Charles Dickens and St Jude’s schools join Boris’s 'gold club'

The Mayor announced the launch of the London Schools Gold Club at the inaugural London Education Conference held at City Hall on Friday.

Charles Dickens Primary School in Toulmin Street and St Jude's Primary School in Colnbrook Street are among the 111 schools which have joined the club.

"Our finest schools recognise the importance of competition, rigour, creativity, discipline, and progression on the basis of academic merit," said Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.

"But there are still those out there who think it is enough to pat ourselves on the back and say London is 'good enough'. No – we can do better! We owe it to our children and the success and prosperity of our city demand it.

"I want to support the best schools and teachers to share their good ideas through my Excellence Fund and the Gold Club scheme. London has unleashed a new era of educational innovation in the UK – with a new generation of great teachers and the freedom to try out ideas – in teaching methods, curriculum, use of technology, the format of the school day, working with leading universities and businesses."

Schools which City Hall believes have overcome factors of poverty, disadvantage and low attainment for their pupils to raise aspiration and achievement are eligible to join the Gold Club.

Eligibility is based on the principle that children with pupil premium funding should be doing at least as well as the national average.

The pupil premium is additional funding given to schools so that they can support pupils from economically disadvantaged background.

Schools in the club are expected are expected share their good practice to help other schools to learn from their success.