Staff and pupils have been busy celebrating becoming the first school in the borough to receive a pioneering new award.

Engayne Primary School in Severn Drive, Upminster, have been awarded the Investors in Pupils accreditation after assessors praised “talented” and “creative” pupils.

Schools are marked across 14 categories with interviews conducted with parents, staff and pupils on daily school life.

Headteacher Sara Sankey said: “We are very proud of our children and how they follow our schools aims and values.

“The school community have worked collectively to support the accreditation which was an extension of what we were already doing every day.”