A long-serving headteacher hangs up his lanyard today (Friday) but believes demand for places at his school is falling because families can't afford to live in Camden.
At Gospel Oak Primary every pupil learns a brass instrument free of charge, the children study coding, go on trips, and have their sports days on Hampstead Heath.
In January, it was rated as being at a strong standard in almost all areas Ofsted inspects.
But the school, which was once over-subscribed, now has spare places.
Outgoing head John Hayes, who is retiring after 14 years at the Mansfield Road primary, says falling rolls is one of the biggest challenges in Camden.
"We were always full and over-subscribed but falling birth rates, increases in short term lets, and people not being able to afford accommodation have made it increasingly difficult for a family aspiring to grow to stay in Camden," he said.
"They are looking elsewhere and we are seeing fewer and fewer children.
"Our main source of funding is per head and with increased costs it's a worst case scenario that schools are increasingly falling into deficit.
"It's a vicious cycle because the only way to make it up is fewer staff and then you can't meet the needs of the kids."
The other challenge he says is the "sudden recent increase in the level and complexity of special needs coming up through the school".
He adds: "It's challenging because we have the will and the expertise but not the resources."
Mr Hayes, who commutes from Hertfordshire, previously worked as head of school improvement in Islington before arriving at Gospel Oak in 2012.
In the decades prior, Gospel Oak went through huge changes, with education campaigner Fiona Millar - the partner of former Downing Street comms chief Alistair Campbell - serving as a parent governor and helping to drive up standards.
The school is sandwiched between large properties adjoining Hampstead Heath and the housing estates of Gospel Oak - but Mr Hayes says the school's diversity is its strength.
"We have some refugee families in inadequate accommodation and families from the other side of Mansfield Road in three and four storey houses who could perhaps afford an independent school but have made an active decision to send their children here," he says.
"One of the fabulous things about our school is the diversity, it's a real example of how you would like society to be - the kids don't see those boundaries."
"They all get on with each other, it gives you hope."
He's proud of the opportunities the children get.
"We have four brass bands in school. Every year five child is allocated a brass instrument - we provide the tuition and instrument free, and by the time they leave they will have played the Albert Hall and learned to read music."
His approach has always been "for a broad and balanced curriculum", he added.
"A child might not be talented in English and maths but may become an amazing trombone player, be brilliantly creative in the arts, or love computing.
"But they would never find that out if they didn't have the opportunity. We want them all to find the one thing that's their thing."
Of retiring after 38 years in education he says: "It hasn't quite sunk yet, I can't get my head around not having to worry about stuff that's happening next year.
"I am going to miss the children most, because on any day when I am fed up of emails and meetings I just spend time wandering around the school.
"You see them happy and learning and it reminds you why you do the job."
As for what he won't miss: "What I won't miss is getting up at 5am. I am looking forward to a lie in."
