East London state primary school beats private institutions to top UK league tables

A state primary school in east London has beaten every private institution in England to be named the best in the country.

St Stephen’s Primary School in East Ham scored the highest overall score in reading, spelling and mathematics in the Sunday Times league tables.

The feat has been deemed even more impressive, given that the vast majority of pupils – 96 per cent – speak English as a second language, with most from an Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani background.

Headteacher Neena Lall told the Sunday Times: “Our mantra is: ever child can. If they can’t, why can’t they?

“It is about expectation. I was privately educated, so was my chair of governors. Everyone sits the Sats tests when they are 11. There is a no excuses culture; every day counts.”

At the age of seven, pupils are reading “hard” books, such as the Alex Rider series, and have finished the national curriculum by the time they are 10.

Many of the school’s 540 pupils are hoping to win scholarships to top private schools such as Eton and Harrow.

A number of private schools reported that they were not included in the list because their students do not sit Sats exams.