The Estate, identified as one of the 5% most deprived areas in England, consists of around 95% social housing and is home to a significant number of refugee families. Newham has the second highest levels of income deprivation of all of the English local authorities and rates of unemployment, particularly for young people, and of crime remain stubbornly high.
Despite these barriers, Gallions Primary School has gained a reputation as an example of best practice in a deprived area. The academic achievement of pupils at the school far exceeds expectation, a fact that is unequivocally linked to the school’s creative ethos. Music is central to the school’s educational philosophy and this approach addresses the different learning styles that children possess, making learning particularly accessible to the 87% of children at Gallions whose first language is not English and to those who have a special educational need or disability.
