Walthamstow Academy has been given an award for the training and professional development opportunities offered to staff and the follow-on benefits which follow for the standard of education students receive.

The academy, on Billet Road, announced today that it is the first school in the country to achieve the Continuing Professional Learning and Development Silver Award.

The award came after an assessor spent three days in the academy in April and examined the structures the academy has in place for staff development.

Marking the academy against 125 criteria, in giving the award the assessor cited the academy’s senior leadership’s provision of powerful role models, a strong climate of achievement, commitment and enthusiasm among the staff and a well-defined and visible coaching and mentoring strategy to support staff progress.

Walthamstow Academy Principal Emma Skae said: “I am delighted that the assessor recognised the quality of the professional development opportunities we offer staff and how this is having a positive impact on the achievement of our students.”

She added that the success of the programme was down to the amazing staff and that they now have their sights set on achieving the gold award.

The award is the only national externally assessed Quality Mark specifically for continuous professional development in schools.