Thomas Jones, a state primary school located in Notting Hill, London, has been recognized as one of the best primary schools in England. The institution serves a predominantly disadvantaged area, situated approximately 200 meters from the Grenfell Tower site. Despite its challenging locale, the school has achieved a ranking in the top one percent of schools nationwide and was named Primary School Of The Year 2026 by The Sunday Times. In 2025, 93 percent of its pupils met the expected national standard in SATs, significantly above the national average of 63 percent. Notably, 41.6 percent of students at Thomas Jones qualify for free school meals, compared to the national average of 25.7 percent.
Headmaster David Sellens, who has led the school for 25 years, inherited an institution that was in deficit with a high suspension rate. Under his leadership, the school has undergone significant transformations. Sellens implemented a strict tidiness policy, including painting walls white, using pared-back wooden furniture, and banning patterned items. Vanilla-scented Ikea candles are burned throughout the day, a practice Sellens believes contributes to a better learning environment.
Educational Philosophy and Student Engagement
Sellens's educational approach emphasizes high expectations and engaging communication with students. He greets every child by name, often using a megaphone, and encourages them to interact with visitors. The school's curriculum includes advanced literary studies, with Year Six pupils engaging with works by Milton and Shakespeare. Teachers are hired cautiously, with a strict policy against employing "cynics" and a requirement for staff to be "effusive about life." Teachers also rotate through different year groups to prevent stagnation.
The school has a phone-free policy for students, requiring those who walk to school independently to hand in their mobile devices. Discipline is managed with a "carrot" approach rather than punitive measures, exemplified by a daily "punctuality cup" awarded to the class that arrives most promptly, rather than fining parents for absences. The school also maintains a focus on multiculturalism, with 89.5 percent of students coming from ethnic minority backgrounds, representing 32 distinct ethnic categories.
Addressing Disadvantage and Fostering Potential
A key strategy implemented by Sellens was the creation of a nursery for 25 children aged three to four. He believed that investing in early education would yield long-term benefits, leading to more families applying for reception places. While initially free, the nursery now charges fees, with one-third of families paying. Sellens aims to instill a sense of possibility in pupils, emphasizing that they must seize their opportunities, especially given their proximity to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which claimed the lives of two former pupils.
Sellens stated that the school's success is hard-won, particularly given its location and the socioeconomic challenges faced by its students. He highlighted a recent success story of a former pupil who became the first in his family to enter higher education, graduating from university and pursuing a master's degree.
The school also made significant efforts to improve the physical environment, including redesigning gardens, planting trees, and introducing beehives to provide a contrast to the limited outdoor spaces available to many students in their small city flats. Despite the challenges, Thomas Jones fosters an environment where pupils are encouraged to believe that anything is possible.
