Cardwell Primary School is in Woolwich Dockyard, with one of the highest levels of social deprivation and poverty in the country.
Unofficially in special measures, there was a lot that was wrong - the children had no idea of why they were in school and they didn't know what leaning meant. Headteacher Carol Smith turned the school's aggressive relationship with the community to one of "outstanding practice". How did she do it?
"This was a job I knew I couldn't do on my own, and I needed to get the help and support of other agencies. I thought the best way to do it was to create a visual representation so that everybody knows where their part fits in, including the staff in the school, and parents. So I created the Cardwell Wheel. It shows in each segment where I mean to make the improvements and what we need to do. Three and a half years ago nobody wanted to work at Cardwell. Now there is a waiting list. It's seen as an exciting and successful place to be." Carol Smith, Headteacher
