The judges felt that, despite stiff competition from schools in other categories, Eastbury Community School Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) in Barking, Essex, stood head and shoulders above the rest.

The school, for deaf children in key stages 3 to 5, exemplifies some of the best practice not just in the alternative provision sector, but across all schools countrywide.

All staff have a minimum of level 3 in British Sign Language (BSL), with some staff achieving this during lockdown on top of the challenge of having to fine-tune online strategies for teaching deaf learners.

Judges were impressed with awards won by the ARP, including being overall winners in a Green Plan It competition, run by the Royal Horticultural Society, in which students built a model of a sensory garden.

And one student’s competition-winning design is appearing on new canvas bags for the Royal Association for the Deaf (RAD).

But perhaps most impressive of all was students’ BSL version of The 12 Days of Christmas, which was screened at the Globe Theatre as part of the Christmas at the (Snow) Globe production, written by and starring writer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig. Eastbury staff and students received a standing ovation on the opening night.

The judges called Eastbury “an inspiring example of personalised provision unlocking the potential of every student in an authentic inclusive model”.

They continued: “Pupils thrive with pride and the educators influence systemic developments with curriculum and pedagogy internationally.”