A Southgate school has been kitted out to play sport thanks to a donation from a local education recruitment agency.

Step Teachers purchased £1,000-worth of strips for De Bohun Primary School’s football, rugby and netball teams, which was presented in a special assembly to pupils on Monday.

The support from Steps Teachers ties in with the many steps De Bohun is taking to move out of special measures, with sporting achievement targeted by headteacher Helen Pearson as a means to improve academic performance.

She said: “I am very grateful to Step Teachers for this generous donation. I believe that children can raise their self-esteem by competing in sport.

“At De Bohun, we are encouraging pupils to participate in many after school clubs and take part in competitions.”

Step Teachers asked how they could support the school's progress with Mrs Pearson saying that she wanted her pupils to be proud of their school and represent them in borough-wide competitions.

Marios Georgiou, director of Steps Teachers and a parent of three children at the school, offered to purchase the kit for staff and students.

He said: “I was keen to get involved in our local school and to do something that had a direct impact on the children.

“Taking part in team sports was important for me when I was at school and having a new kit should help the children feel proud of themselves and their school”.

Mrs Pearson is looking to transfer her experiences from a school in Yorkshire where she transformed it from special measures to outstanding.

She added: “If children achieve well in music, arts or sport then this will transfer into maths and literacy.

“I saw this in Yorkshire. Success is infectious, you always want to be part of a winning side.”

Mr Georgiou shares the fresh optimism at the school, and hopes Step Teachers' donation can help towards achieving the wider Ofsted goal.

He said: “De Bohun is taking great steps to becoming an outstanding school. I'm sure it will achieve this in a sporting sense as well as an academic one.”