Remembering fallen heroes


VILLAGE organisations paraded through West Malling on Remembrance Day to honour those who died in conflict. The procession, including veterans and youth contingents, made itsway along the High Street to St Mary’s Church,where a servicewas held. The salute was taken by the deputy Mayor of


Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Howard Rogers, and wreaths were laid on the war memorial outside the church. At Aylesford, the mayor Cllr Dave Davis took


part in a parade and service at the Royal British Legion Village’s garden of remembrance.


Rider hurt after School in special measures


horse spooked POLICE have warned of the dangers caused by illegal bikers after an incident in which a horse rider was injured in- woodland near Snodland. PCSO Kim Kettering and her colleague Special Constable Steven McGowan helped a woman who was trampled by her horse at Holly Hill after it was spooked by huge puddles in the damaged byway caused by off-road bikes and cars. She said: “The byway was in- undated with public on foot, bi- cycles and horse riders, so people need to exercise caution. She added: “Illegal and irre- sponsible use of vehicles and motorbikes in the countryside is taken very seriously. “Some people misuse rights


of way, which can cause envi- ronmental damage, disturb wildlife and annoy or cause problems for other people who use these routes responsibly. To report anti-social behav- iour contact Kent Police on 101.


Post office plan for village hall


Continued from page one


planning permission and con- servation area consent, with the installation of a portable cabin in the grounds of the hall, to provide a post office, and sub- ject to perceived viability, stores on an interim basis.” A separate entrancewould be created to separate the cabin area from hirers of the hall, es- pecially the nursery group. The parish anticipated no in- crease in traffic or parking is- sues, as the services would just be moving from one part of the crossroads to another, on the same side of the Malling Road. A Post Office spokesperson


said: “We would like to apolo- gise for the inconvenience caused by the temporary clo- sure of Teston post office branch. We would like to reas- sure customers that we are working with the local parish council to restore services to the area, and are committed to doing so.”


4 Malling


AYLESFORD Primary School has been placed in special meas- ures after being judged as inade- quate by Ofsted inspectors. The school, in Teapot Lane, re- ceived the lowest grade when pupils’ achievements, the quality of teaching, and leadership and managementwere assessed. Inspectors said it needed to im-


prove its approach to the behav- iour and safety of pupils and awarded that area a satisfactory rating. The school was rated as satis- factory after its last Ofsted in- spection in 2009, and when inspectors visited to monitor progress in July 2011 they be- lieved the school was working towards improving. However, after the latest in- spection, inspectors wrote: “Leaders, managers and gover- nors have not brought about im- provements since the last inspection.”


They said pupils’ achievement


was inadequate due to poor teaching, revealing that of the 21 lessons observed, few teachers were good and more than a third were inadequate. Teachers were told they did


not adequately engage pupils during lessons, leading to many losing concentration because work was either too easy or too hard.


School governors were also criticised for not holding school leaders to account for pupils’ un- derachieving, and for not thor- oughly understanding pupils’ progress. On a positive note, pupils en-


joyed school and the school’s at- tendance levels were above the national average, the report stated. Pupils and parents felt bullying


was not a problem and thought of the school as a safe environ- ment. Pupils were well-behaved


Independent Ann is new police commissioner


INDEPENDENT candidate Ann Barnes stormed to victory in the Kent Police and Crime Commis- sioner elections, beating her nearest rival by thousands of votes. The retired teacher, who has been chair of the Kent Po- lice Authority for the last six years and a magistrate since 1986, re- ceived 6,845 votes from Ton- bridge and Malling supporters and 95,901 across Kent in the first preference vote. Her closest rival, Conserva-


tive Craig Mackinlay, had 4,584 votes from the borough and 51,671 across the county. Mrs Barnes received 18,236


votes in second preference votes andMrMackinlay just 8,577, so she was elected. Tonbridge andMalling voters followed the same trend, with 1,057 putting Mrs Barnes as


their second choice and 526 voting for her rival. There was a 16.3% turnout in


the borough. The other candi- dates received the following number of first preference votes: Dai Liyanage (Indepen- dent) 492; Steve Uncles (Eng- lish Democrats) 545; Piers Wauchope (UKIP) 1,000; Har- riet Yeo (Labour) 1,043. Across Kent,which also had a 16.3% turnout, the results were: Dai Liyanage (Independent) 7,666; Steve Uncles (English Democrats) 10,789; Piers Wau- chope (UKIP) 15,885; Harriet Yeo (Labour) 23,005. Mrs Barnes, who lives in


Lyminge near Folkestone, has pledged to keep politics out of policing and promises to resist privatisation of police services and fight government cuts to police funding. She plans to involve commu-


nities in police work through local policing boards, a youth commissioner, outreach polic- ing and open meetings.


when moving around the school, but behaviour in lessons could be improved by engaging the pupils more. The school will be monitored regularly by Ofsted inspectors and supported by KCC until it improves. Sue Rogers, director of educa-


tion at KCC, said: “We are disap- pointed that inspectors failed to recognise many of the positive features of the school including the raised attainment in 2012 and improved rates of progress. “However, staff and governors


are committed to working with KCC to identify what is needed to bring about improvements and to make sure that standards con- tinue to rise. "The school has invited parents


to a meeting to discuss the out- come of the report, answer any questions they may have and to share plans for how to move for- ward."


Group to unite


communities A PROJECT to unite the Kings Hill community with East and West Malling has taken giant strides forward following a public meeting. ROC – Redeeming Our Com- munities – was an idea con- ceived more than eight years ago, but it has come into its own with moves towards the “Big Society”. A steering group has been formed in the Kings Hill area and is working with local char- ity Think Twice. Residents were invited to


bring along their ideas to brain- storming event with the coun- cil, police, youth workers, churches and businesses. ROC began as a collaboration between Christian ladies pray- ing for their community in Greater Manchester. In con- junction with the local police force, a relationship was born whereby the churches, police, fire service, NHS, community groups, the council and local residents now work together to bring about change.


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