North Prospect Community School in Plymouth is no stranger to a challenge. In the south of the city, the school is in one of the most disadvantaged parts of Plymouth - 65 per cent of pupils receive free school meals and 40 per cent of families have mental health issues.
But through strong leadership, the school has proved successful in meeting each challenge with practical solutions. A key factor has been pursuing a policy of extending school services to help pupils, families and the surrounding community. For example, as many as 40 families a year in North Prospect are struck off doctors' lists. Head teacher Chris Watts says this is often due to aggressive behaviour linked to poor communication skills. "Some people's language skills may not be strong and if they argue a case they can be more aggressive because of this," he explains.
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