Gateway Learning Community's Viki Reid was amongst a number of inspirational teachers invited to Number 10 to be honoured by the Prime Minister. Mrs Reid was head at Herringham school and now works with Herringham, Lansdowne, Tilbury Pioneer and the Gateway Free school.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the teachers present for 'challenging the soft bigotry of low expectation' and thanked them for making a real difference in their schools.
Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price said, "Good teachers will always strive to get the best out of their children. Last year I visited Tilbury Pioneer Academy and it is amazing to see how quickly that school is moving forwards. After years of underperformance as Tilbury Manor, the leadership team is transforming the school. That Viki has been invited to No 10 is recognition of just how quickly the school is improving."
Pupils at the Gateway schools wrote letters to the Prime Minister which have been presented to him.