A South London primary school has received glowing praise following an Ofsted inspection in October. Hitherfield Primary School in Streatham was praised by inspectors for their calm classrooms and pupils' love of reading, as well as the nurturing nature of staff and opportunities for pupils.
The primary school accepts pupils aged between 3 and 11, and currently has 619 pupils enrolled, according to the Ofsted report. Ofsted's latest inspection of the school was carried out on October 8 and 9, and inspectors were very pleased with what they found. The school received four 'Good' ratings and one 'Outstanding' for personal development.
Ofsted no longer provides one overall rating for a school and now grades the institution on five different categories. The report says: "Hitherfield Primary School is a welcoming, inclusive environment where pupils are safe and happy."
The inspectors add: "Staff are nurturing and build positive relationships by getting to know pupils and their families well. As a result, pupils thrive."
Hitherfield Primary School in Streatham has received a glowing report from Ofsted (Image: Google)
The inspectors were impressed by the classrooms, which are 'calm and purposeful places to learn', and the opportunities for pupils, from learning how to grow food in the school gardens to taking on responsibilities as 'champions'.
Reading is one of the most important things at the school, the inspectors also noted. Throughout the school, from early years to Year 6, pupils are encouraged to read and are given support when struggling.
The report says: "Pupils spoke of their love of reading and value the school and class libraries." Inspectors found that pupils with SEND were supported throughout their time at the school, and that classrooms were inclusive spaces where pupils were all respectful to each other.
The only criticism the inspectors found was that in a few subjects, the curriculum and how it's being taught could be more developed in order to support some pupils better.
A “dangerous” man obsessed with explosives, who once asked to throw a grenade on BBC children’s show Jim’ll Fix It, has been jailed for causing an explosion at his family home. Matthew Haydon suffered injuries to his chest and hands in the blast at the four-bedroom house in the Bedfordshire village of Sharnbrook on April 10 last year.
Afterwards Haydon, 48, told police of a longstanding interest in weaponry, citing his childhood request to the former BBC children’s show, which was presented by serial sexual abuser Jimmy Savile from 1975 to 1994.
He was jailed for four and a half years with a four-year extended licence period at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Haydon, who wore a waistcoat and shirt in the dock, was also made the subject of a criminal behaviour order, restricting him from creating explosives.
Sentencing him on Friday, Mr Justice Johnson described Haydon as “dangerous”.
“You have always had an obsession with explosives and explosions,” Mr Justice Johnson said. “You synthesised high explosives which are extremely sensitive with extremely dangerous consequences. You knew the potential for these explosives to endanger life or property. In short, you are dangerous.”
Mr Justice Johnson told the court Haydon’s obsession with explosives and explosions has continued while he has been in prison, with notes and drawings of them found in his cell.
A damaged window after Matthew Haydon was found guilty of causing an explosion in his home (Image: PA Media)
The judge said he considered it necessary to impose the extended sentence to “protect members of the public from serious harm”.
During the trial, the court heard Haydon said he had been “researching” explosives after being affected by what had happened at 'the Ariana Grande concert', in an apparent reference to the Manchester Arena suicide bombing.
He was found guilty by a majority of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or property this April.
Previously, prosecutor Margia Mostafa said the defendant had lived with his mother at the family home of 45 years.
His mother, who had been away for the weekend, returned home on April 10 2023 and heard a loud bang from Haydon’s home laboratory, jurors heard.
Haydon was shouting “help me, help me”, having suffered burns and bleeding. The court was told that Haydon’s mother put him in the shower to relieve the injuries and called 999. His mother told the operator Haydon’s hands were “mangled”, the court heard.
Neighbours also heard a loud thudding boom, felt their house shake and saw that the defendant’s window had smashed, jurors were told. After being treated in hospital, Haydon was interviewed by police and admitted causing the explosion, the court heard.
He said: “I don’t believe it was malicious. It was an accident. It wasn’t an intended detonation.” He said he had always been “obsessed with all kinds of weaponry, explosives in particular”.
“I think I wrote off to Jim’ll Fix It to ask if I could throw a hand grenade,” he said. He told officers he was “researching about explosives” because of “what happened at the Ariana Grande concert”. He said it had affected him “quite badly”, adding: “It upset me, yeah.”
The defendant also told police he had issues related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Police searched his home laboratory and seized chemicals, equipment, electronic devices and handwritten notes, jurors heard.
On his laptop were instructions for explosives, and there was evidence that he had bought chemicals online, the court was told.
Jurors were shown footage of Haydon carrying out various experiments with explosives, which were found on a camera.
In one video, Haydon was heard commenting on a passing dog walker before detonating a device strapped to a tree.
A few days before the blast in his house, Haydon had messaged a contact about an incident in which his “life flashed in front” of him.
Matthew Haydon was found guilty of causing an explosion in his home (Image: PA Media)
He wrote: “I was making a liquid expl & still developing best practice etc and put a wee tad too much sulphuric acid in to fast and it erupted to the ceiling in flames!!! .... Sum1 upder is looking after me man I swear!!! (sic)”
Samples of chemicals seized from the house were found to include sensitive high explosives triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD).
Damage to Haydon’s T‐shirt and an orange glove he had been wearing showed he had been in “close proximity” to the explosion, the court heard.
Chemical analysis of samples taken from the clothing indicated that HMTD was the explosive charge.
Haydon accepted he had mixed chemicals which caused an explosion, but disputed that the level of explosive used was sufficient to endanger life or property.
Giving evidence, he told jurors he had been “complacent” and should have worn protective clothing.
He said: “If you don’t give that substance the respect it is due it will turn around and bite you. And that’s what happened – I got complacent.”
Haydon, of Loring Road, Sharnbrook, showed no emotion as he was sentenced.
Detective Inspector Rich Stott of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit previously said: “Haydon had developed an obsession with explosives, and he was making his own highly sensitive explosive substances.
“These substances are inherently dangerous and are not produced commercially due to the risk they present.
“He had already had many near misses but continued to try to make the substances and to cause small explosions.
“Haydon was fully aware of the risk that a larger explosion could take place. Furthermore, this could have been so much worse, he was lucky to have not caused more harm to himself, his mother and neighbouring properties.
“I would like to thank all the emergency responders and specialist teams who deployed to deal with this incident and the investigation team who has worked so hard on this complex investigation.”
Parents have expressed frustration and disappointment with the City of London Corporation amid uncertainty over whether a primary school will continue providing childcare services for kids under three. One said the potential ending of the provision at The Aldgate School as part of wider changes to services would feel like a ‘profound loss’, and that it would effectively tell local families ‘we don’t belong here’.
A spokesperson for the Corporation said the school is ‘working with key stakeholders to sustain 0-2 childcare’. They added the changes are designed to bring services closer to residents, and that the current spend on children’s centre provisions are not being reduced.
The Aldgate School is a one form entry primary school in the east of the City. Its child and family centre combines the on-site children’s centre with its nursery and reception classes, and provides full and part-time day care for kids aged between 12 weeks and three years.
The Aldgate School has a children's centre on-site, and has kids attending childcare from three months (Image: LDRS)
The decision means that from September 2025 the service will be called ‘Start for Life’ and run from locations across the City. It will also be brought in-house and managed by the Corporation directly. The services are to be delivered in venues including Shoe Lane Library, the Barbican Library, and Golden Lane Community Centre.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) however understands that under the changes, the current level of funding for The Aldgate School to deliver affordable childcare for those aged 0-2 is not to be extended beyond August 2025. Discussions have begun to explore options to keep the service going beyond that point.
In a letter sent to parents and carers in September, The Aldgate School’s Head Alexandra Allan warned as a result of the changes the children’s centre will close in August 2025.
The Aldgate School is located in the east of the City of London, by the border with Tower Hamlets (Image: LDRS)
Since then, a petition has been launched by Anna Lee at the GMB union calling for the centre to be retained. It has garnered more than 1,100 signatures so far. The City has told the LDRS it is not reducing its current spend on Children’s Centre services, and that the school is working with stakeholders to look into options to continue delivering its 0-2 childcare.
Several parents have however raised concerns about whether the provision will continue beyond next August. Joelle Grogan, a City resident and parent of two children attending the centre at Aldgate, said: “As a parent, it’s incredibly frustrating to be left in the dark about the future of our community's childcare support.
"This isn't just a budget issue; it's about what it says to families—that in one of the wealthiest cities in the world, our youngest children are somehow an afterthought. If they close this essential service at the only state primary school in the City of London, they’re effectively telling families that we don’t belong here. For those of us who have built our lives and community here, it feels like a profound loss.”
Anger at 'abrupt' changes
Amine El Qazoui, another parent, said he is ‘deeply concerned’ about the transparency from the City regarding the potential closure of the baby and toddler rooms at Aldgate. “The lack of clear answers on such an important matter for our children’s well-being is unacceptable,” he said.
“My youngest daughter, who currently attends the baby room, will be directly impacted by this decision and separated from her older sister, who is already at the school. We are ready to take all necessary steps to ensure our voices are heard and that the interests of our children and community are protected.”
Jiya Dave meanwhile described the City’s decision to change the services as ‘abrupt’, and also raised concerns about transparency. “The impact on families will be severe: removing affordable childcare for children aged 0–2 threatens stability for countless families in the City and Tower Hamlets.
"This move appears designed to prioritise certain areas, such as Barbican, over families in the east, where equally strong support is needed. Further, the City has shifted responsibility onto the school without providing sustainable funding or resources to maintain childcare services. This lack of support makes it increasingly difficult for The Aldgate School to continue providing the same level of care.”
The City of London Corporation says the revised services 'intended to bring services closer to residents' (Image: LDRS)
Jason Pritchard, a Common Councillor for the local Portsoken ward, said there has been a ‘complete lack of communication’ from the City. He said the services the school’s children’s centre currently provide “have supported our children and their families, in a purpose-built safe and friendly environment, giving them a positive launch pad to learning and development. I hope the City remains true to its word and ensures these services continue at The Aldgate School, especially the provision of 0-2 childcare and family support services.
“It’s been a very unsettling time for parents, children, staff and the school. A quick, positive decision needs to be taken now by the City to ensure these services continue at the Aldgate School post-September 2025.”
A City of London Corporation’s spokesperson said: “Members have agreed to revise the delivery of Children’s Centre services for residents in the City. This is intended to bring services closer to residents, hearing their feedback on the current arrangements.
“It is also intended to grow Children’s Centre services to Family Hub services for families and young people up to 18 years old (or 25 years old with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). The Aldgate School is working with key stakeholders to explore options to sustain 0-2 childcare. The City of London Corporation is not reducing its current spend on Children’s Centre services.”
Parents ’concerned' and doubts raised
At a Community and Children’s Services Committee meeting this week, Common Councillor Mary Durcan asked whether the reasons behind moving the services from Aldgate School were financial. Dr Deborah Bell, Strategic Director of Education and Skills at the City, said: “The primary reasons are the ambition and the drive to create family services or a family hub in the City for residents and children requiring holistic support through the life of childhood into young adulthood, right up to the age of 25 for young people with Special Education Needs and Disabilities.”
She added the consultation showed residents want services delivered across the City, and that it did not come down to finances. Beverley Ryan, Chair of Governors at The Aldgate School, told the committee that stopping the service level agreement as was agreed does mean that without further funding the affordable childcare currently delivered will not be available.
She added parents are ‘concerned’ that from next September they will no longer be able to access the same services. Deputy John Fletcher also raised doubts about whether the current services can be adequately replaced by the City bringing them in-house, saying he opposed the recommendation in March and is ‘still not convinced’.
“What’s Plan B?” he asked. “What happens if in February you find that you cannot replace all of the services currently offered at the same or a higher level. What would we do then?”
Dr Bell said she is ‘confident’ a Plan B is not required. “However, it is prudent that the necessity for a Plan B is factored into our exit conversations and arrangements. And in fact this matter is being logged as a central risk and therefore arrangements for mitigations against that risk are being addressed at least quarterly.”
Spy-accused former soldier Daniel Khalife says he had to “walk quite a while” before he could find any signal to make a 30-minute call to an Iranian agent while posted at a US army base, a court has heard. Khalife though claims what he told the agent over three calls was "false".
The three calls “rekindled” Iran’s interest in Khalife as an intelligence asset, Woolwich Crown Court was told. Khalife, who has pleaded guilty to escaping from prison, is accused of collecting secret information and passing it to agents of the Middle Eastern country while serving in the Royal Corps of Signals.
The 23-year-old was posted to Fort Cavazos (then called Fort Hood) in Texas between February and April 2021, where he took part in a joint exercise, his trial heard. He told his Iranian contacts he was at the base, but denied providing them any “specific details” or useful information about what he was doing there.
“The narratives that I told in those phone calls were false,” Khalife told jurors. Khalife said the Iranian intelligence services already knew he was in the United States by tracking his location from his phone. “They know automatically where I am anyway,” he said.
An artist’s impression of Daniel Khalife appearing at Woolwich Crown Court (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
The former soldier told the court he had to “walk quite a while” before he could find any signal at the 214,000-acre site, and the “operation was over” at the time of the calls. While in Texas, Khalife took photos on his phone of passwords, a floppy disk and a USB stick used to access sensitive military communications systems, but denied sending them on to Iranian agents.
Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said the phone conversation with an Iranian agent, known only as “David 2”, had “rekindled their interest” in him. Khalife denies charges contrary to the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, and claims he wanted to work as a double agent.
He also denies perpetrating a bomb hoax. The trial continues.
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A cancer faking carer who stole £143,000 from a 96-year-old man for lavish holidays to Spain, Barbados, and New York has avoided prison. April Jo Richardson, 32, of Stansted Close, Chelmsford, was found guilty of fraud by abuse of power and fraud by false representation at Inner London Crown Court, but dodged jail with a 20-month sentence suspended for 21 months.
Investigators from City of London Police said Richardson 'spun an intricate web of lies' which included having cancer and desperately needing help while caring for an elderly dementia patient. In one case she posed as a cancer nurse called 'Sonia' and sent a message to the patient's husband pleading for financial aid for the 'last remaining months of her life'.
Richardson was employed by KarePlus, on behalf of Essex County Council, as a carer in 2018. In this capacity she befriended the husband of a patient in her care. The patient suffered a stroke in 2011 and was in advancing stages of dementia, which meant her condition required personal care twice a day.
In July 2022, when it was established that the patient needed to move into a care home on a more permanent basis, her daughter was required to provide Essex County Council with bank statements from the previous three months, to gauge the patient’s financial means in order to fund her residence. It was at this stage that the couple’s children discovered the bank accounts were overdrawn.
Inner London Crown Court in Newington Causeway in South London (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
After gaining power of attorney in September 2022, the couple’s children were able to access detailed financial information of their parents’ bank accounts. Between September 2018 and July 2022 there were a total of 202 transactions from the couple’s bank account to Richardson, with an average payment of one per week at £718 exceeding £143,000 over a five-year period.
The patient’s husband said he helped Richardson over the years by paying for new beds for her children, a holiday to Spain for a relative, an iPhone and Apple Watch to enable her to seek employment, new flooring, an urgent trip to New York for private medical treatment for cancerand flights to Barbados for her brother’s wedding.
Detective Inspector Nichola Meghji, from the Fraud Operations team, at the City of London Police said: "The case of April Richardson is shocking and highly reprehensible, especially when you consider the age and vulnerability of the couple and the total amount of money that they lost, through their generosity and kindness.
“Nurses, carers and those working in palliative care are some of the hardest working and most selfless people in the country where a lot of people, in need, rely on them. It’s therefore very sad to see this level of trust abused.
“Richardson is an incredibly manipulative individual who coerced an elderly couple to part with their money purely for her financial and material gain.”
Animals at London Zoo tucked into fresh fruit and vegetables from New Covent Garden Market to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the wholesale site. Gorillas Alika, Effie and baby Venus, and Amara the pygmy hippo, enjoyed a breakfast of vegetables and greens from County Supplies, one of the fresh produce traders based at New Covent Garden Market.
The market’s 175 wholesale businesses provide fresh produce to hundreds of retail and hospitality businesses, counting Harrods, Claridge’s, Michelin-starred restaurants and London Zoo among their customers.
Wholesalers have shared their memories of the market over the years to mark the anniversary.
Owner of New Covent Garden Market wholesaler Bevington Salads and chairman of the New Covent Garden Tenants’ Association Gary Marshall has been working at the market for nearly 45 years.
He said: “I’ve seen how this market has changed over the decades, with my happy memories of the market stretching all the way back to being a teenager.
“I followed my father and grandfather into the market trade and like other wholesalers here, I’m proud to say that my business is being passed on through the generations.
“New Covent Garden Market is more than just a market. We’re the lifeblood of the supply chain in London and the south east of England.”
Effie and baby Venus the Western lowland gorillas at London Zoo tucks into a breakfast of vegetables and greens
The chairwoman of New Covent Garden Market Authority, Wanda Goldwag, said: “New Covent Garden Market has been the beating heart of London’s food supply chain for 50 years.
“Providing the freshest produce to our vibrant city is so much more than a job for our wholesalers, it’s their passion and their livelihood and for many of them, it has been a baton to pass on through generations.
“We’re incredibly proud to represent a diverse market with so much history. As we reflect on the legacy of this great market, we also look ahead to the next 50 years.
“The challenges of today – from sustainability to evolving customer demands – mean we must work harder than ever to ensure New Covent Garden Market remains a thriving hub for generations to come.
“Our commitment to nurturing the market and supporting the communities it serves has never been stronger.”
Amara the pygmy hippo at London Zoo enjoying her greens
Originally based at Covent Garden in central London – lending the modern market its name – the market later relocated and officially opened for business at the 35-acre south bank site in 1974.
The late Queen Elizabeth II ceremonially opened the site the following year.
Now, New Covent Garden Market’s wholesale traders sell fruit, vegetables and flowers throughout the year from the Nine Elms site.
The traders typically work through the night, bringing in nearly £900 million in annual turnover.
Man dies after triple stabbing as man in 60s arrested
Three people were stabbed, the Met Police has confirmed.
While two are in hospital, a third has died. A man in his 60s has been arrested and is now in police custody.
Commander Peter Stevens said: “Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and to provide support to his family. My thoughts and sincere sympathies are with them, and with the other people injured.
“Our investigation is at a very early stage. One man was rapidly arrested by officers responding to the incident. At present, although enquiries are ongoing, nobody else is sought.
“The incident is not being treated as terrorism. Enquiries continue, led by dedicated detectives from Specialist Crime.
“I want to thank those people who have already shared their accounts of what they saw with police. I urge anyone with information or footage, or any witnesses yet to speak with police, to get in touch.”
Anyone with information or any witnesses are asked to call 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting reference 2690/10nov. To remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers.
The triple stabbing has left one man dead (Image: MyLondon)
