Barham Primary School

Inspiring self-belief and igniting futures: By honouring diversity and identity, this school elevates a whole community

Barham Primary School, a state school in Wembley, London, UK, transcends the confines of its deprived environment and propels its students towards a future of greater opportunity. By focusing on nurturing the identity and potential of its diverse students, the school empowers them to embrace ambitious goals while honouring their cultural values. This emphasis on developing cultural capital and cultivating an authentic voice enables students to navigate their diverse backgrounds with confidence and self-belief.

Barham faces challenges most other primary schools don’t: with 930 pupils, well above the national average, and 31 different languages within the student population, as well as various religious beliefs, the school is also in an area of social housing estates and intersecting community groups, exposing students to various societal issues such as gangs, grooming, radicalisation, drugs, poverty, and hunger.

Despite these challenges, Headteacher Karen Giles has been unwavering in her dedication to the school community, proactively fostering strong relationships with parents and always going above and beyond to create an inclusive and aspirational environment, making her a singular force in driving positive change. Giles and her team actively engage parents in developing language proficiency and essential skills as a first means to promote student success. They also work closely with community groups, especially first and second-generation immigrants, as a means to reduce marginalisation, empower individuals, and create a sense of belonging and support.

The school’s curriculum is also built upon the twin pillars of cultural capital and authentic voice. At the heart of this curriculum is the school’s “5R” model, which weaves together five essential skills – relationships, reflectiveness, resilience, resourcefulness, and risk taking – empowering students to embrace their full potential and navigate their educational journey with confidence.

This framework equips students with the self-awareness, determination, independent thinking, and empathy to successfully transition to secondary schools and further, more challenging, learning paths. Alumni regularly come back, showcasing the achievements made possible through Barham's commitment to breaking the glass ceiling.

If Barham Primary School wins the World's Best School Prize for Community Collaboration, Giles and her staff aspire to invest in a core team and cultural capital activities for their pupils and families. By prioritising these crucial resources, the school will continue to empower its community, nurturing potential, and making a lasting impact on the lives of its students.