'Worst primary in country' becomes a lesson to others in overcoming challenges of poverty

A school once branded "the worst in the country" was today hailed as "outstanding" by Ofsted inspectors.

St John the Divine Church of England primary school in Camberwell is in one of the most troubled parts of London, with drug abuse and teenage pregnancy rife on nearby council estates.

The school faced closure in 1994 after inspectors condemned the abysmal standards of English and maths, and lax discipline.

But today Ofsted held up the "gem of a school" as an example of how teachers can help children overcome poverty. Most of the 230 pupils at St John the Divine are from deprived black African or Caribbean families. But Ofsted named the school - and eight others in London - as among the 20 most inspirational in the country.

"This is an outstanding school of which pupils and parents are justifiably proud," the watchdog's report said.

Many children arrive with poor English skills but the school "makes the most of the rich diversity". By the time children leave at age 11 they achieve "very highly", the report says.

Acting head Eileen Muresan said refusing to make excuses for children to fail is vital. "Some children do need to be given a role model," she said. "It's about giving them that sense that they can achieve and can be anything that they want to be." Another example hailed by inspectors today was Gateway Primary in Westminster, which this year won an Evening Standard School Award for outstanding achievement in challenging circumstances.

Ofsted said: "For three years running Gateway pupils have achieved as well as those in the top one per cent of schools nationally."

The other London schools praised were: Berrymede Junior School, Ealing; Bonner Primary, Tower Hamlets; Cubitt Town Junior, Tower Hamlets; John Burns Primary, Wandsworth; Michael Faraday School, Southwark; The Orion Primary, Barnet; and William Ford Church of England Junior school, Barking and Dagenham.