Letter from secretary of State for Education
Dear Helen,
Congratulations to you and your team on the excellent outcomes the disadvantaged pupils at Durdans Park Primary School achieved at the end of the 2024/25 academic year. Your school’s performance places it among the very best nationally, and this is a significant achievement.
This success reflects the dedication of your staff and the hard work of your pupils. It shows what can be achieved when ambition and commitment come together. Thank you for everything you do to give children the best possible opportunities to succeed.
Your school’s achievements demonstrate what is possible, and I hope you will continue to share your experience and best practice with others. Even the strongest schools can go further. We encourage you to lead the way as a system leader – sharing effective practice, championing networks, supporting collaboration, and helping raise standards across the sector.
There are real opportunities available for you to support improvement for a wider group of pupils including through:
- engaging actively with your region’s RISE networks and partnering with nearby schools and trusts;
- contributing to regional roundtables and professional communities to spread the approaches that are working in your context; and
- sustaining excellence by continuing to focus on disadvantaged pupils
Please pass on my thanks and congratulations to your staff and pupils. I look forward to working with you as we strive together to raise standards for all.
Bridget Phillipson
Secretary of State For Education
Specialist Sports Provision
At Durdans Park we have a dedicated space for cricket coaching and well maintained football pitches and athletics tracks. Our sports teams have been successful in a number of inter-school tournaments.
Being part of a federation means that we are able to share resources, including;
- Specialist PE teacher
- Sports coaches with Let’s Leap
Sporting achievements 2025/26
coming soon
The School Games Mark Gold Award
The School Games Mark Gold award is a recognition given to schools by the government-led School Games programme for demonstrating a high level of commitment to developing sport and physical activity within their school and community. To achieve Gold, schools must meet a set of national criteria, including maintaining high engagement in School Games, ensuring every child meets 60 active minutes daily, providing positive and inclusive competition experiences, and supporting student leadership and engagement.
Rights Respecting School
The rights respecting school journey takes the participants through bronze, silver and gold accreditations. The bronze award is achieved through the introduction of a rights based approach in school.
Our children are educated about their rights and the rights of others. Through this, they develop a deeper sense of empathy and responsibility. This awareness encourages positive interactions and reduces instances of bullying and conflict.
A rights-respecting environment promotes inclusivity and fairness, making students feel valued and heard. As a result, they are more likely to engage positively with their peers and teachers, leading to a more harmonious and productive school community.
By embedding these principles into the school’s ethos, we create a supportive atmosphere where every student can thrive both academically and socially.
We are now committed to achieving the second stage of the Award, Silver: Rights Aware
For more information on the convention on the rights of the child click here
Sustainability Ambassadors
Our school Sustainability Ambassadors organise events to highlight the environmental issues that we have been thinking about. Here is some of the action they have already taken;
- A ‘Cut your Carbon’ challenge
- Planted trees and hedgerows on the school grounds
- Litter picked in our local community
- Completed a environmental survey on our school grounds.
- Raised funds for our new community garden, which will increase biodiversity on the school grounds, help grow fresh food as well as teach valuable skills.
Eco-Schools Green Flag
Our school has been awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction in recognition of our commitment to sustainability and environmental education. This award reflects the hard work of our Eco-Committee, staff, pupils and parents, who have worked together to make positive changes across the school. From reducing waste within our school, to reducing litter in the community and increasing biodiversity on our school ground, we have embedded eco-friendly practices into daily school life. The distinction highlights not only the impact of our projects, but also the way we have involved the whole school community in creating lasting change.
