We all know that maintaining even a tolerable level of fitness requires hard work. Continued improvement is the product of sustaining good habits, not one-off or occasional bursts of good intention. The same is true for organizations. Building a self-improving culture where we are never satisfied isn't the easy option. Being recently recognized as one of the very best Children’s Services in England might be taken as a cue to pause and rest. In Tower Hamlets, we have responded with a determination to go further and achieve even more

Our relentless and reliable ambition to improve is informed by a shared appreciation that our work matters. The moral purpose, the determination to serve the needs of children, is well established as an issue that has strong political consensus. In Tower Hamlets there is a deep and shared appreciation that the success of our children is vital to the long-term health, security, and wealth of our community.

Tower Hamlets, London

The children I need to be fit to serve live in the East End of London. We're a community with a proud and long history. The Tower of London, built in 1066, lies at our western border; the new financial capital of Europe, Canary Wharf, is at the eastern edge. To the north is the emerging Olympic Village for the 2012 games. We are home to approximately 220,000 people. Our rich history and fast-changing future is matched by unparalleled diversity. Tower Hamlets has long been the gateway to London. From the French Huguenots in the seventeenth century fleeing religious persecution to the Jews of Eastern Europe to the textile workers from Bangladesh to the more recent arrivals from war-torn Somalia, we have provided refuge and a home. In turn, these waves of immigration have fueled our economy and culture, as Tower Hamlets is recognized as one of the coolest and most vibrant areas in London.

Our rich diversity is matched with massive inequality. Too many of our residents don't yet share the wealth and opportunity that has been created, and we need to work much harder to make sure that our young people begin to take their place in the trading halls of the international banks that dominate Canary Wharf, lead our public services, and build businesses of their own.

Our vision for Tower Hamlets is that all children will be part of a mainstream environment, and that this environment will promote and foster high achievement for all.

The unique Tower Hamlets social context could be used by many as an excuse for under-achievement and poor performance in the local education system. The most striking thing about Tower Hamlets’ vision for its schools is that it does not. Deprivation is not an excuse for failure, but a spur to excellence. Despite the temptation to compare our performance with local benchmark authorities, we don't — our aspirations are to perform well against national standards and expectations. We judge our achievements against the framework of the national Every Child Matters agenda.