Thomas Jones Primary School (London)

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A co-educational primary school for 3-11-year-olds in the district of Kensington and Chelsea, London, Thomas Jones is unique in the context of Notting Hill, as it is the only community school with a single form of entry. One advantage of this is that it often feels like a "big family." Gentle and welcoming, younger pupils know Year 6 well and vice versa, creating an environment where positive, authentic relationships develop, supporting and nurturing the well-being of each individual. The Nursery and Reception cohorts are considered the most important because this is where everything begins. Attending all assemblies and dressed immaculately in the same uniform as their older peers, they contribute significantly and are celebrated at every opportunity. Early Years practice at the school is exceptional.

The school's aggregate attendance is 97%. The 2023 End of Key Stage 2 SATs results are among the top 2% of schools nationally, with an astonishing 70% of pupils achieving at greater depth in mathematics. Thomas Jones appears in the latest edition of the Good Schools Guide in glowing terms. The school was inspected by Ofsted in October 2023 and was awarded "Outstanding" in all categories for the third consecutive time (2006, 2009, and 2023). Re-accredited as a "World Class School" last year, one of only five primary settings in the country accorded this award, the school has also received a Royal Borough Excellence Plaque and an Evening Standard London School of the Year trophy. Until recently, the Head was a National Leader of Education and was awarded an OBE for Services to Education in 2016. For a tenth consecutive year, the school has been identified by The Sunday Times as one of the UK's "Top Schools." For six years as a Department for Education designated Teaching School, Thomas Jones was frequently visited by educational leaders from around the country and abroad. The school is significantly oversubscribed (200+ applications for 30 Reception places in January 2024), with long waiting lists for every class. The school has achieved "Healthy Living Gold" status.

The curriculum is richly varied and affords opportunities for each and every pupil to shine. The ethos is firmly focused on intellectual challenge and innovation, with rigour and a desire for continual improvement being integral. Attention to detail in regard to uniform, demeanour, and the use of Standard English are strengths. Aspiration and a climate that ensures pupils are consistently kind and friendly are absolute.

Thomas Jones' pupils are robust, assertive, and articulate. They are instilled with an uncompromising set of values, with empathy being a key element. Pupils are encouraged to be tenacious, and emphasis is placed on beautiful cursive handwriting, with the quality of writing being second to none by the time pupils depart at the end of Year 6. The choir, string ensemble, and pianists are impressive. Last season, the mixed hockey and girls' football teams were crowned borough champions. The previous year, the school won the basketball and handball championships and the Royal Borough swimming gala. Concerts and school plays are of an exacting standard, with past performances including Treasure Island, Romeo and Juliet, Under Milk Wood, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and, in July 2023, Peter Pan.

Selected as an exemplar, Thomas Jones appears in a number of publications, including "Reading by Six, How the Best Schools Do It" (Ofsted), "Building an Outstanding Reading School" (Oxford University Press), "Narrowing the Gap" (also Oxford University Press), and "Closing the Gap" (Pathways Education). The school featured in the Ofsted promotional film "Moving English Forward," and in 2018, phonics lessons were filmed for professional development purposes. The leadership team has provided advice to the Department for Education about the development of the National Curriculum, with views pertaining to deprivation, the Pupil Premium, Early Years Education, and, last year, the retention and recruitment of staff also being sought.

www.thomasjonesschool.org/index.html