Ribblestrop is renowned for its endearingly chaotic buildings, unusual headteacher, eccentric teachers and, most particularly, its extraordinary pupils, such as Millie and Sanchez.
Binali had been his protege – a pupil of "extraordinary passion", in Maqdisi's words.
Yet I have met inspirational teachers whose pupils achieve extraordinary exam results, often studying by candle light on an empty stomach.
When Ofsted visited in 2014, however, the school was rated "outstanding" in every area and described as "an exciting place to learn" where pupils developed "extraordinary skills in listening, speaking and questioning".
Jon Platt, from the Isle of Wight, won a landmark decision earlier this year after challenging the Department for Education's rules barring term-time absences for state school pupils in all but extraordinary circumstances.
Jon Platt, a father from the Isle of Wight, won a landmark decision after challenging the DfE's rules barring term-time absences for state school pupils in all but "extraordinary" circumstances.
Turning something ordinary into something extraordinary – The Broom A presentation for primary pupils by teacher Des Hegarty.
From a year 7 intake of extraordinary diversity and social problems, 99 per cent of pupils achieved 5 or more grades A* to C. But why bring this up now?
But there's more to Walliams's work - and to his extraordinary success - than simply being an apt pupil of a past master.
Stephen Cohen, on the other hand was an appalling pupil, barely scraping through high school despite an extraordinary intellect.
