Azra Butt, head of Eldon Primary School in Preston - winner of the primary school of the year award at the Tes Schools Awards 2018 - explains how her school combines raising academic standards with a commitment to developing “the whole child” and creativity.

Tip one:

“Know your children well - know their strengths as well as any barriers to learning.

“At Eldon, our children speak up to 20 different languages. Our focus on developing the children’s vocabulary as well as their oracy skills, primarily through the use of our radio station our 4D room, has proved to be a winning combination. As a result, standards in speaking and listening, and therefore English, have risen steeply.”

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Tip two:

“It not all about the exams. Focus on developing the whole child and teach your children to stay healthy and keep active.

“At Eldon, we run over 24 different after-school clubs each week, including coding, 3D printing, singing and sewing. Through family learning, parents and their children attend fitness sessions led by specialist PE teachers. Our outdoor gym is getting everyone active and keeping our happy hormones flowing.”

Tip three:

“Make learning real-life and fun, and add in some problem-solving. 

“At Eldon, we love finding innovative ways to inspire our children. We hold regular super-learning days and these allow children to learn in ways which go beyond curriculum requirements.

“At Eldon House, children design rooms, they research the costs of different types of furniture and build flat-pack furniture. We hold regular ‘Come Dine With Me sessions’ where children design their own menus before going out to buy the ingredients and then preparing and presenting their food.”

Entry for the Tes Schools Awards 2019 is free and open to state and independent schools around the UK until Sunday 10 March. More details can be found here.