Woodberry Down Community Primary School

This large school has Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision of a Nursery and two Reception classes. Across the school, nine out of ten pupils come from a variety of minority ethnic backgrounds. Almost three quarters of pupils speak English as an additional language. The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals is very high. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well above average. Many of these have speech and language difficulties. A large number of pupils join and leave the school outside normal times. A quarter of pupils are refugees. The school has the Healthy Schools and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) awards and is an Investor in People. It has won many other awards including the Leading Aspect award for innovation in curriculum development and assessment, and it is an Eco School. The school regularly contributes to national and international conferences and is often featured favourably in the media. It led the training and support element of the Department for Children Skills and Families (DCSF) Black Children's Achievement Project across ten schools in Hackney and Southwark. The school is federated with another school in Hackney and the executive principal for both schools divides his time equally between them. The Family Welfare Association has offices within the school and supports vulnerable children and their families.