Pupils at Downhills Primary School speak more than 40 languages. Children at Key Stage 2 are expected to read for 10 minutes a day and maths homework is given out once a week. The school, in Tottenham, north London, was given notice to improve in January last year. When Ofsted inspectors visited nine months later, they were satisfied with the pace of change.
Parents described Downhills as a "very caring school" with "happy and secure" pupils. So when the government earmarked the primary to convert to an academy, parents and staff resisted. Following a spat played out in the media, Education Secretary Michael Gove asked Ofsted to reinspect the school, which was duly placed in special measures.
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