Minister praises school’s success


SWADELANDS school in Lenham has been given a pat on the back by Schools’ Minister Nick Gibb for being among the 100 top performers in the coun- try.


The specialist sports college


has shown a sustained improve- ment every year since 2008 in the KS4 performance tables and is one of the top performing non-selective schools in Kent. In a letter to headmaster Richard Baddeley, MP Nick Gibb wrote: “I would like to congratulate your staff, gover- nors and pupils for their hard work and success and to thank you for your leadership in con- tinuing the drive towards the highest standards of educa- tional achievement.” Mr Baddeley said he had been delighted to receive the letter from theminister and paid trib-


Parish council


to stay put BEARSTED parish office is to stay at Madginford Hall, but fa- cilities, filing and security are to be improved. The parish council studied a


report into six similar-sized parishes and their facilities. Members agreed there were positive and negative aspects to the current location which was close to residents south of the Ashford Road, but less conven- ient for those to the North. How- ever, alternatives, including shared facilities at the library or a new building in the CoalYard, would be less accessible to peo- ple fromMadginford. A risk assessment has been carried out by Boxley Council’s parish clerk Pauline Bowdery and the council has agreed to act on its findings. Improve- ments could include security cameras, a bell and changes to storage and filing facilities. The biggest plus point of the present office is its rental cost – £100pa – compared with other councils which can pay up to £10,000 for their facilities. However, the council has not ruled out looking at other ideas.


Keep up good work LENHAM Primary School is continuing to perform well, say Ofsted Inspectors. The school’s last full inspec-


tion in January 2009 found it to be good, so another full inspec- tion is not necessary before the summer of 2013. For the interim assessment, inspectors checked pupils’ at- tainment, attendance and progress and found that the school’s good performance was being sustained.


Garage conversion JANE Stevenson has applied to convert a garage to habitable ac- commodation at 52 Fauchons Lane, Bearsted.


22 East


school records, so it is no sur- prise that we are now in the top 100 out of more than 5,000 schools nationally for sustained improvement 2008-2011.” Mr Baddeley felt the school’s success came from its keen focus on teaching and learning. He said: “Our teaching staff are very keen to develop their skills and the students are being given guidance on how to improve their attitude to learning. “There is a strong ethos of stu-


Staff and pupils at Swadelands, Lenham, celebrate their success


ute to his staff, the students and their parents. He said: “We are a strong team


who are all working effectively together to achieve success. It is


HOLLINGBOURNE residents have joined growing calls for ac- tion on M20 traffic noise. Downs Mail reported the ref- ormation of the M20 Noise Ac- tion Group (M20NAG) last autumn, with the aim of getting quieter road surfacing between Junctions 8 and 9. The stretch between Holling- bourne and Ashford is one of the few stretches of motorway in the country that has a cement surface. A quieter asphalt sur- face, used throughout the coun- try, would cost between £7-10 million. Now, Hollingbourne resident


Tom Regan has launched his own campaign. He said: “Vague promises have been made that the road will be resurfaced in Tarmac, but no firm commit-


A DONATION of clothes, in- cluding second-hand school uniform, has gone from Holling- bourne School to its twin, Ka- putu School inMalawi. The clothes went out to the country at half term, including a consignment for Kaputu. Teachers from Hollingbourne


have been toMalawi and the Ka- putu school headmaster, Fred Bakali, visited the UK. Headmaster Ralph Baldock


said: “Classes can be up to 60 children, but the enthusiasm for learningwas just as great.”


HARRIETSHAM has taken the first steps to drawing up a Neighbourhood Plan that will shape the village in the future. The parish council has em- ployed Richard Eastham of Feria Urbanism, to help with the task which will involve peo- ple who live and work in, and visit the area. As part of the Big Society legis-


really nice to receive public recognition for the consistent improvement the students have made over the last five years. “Each year we have broken


ments have been given.” He wants anyone in Holling- bourne and Harrietsham who feels strongly about the noise problem to contact him, mem- bers of the parish council or MP Hugh Robertson. The parish council contacted


theHighways Agency, who con- firmed a section of the motor- way near Hollingbourne had been listed as top priority by Defra in its Noise Action Plan. However, investigations into


how the noise can be reduced are still ongoing. Even after the findings are in, funding will have to be found to implement any measures, the parish coun- cil has been told. Parish council chairman Mike Bedwell said: “The resurfacing was scheduled for 2008 but


dent leadership which has helped students to take control of their own learning.” However, he said the school would not be resting on its lau- rels: “While enjoying this recog- nition, we will continue to strive for further improvement and we look forward to our year 11 students achieving success in the summer.”


New campaign hoping to reduce M20 noise


nowwehavebeentolditwill not be resurfaced before 2015.” Cllr Bedwell lives in Green-


way Court Road, about a quarter of a mile from the motorway, and said he could hear the “constant droning” of traffic noise when the wind was in the right direction. He said: “It’s significantly


worse for people in the centre of the village.” Mr Regan is asking residents


to contact MP Hugh Robertson at the House of Commons, Whitehall, SW1 or his con- stituency office at 11 The Square, Lenham, ME17 2PQ, Tel 01622 851616. Cllr Bedwell said: “We need


to keep the problem in the pub- lic arena or else action may never be taken.”


Pupils send clothes to twin school in Malawi


to school. A sponsored cycle ride by families in Hollingbourne has paid for a feeding programme, money for tools and maize to grow in the school grounds, plus a nightwatchman. Planting has just begun, and


Pupils at Kaputu school


Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and sometimes, after the rainy sea- son, when food is scarce, stu- dents fail to make the long walk


lation, residents candevelop their ownunique plan, whichhas to be taken into account by Maidstone Council. Once adopted, the legal document is binding for 10 years. Mr Eastham was invited to


the annual council meeting on April 25 to explain the project. For more details, contact parish clerk Amanda Broad- hurst.


once themaize has grown, it will be used to make breakfast for the children.Mr Baldock said: “The twinning isn’t just about raising money. It’s about teaching the children compassion and about other cultures, where people are often less fortunate.”


Residents shaping village future Appeal for lost ring


A VISITOR to Lenham is ap- pealing to anyone who might have found an antique ring in the area. The engagement ring, which


dates from 1917 and belonged to the owner’s grandmother, has three diamonds and is of great sentimental value. Anybody who finds the ring should call Helen Brice on 01795 410737.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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