A YORKSHIRE school where almost 90 per cent of its children arrive unable to speak any English has been named as one of the best in the country at improving its pupils' test scores.
League tables published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families put Parkinson Lane Community Primary School in Halifax in the top 20 in England for "adding value" to their children's performance.
Head teacher Gugsy Ahmed said the success had been achieved by placing an emphasis on the children learning English both at home and at school and also by providing pupils with positive role models.
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Mr Ahmed, who once drove to Bolton to find Amir Khan's family and arrange for the boxing star to appear at Parkinson Lane, says introducing children to success stories gives them something to aspire to.
The school was today named 17th best in the country for adding value to the pupils' performance between the ages of seven and 11, when they sit their key stage two tests.
The figures are worked out by comparing how 11-year-old pupils perform in their standard assessment tests at English, maths and science compared with the test scores of children from similar backgrounds and those with similar previous results.
The value added measure aims to show what impact a school has in helping a pupil to fulfil their potential.
Mr Ahmed said: "Its a mixture of ingredients. We have got a fantastic staff team and the school ethos is superb.
"There is a real 'can-do' culture and the pupils are up for taking on their own personal challenges and the governors are fully supportive and direct the money where it is needed."
The school also prides itself on providing personalised learning so all pupils have goals and targets important to them.
Mr Ahmed added: "A key to our success is the enjoyment the children have with their learning journey. We personalise their learning. What is important is every child knowing where they are going."
Around 99 per cent of the school's intake come from a South Asian background and around 85 per cent do not speak any English when they arrive in reception class.
Mr Ahmed said: "We have a massive amount of work to do when they arrive, but we have been working with parents to say they must take the opportunity to speak English when they are at home and we have seen an incredible interest in our courses for parents."
The head teacher said: "We serve a predominantly Asian community and we want to show our pupils they have a place in society by being integrated, by being British citizens and by making this country a better place to live.
"We have held a heroes week where we looked at people like Noor Inayat Khan who was one of only three women to be awarded the George Cross for her work as an agent in World War II, and we show them role models such as the footballer Harpal Singh, who has been in to see them."
Grove Community Primary School in Harrogate and Clifton Primary School in Hull also feature on a list of the top 200 schools for adding value to their pupils' performance.
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