MP Emily Thornberry with pupils at Winton Primary School

IN the face of school closures and falling rolls across London, a primary school in King’s Cross is bucking the trend to provide “hope in a time of gloom” this Christmas.

Winton Primary School achieved its first ever Outstanding grade from Ofsted in June, and recently introduced “wraparound care”, meaning children can stay at school for extended hours, giving parents more flexibility.

In recognition of its achievements, Winton is one of three schools featured on MP Emily Thornberry’s holiday greeting cards this year, and pupils posed for the festive photo with Ms Thornberry outside their school gates when she visited in November.

Ms Thornberry said: “Winton is a school I have always been proud to support. What the teachers, parents, governors, and children have accomplished is incredible – outstanding recognition, nearly full class sizes, new after-school clubs, and unparalleled support for families show a school that is thriving – and rightly so!”

The school has more pupils than ever, even amid a London-wide crisis of dwindling numbers that has contributed to Islington Council’s proposal to shut two schools in the borough next year.

Headteacher Gregory Gray told the Tribune: “We’re nearly at full capacity, which is a positive message at a time where many inner-city schools are struggling to fill classrooms.”

He also pointed out that Winton has a high number of pupils on free school meals – over 60 per cent of pupils are eligible, compared to the national average of 25 per cent.

“That means that we’re in one of the most deprived areas of London, if not the country, and still we can achieve an Outstanding, which is as much down to the families and children as it is to the teachers.

“Winton shows that there is hope in a time of gloom.”

Mr Gray has worked at the school since 2014, and was a specialist SEND teacher before becoming head.

He added: “Inclusion is core to what we do here – inclusion for different cultures and communities and religions, but also neurodiversity and different learning styles.

“Everybody that comes here is given an opportunity to do their best whatever their starting point is.”