School progress too slow


COULD do better was the verdict on a Shepway school which has been working hard to achieve improvements set by Ofsted. Despite some progress, Greenfields Community Primary School, in Oxford Road, had not done enough to address problems identified at its in- spection in 2009, said its latest report.


Inspector Michelle Winter,


who paid a monitoring visit in March, noted new governors had been appointed and the school now had a growing roll. Greenfields had been rated satisfactory 19 months ago but was asked to improve key areas including raising pupils’ achievements, the con- sistency of teaching and attendance figures. The latest report said the school had made in- adequate progress in making improvements and in showing a better capacity for sustained im- provement. Attainment in maths and English at Key Stage 2 had fallen and remained significantly below the national average, with pupils making less than expected progress. However, results for Key Stage 1 in reading,


writing and maths improved in 2010, although they were also below average. Progress in lessons was still variable and there


were too many gaps in pupils’ learning for them to reach expected standards by the time they leave school.


The inspector’s findings were included in a letter to head- teacher Debra Gamson who was said to be covering part of the role of the leadership team which had been reduced by staff absence and changes to working hours.


Across the school, girls were performing better than boys at both key stages. Teachers’ marking and the curriculum had improved. Meanwhile, pupils said that be- haviour was better, that they feel safe and that bullying is rare. Despite this, attendance was


below target in 2010, but was on track to meet the higher 2011 goal,


following a range of new strategies. The inspector said the overall quality of teach-


ing had not progressed sufficiently to improve outcomes for pupils. However, leaders were clearly focused on im- proving the school and determined to communi- cate this to all members of staff. Strategies had recently become more focused with tighter dead- lines for action plans because it was recognised that the pace of improvement had been too slow.


Santa visits... at this time of year?


AN UNSEASONAL visit was made by Santa to the Rotary Club in Maidstone to present a cheque to local charities from funds raised over Christmas. The Christmas Grotto at The Mall raised £8,500 in November and December. The money is being distributed to charities in- cluding Age Concern and the British Heart Foundation,


Ideas needed for St


Luke’s Centre mural PEOPLE are invited to paint their ideas for St Luke’s Centre, Maidstone, on a giant jigsaw mural. The one-month project began


on May 16, enabling the com- munity to tell St Luke’s what theywould like to see as part of the restoration project taking place at Foley Street.Work will continue at the centre and the mural will remain as a re- minder of these ideas.


Catalytic thefts THE catalytic convertor was stolen from a silver Peugeot es- tate car parked at Lockmeadow Leisure Complex in Barker Road. In a separate theft, the cat-


alytic convertor was removed from a blue Peugeot 406 estate car parked at Maidstone Hospi- tal, in Hermitage Lane, Barm- ing.


Lead still a target for thieves LEAD used for roofing continues to be a target for thieves. In Romney Place, Maidstone, lead was stolen from


an extension roof. A white male is suspected of being involved, and is described as aged 16-18, of slim build and wearing a grey T-shirt and black jogging bottoms. Lead was also taken from the outside toilet at Maid-


stone Sea Cadets HQ in College Road, and in Disraeli Close, Park Wood, a 5ft length of lead flashing was taken from a roof.


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