The words look so simple in a paper setting out the task ahead: "Change public face of Gorton Mount". But for a primary school

in the midst of an inner city gangland area, the reality takes a bit longer.

Gorton Mount primary school in Manchester is in one of the most deprived areas
of the country. It is characterised by "unemployment, high crime rates
– especially amongst the youth population where gang membership is high",
according to the school's own assessment.

As she opens a drawer to find a piece of paper, the first few items
headteacher Carol Powell sees are two toy pistols. "We confiscate them
and don't give them back," she said. The school doesn't want its
children to associate with guns, even in toy form, because of where it might
lead.

Against this background, Ms Powell embarked on her vision for the future,
throwing out the traditional methods of teaching

and becoming the first
state school in the country to convert to the "Montessori method".

via www.independent.co.uk