Creek Road into Greenwich town centre (Robert Lamb, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
A Greenwich primary school has been named the winner of a prestigious national education award, recognised for transforming the way creative subjects are taught in its classrooms.
Meridian Primary School has won The PTI’s 2026 Primary Impact Award, presented by the education charity The PTI to primary schools that put high-quality subject teaching at the heart of classroom learning.
The school was singled out for building staff confidence in teaching textiles, using a PTI Primary Hub Art Day as a springboard to develop subject knowledge and raise expectations across every year group. The one-form-entry community school also includes specialist provision for deaf children, and judges praised the way creative ambition was raised for all pupils.
Teachers leading the way
Jo Graham, executive headteacher at Meridian Primary School, said: “Winning The PTI Primary Impact Award is a fantastic celebration of our collaborative learning community in action. Engagement with The PTI has empowered our teaching team to continually review and adapt our ambitious, creative curriculum through which our children’s knowledge, confidence, and pride have truly flourished.”
Dr Cat Scutt MBE, chief executive of The PTI, added: “Meridian Primary School is a fantastic example of how professional collaboration and a focus on subject knowledge can make a lasting difference to teaching and learning. Their work shows what can happen when staff are supported to build confidence and raise expectations across a school. It is a pleasure to recognise this commitment to high-quality subject teaching, and the ambition to give every child an inspiring learning experience.”
A demanding judging panel
The award was judged by a panel chaired by Dr Christine Counsell OBE, alongside Dame Alison Peacock, Dr Helen Clarke, Carolyn Roberts MBE and Rod MacKinnon — a line-up that underlines the weight the charity attaches to genuine subject expertise in primary classrooms.
The PTI said support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery has enabled it to give nominated and winning schools the skills, tools and resources needed to deliver high-quality lessons. Since 2018, Postcode Lottery players have raised more than £1.5 million for the charity, helping it support schools and pupils across England and Wales.
A strong year for London schools
The award caps a positive period for London primaries. It follows strong Ofsted outcomes for Thamesmead schools and comes as the capital’s education sector continues to adapt — from major faith-school decisions in Camden to a new festive show arriving at Greenwich Borough Hall.
