Drayton Manor High School

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Drayton Manor High School
Nec Aspera Terrent
School type	Comprehensive
Established	1930
Principal	Sir Pritpal Singh
Students	1,600 approx
Location	Hanwell, London
Website	http://www.draytonmanor.ealing.sch.uk/

Drayton Manor High School, formerly Drayton Manor Grammar School, is a comprehensive school located in Hanwell, Ealing. The current headteacher is Sir Pritpal Singh, recently awarded knighthood.

Quite simply, his leadership is excellent. Pritpal has successfully built a high performing team of senior managers who have effectively managed change to create an outstanding school. He leads by example and from the front, taking responsibility in partnership with all staff, governors, parents and students for the key decisions that have to be made.

The school is comprehensive in the truest sense of the word. Multi ethnic and multi cultural, students come from a mix of backgrounds, ranging from refugee status to established professional homes. 40 different languages are spoken and some 12 per cent have special educational needs.

The status it current enjoys, named as one of the 100 most improved schools, as a recipient of Beacon Status and one of 300 Leading Edge status schools in the country, was not always the case. Before Pritpal’s arrival security was an issue inside and outside the school with no-go areas, and no-go students who ruled the roost. The environment was defaced by graffiti and malicious damage that was seldom repaired. Yet Pritpal’s air of calm authority, coupled with a lot of hard work has now made this a school of choice for both staff and pupils.

It is no surprise that this school will be cited for its excellence in this year’s annual report of Her Majesty’s Inspectors. It is complete testimony to Pritpal’s commitment, professionalism, dedication and vision. In response he says simply, ‘I aim for excellence without elitism.’