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(Picture: PA Wire)A London primary school with a strict ban on designer trainers has been ranked one of the top UK schools.
Hampden Gurney C of E Primary School was ranked ninth in a list of the top state primary schools in Britain, according to The Times.
Headteacher Evelyn Chua said the strict uniform guidelines dissuade “competition” and create a school culture where students are “ready for learning”.
Among their strict uniform rules, students must wear similar black leather shoes.
She told MyLondon: "Everyone has the same leather shoes without having parents spend a lot of money and comparing.
"We just want to look like they’ve come to school and they are ready for learning. They feel a collective belonging that they are part of something that is worth recognising."
Mrs Chua has been the headteacher for more than 20 years.
Her role involved teaching maths which has led to her students working two years ahead in the national curriculum.
She added: "Last year, 75 per cent of our children gained top places in secondary independent schools, even in the pandemic when we were doing virtual learning."
The Times based the rankings on the reported outcome of pre-pandemic standard assessment tests (SATs) in core subjects in 2017-2019.
Hampden Gurney’s ranking was among many of their accolades.
The school has also received an outstanding Ofsted report in May 2009 as well as being awarded the NACE Challenge Award and Healthy Schools status.
