Elizabeth Garrett Anderson headteacher Sarah Beagley and students on International Women’s Day

A FORMER First Lady of the United States has been heaping praise on a secondary school that has been rated as “Outstanding”.

Michelle Obama said that she wanted to congratulate all the students, teachers, and staff at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Angel for their “incredible achievement”.

She added: “My time with the girls at EGA was a transformative experience for me as First Lady, and I think about it often. It means the world to know just how much the students are thriving.”

The Harvard-educated lawyer first visited the school in 2009 when she spoke about the power of sisterhood. At the time, she told pupils: “I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them.

“I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity”.

Michelle Obama visited EGA in 2009 and 2019

Her second visit came a decade later when she returned to speak at the school as part of her European book tour.

Ms Obama’s memoir Becoming had included a description of the positive impact that her original visit to the school had on her time as First Lady.

Maryam Conteh, headgirl at EGA, said she was “so proud” that her school had received the coveted Outstanding grade.

She said: “We have had so many amazing opportunities over the past five years, all of which have built my passion, grit and resilience for myself, and which I can see in so many other students.

“One experience I will never forget was in 2020 joining a Zoom call with Ms Obama to talk about EGA and feeling so proud to be connecting with her at my school.”

Headteacher Sarah Beagley added: “Achieving an Outstanding rating for the fourth time is a testament to the vision and values of the school to provide an education ‘without limits’. This is only possible through the dedication of our staff, the ambition and passion of our students, and the support of our parents and wider community.”