Hornchurch Headteacher Drives Rapid Improvement At Her School.

Eighteen months ago, at just 32 years old, Serena Madhvani took the helm of Hornchurch High School. As one of the youngest secondary headteachers in the country, her leadership has already delivered remarkable results, rapidly raising standards and transforming the quality of education.

Before leading Hornchurch High School, Serena Madhvani served as Deputy Headteacher at Riverside School—a top-performing school in a neighbouring borough. Bringing that experience to Hornchurch High, she has overseen a period of unprecedented improvement.

Since February 2023, Hornchurch High School has seen its Progress 8 score rise dramatically from -0.44 to +0.32, placing the school above national average in the DfE performance tables. On average, students have improved by three-quarters of a grade across all subjects—a leap that marks Hornchurch High as one of the fastest-improving schools in East London and the best performance in the school’s history.

She said, “The reason this school has seen such accelerated progress is because we’ve heavily invested in our staff and their professional development.”

Her leadership approach combines a sharp focus on academic excellence with a vision for holistic student development. “We are determined to ensure every child receives an excellent education that prepares them for life beyond school—whether that’s accessing top post-16 providers, leading universities, or thriving in the competitive jobs market.”

She explains her focus is on developing well-rounded, culturally aware, and responsible young people reflecting the belief that education has the power to shape futures. “Education is the most powerful tool we can use to change the world, and here at Hornchurch High, we are giving our students the opportunity to do just that.”

With such rapid improvement already achieved, Hornchurch High School looks ahead to its next phase of growth, firmly established as a school on the rise and a testament to the transformative power of effective leadership and “Excellence for all”.

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