One Degree Academy has been shortlisted for a prestigious World’s Best School Prize by a global campaign group

An Enfield primary school has been named one of the best in the world.

One Degree Academy (ODA) is a state-funded nursery and primary school in Chace Village Road which opened in 2016 near to Chase Farm Hospital and was rated ‘outstanding’ following an Ofsted inspection last year.

Now the school has been shortlisted by T4 Education – a global platform bringing together a community of over 200,000 teachers from more than 100 countries to transform education – for one of its prestigious World’s Best School Prize categories.

There are six awards, with One Degree being shortlisted along with nine others for the ‘overcoming adversity’ prize, awarded to a school “showing resilience and determination to overcome significant challenges”. Other shortlisted schools for the prize represent countries including Brazil, Uganda, Pakistan, Colombia and Palestine.

There is now a public vote underway to determine the winner, with online voting open until Wednesday, 9^th July.

T4 Education acts to support the United Nations’ sustainable development goal for education “to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

ODA was shortlisted by T4 Education for its dedication to “providing every child – regardless of socioeconomic background – with an exceptional education, building resilience, and equipping them with the ambition and practical skills to thrive”.

In its efforts to address local poverty, the school “works to break down these barriers and prioritises admissions for children from lower-income families, extending its transformative offer to those who need it most” and was “founded on the belief that a postcode should never define a child’s potential”.

One Degree’s curriculum is “deliberately crafted to ensure every student gains deep mastery of key concepts, knowledge, and skills across all subjects” as well as being “grounded in a research-informed approach to teaching”.

The school is also said to recognise the “essential role families play in a child’s success” and provides active support in areas such as housing, food insecurity, and employability – offering everything from CV writing to help accessing essential services. Free school uniforms are also provided where needed.

School staff are offered extensive professional development with 14 training days a year, nearly three times the national average, plus weekly coaching.

The school’s Sat exam results place it in the top 3% performing schools nationally, despite serving a community with “high levels of disadvantage”. A full-time nursery on the site also helps to address the education gap in children from disadvantaged backgrounds, who often start school several months behind their peers.

Reacting to the news of the award shortlisting, ODA principal Jo Addleton said: “We’re incredibly proud to be finalists for the World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity. At a time when families face growing challenges and schools are stretched more than ever, this recognition means so much.

“Since opening in 2016, we’ve been driven by one mission: to ensure every child, regardless of background, has a life of choice and opportunity. This honour reaffirms what we believe – that with high expectations, care, and unflagging support, anything is possible.

“We hope this recognition encourages more families to become part of our community. With no catchment area for lower income families and transport available across the borough, opportunity isn’t limited by postcode. If it inspires even one more child to experience the ‘ODA way’, that’s a win for us!”

Vote in the World’s Best School competition before the deadline on Wednesday, 9^th July:
Visit vote.worldsbestschool.org/publicvote25

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