 only 7% of schools were found to have achieved with a further 9% working towards recognition. We are therefore very proud of this achievement.

"I am delighted to tell you that Dunraven School has been selected as a winner of an Evening Standard London Award. We have chosen four schools (two primary, two secondary) which represent the very best state education that is available in London.

"Dunraven School has been chosen because of your record of outstanding achievement.....The Education Secretary, The Rt Hon David Blunkett, has agreed to present the Awards.....In addition to the Award, your school will receive a cheque for £7,000 from the Evening Standard to spend on a project which will benefit your pupils... No greater issue faces London and London parents than that of making our schools better places, where our children learn more. Inspection and examination evidence have clearly demonstrated your efforts".

Press cuttings

PM praise for south London school from the 10 Downing Street website 20 Oct 2005
BBC website 
Yahoo news (France)
Question Time for PM (South London Press)
Streatham Guardian
Banding at Dunraven  (BBC website - Mon 24 Oct05)

Arts for inner city schools (BBC)
ITN: Most improved schools - London
Local London: Schools get top reports
Evening Standard website, 6 February.
Evening Standard website, 20 February
Success breeds success, says winning head - Evening Standard 20 February
Streatham Guardian 15 Feb large
TES 9 February
Letter from Keith Hill MP
Letter from Mike Tomlinson, OFSTED chief inspector
OFSTED chief inspector's report (schools)
Guardian: "Inspectors name outstanding schools"
Telegraph:  Gold star schools
Guardian: The long and short of OFSTED
'Class acts win our honours' Evening standard, 10 March 2001)
Quality of teaching is key to success' Evening standard, 10 March 2001)
Praise for school high flyers (SLP Feb 2001)

Dunraven "particularly successful school" says OFSTED

The Chief Inspector of Schools, Mike Tomlinson, in his annual report published on 6 February 2001, has named Dunraven in his list of particularly successful schools. In his letter to Mr Townsend, Principal, he wrote:

"My warmest congratulations to you, your staff, governors and, of course, the pupils."

Full list of praised Inner London schools

Dunraven in the
Spanish press

Dunraven wins Evening Standard award for outstanding achievement February 2001

"Success breeds success, says winning head"
Click on picture to enlarge

"The two secondary school winners (Woodford County High School and Dunraven) could not be further apart in terms of the intake of their pupils. Their great similarity is the dedication of their staff in getting the most from their pupils and giving them the best possible chance in life...  We applaud the winning schools and everyone who works in them."
Evening Standard 10 March 2001