A school in Beckton has been shortlisted for an international award for its work overcoming adversity.

Kingsford Community School, a secondary school in Kingsford Way, has been named in the top ten shortlist for the World's Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity.

This award comes as part of the World’s Best School Prizes 2024, established by T4 Education to give a platform to schools changing lives both within and beyond their classrooms.

Head teacher of Kingsford Community, Joan Deslandes OBE, said: "I am honoured and humbled that Kingsford has been recognised as one of the top ten best schools in the world by T4 Education.

"Kingsford is a special place, where our dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure that the pupils entrusted to our teaching and leadership, regardless of background or life circumstances, have the opportunity to achieve and excel academically and personally."

She added that the school's curriculum prepares students to be "capable and compassionate citizens who are ready to make a difference".

Kingsford’s selection was in recognition of their efforts to turn "adversity into excellence" for its 1,500 students - 72 per cent of whom speak English as a second language, and many who are on free meals.

The school celebrating their place in the shortlistThe school celebrating their place in the shortlist (Image: Kingsford Community School)

Four other UK state schools also made the top ten shortlists across different categories, with the UK having the most shortlisted schools of any country.

This year, for the first time, all the shortlisted UK schools are state schools.

Winners of the five prizes will share a $50,000 prize fund.

Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, praised UK schools for their innovation and dedication to student wellbeing.

Mr Pota said: "Unless we solve the urgent challenges global education faces – from learning gaps exacerbated by Covid to chronic underfunding and the growing teacher wellbeing, recruitment and retention crisis – we will have failed the next generation."

He added that "trailblazing" UK schools like Kingsford Community School, have "cultivated a strong culture and aren’t afraid to innovate".

Mr Pota added: "Schools everywhere can now learn from their solutions, and it’s time governments do so as well."