Haringey shared the secret of its school improvement success with schools, local authorities and education experts from around the country at a national conference. Dame Joan McVittie, outgoing headteacher of Woodside Academy; Evelyn Davies, headteacher at Coldfall Primary School, and Haringey Council Leader Claire Kober were among the speakers at the National Conference on School Improvement.

The event also saw a speech from Ofsted head Sir Michael Wilshaw, who took the opportunity to congratulate Haringey on its “fantastic” school improvement record.

Haringey’s schools have excelled in recent years with exceptional performances at Key Stage 2, some of the most significant improvements in GCSE results in the country and a huge increase in the number of schools earning top Ofsted ratings. All of Haringey’s secondary and special schools and close to 90 per cent of primary schools are now rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ by the education inspectorate.

The conference – which saw school leaders and education experts from across the country come together to share learning and best practice – was also the setting for the launch of an independent commission in Haringey to think about how the borough can raise attainment in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

The Haringey STEM Commission will be chaired by Baroness Sally Morgan and boasts an expert panel including BBC Economics Editor Robert Peston and former Tomorrow’s World host and co-founder and CEO of TeenTech CIC, Maggie Philbin, and headteacher at Alexandra Park School, Michael McKenzie.

Cllr Claire Kober, who delivered a keynote address to the conference, said:

“One of the key factors underpinning the school improvement we’ve seen in Haringey is the collegiate and collaborative atmosphere between local schools. Peer-to-peer support – and challenge – is a cornerstone of this relationship. We must ensure that as we seek to raise standards further, we create the conditions in which schools right across the capital have the opportunity to learn from each other.

“Good school improvement relies on identifying future opportunities and challenges and working towards solving or implementing them early on. Our new independent STEM Commission will focus on how we can raise attainment and increase employment in STEM areas so that more of our young people will have access to these exciting opportunities.”

Mr McKenzie said:

“Haringey’s greatest resource is its reservoir of bright, enthusiastic young people eager to learn, striving to achieve and ready to make their mark on the world. This STEM commission will link them to the skills and experiences they need to develop and ultimately lead the technological advances, scientific discoveries and engineering projects that characterise British innovation.

“We are delighted to have witnessed a huge take-up in STEM subjects at GCSE, BTEC and A-level. Now we must capitalise on students’ ambitions and teachers’ inspiration to help forge links with industry, create pathways for students to employment, higher education & training and ensure that the next generation of scientists, doctors, engineers and mathematicians is nurtured in the heart of Haringey.”