St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School in Margate has been recognised as one of the best schools nationally by Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education.
The school team has achieved some of the best attainment outcomes in the country for disadvantaged pupils and was contacted by Mrs Phillipson on behalf of the government thanking them for their hard work.
Her citation praises St Gregory’s significant achievements and encourages the school to share the effective practice that has contributed to its ongoing success.
The letter – which is framed and displayed in the school – says: “This success reflects the dedication of your staff and the hard work of your pupils. It shows what can be achieved when ambition and commitment come together. Thank you for everything you do to give children the best possible opportunities to succeed.
“Your school’s achievements demonstrate what is possible, and I hope you will continue to share your experience and best practice with others.
“Even the strongest schools can go further. We encourage you to lead the way as a system leader – sharing effective practice, championing networks, supporting collaboration, and helping raise standards across the sector.’”
This year St Gregory’s School was the highest achieving school in Margate and Broadstairs in the Key Stage 2 SATS and had excellent phonics outcomes. The school was inspected by Ofsted in 2025 and achieved an outstanding rating in personal development.
Head Teacher Dave Walker is proud of the St Gregory’s community – staff, children, governors and families. He said: “I was delighted to receive the letter from the Secretary of State. A lot of hard work goes into making sure we do our absolute best for these children every single day and trying to go the extra mile where we can.
“Margate is still one of the most deprived areas in the country and I know all the schools locally are fully committed to giving their children the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in life.
‘We have good processes in place in terms of how we approach learning and what we prioritise. We want to make sure pupils do well academically to set them up well for life but school also needs to be fun and involve good relationships.
“It is equally important that we are supportive both for pupils and their families and genuinely try and help where we can.”
