Ofsted satisfied by school inspection
INSPECTORS who went to Bower Grove School following two complaints found that everything was in order. The unannounced visit was to establish whether safeguarding procedures at the school and satellite bases were adequate. The inspection also wanted to establish whether staff were suitably trained and able to seek advice when required and the leaders and governors were ef- fective in monitoring and eval- uating behaviour management. It was decided that the proce-
dures and policies to safeguard children met the necessary re- quirements. Pupils’ wellbeing was seen as a priority by staff and incidents were dealt with appropriately. Record keeping was thorough and there was careful monitoring of behaviour. Staff were well trained and sought advice when necessary. They had received suitable child protection training, com-
plemented by extended training on behaviour management and physical intervention. There was a calm atmosphere during lessons and pupils were motivated to work hard. Pupils were keen to tell inspectors howmuch they enjoyed school. Where there was an example
of a pupil feeling less well sup- ported, staff worked with the pupil to resolve difficulties. A reward system and sanc-
tions helped pupils make the right decisions about their be- haviour. Staff were fully aware of the policy for physical inter- vention, in accordance with recommended guidance. Fixed-term exclusions were
used sparingly, and individual approaches were taken for chil- dren who needed more help. The school’s safeguarding policies were also in line with government guidance, with ad- justments according to the pupils’ needs and disabilities.
Pair remember murder victim
AMOTHERand daughter fromMaidstone attended the memorial service to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Stephen Lawrence. A service was held at St
Martin-in-the-Field, Trafalgar Square, attended by a host of civic dignitaries including the leaders of all three main po- litical parties and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, as well as celebrities and sports personalities. TheStone Shop in East Far-
leigh has been caring for the memorial to Stephen, in the pavement in Well Hall Road, Eltham, where he was mur- dered, for the past 17 years. Elaine, daughter of Stone Shop proprietorGordonNewton and hiswife
Carol,was appalled by the murder but also by the damage caused to the memorial plaque in a racially-motivated attack three years later. Elaine contacted Stephen’s mother Doreen and offered to replace the memorial and The Stone Shop has been caring for it, cleaning and peri- odically re-gilding it, ever since. The original plaque is nowin The Stone Shop, in Farleigh Hill. The Stephen Lawrence Trust invited Elaine to the memorial service.
She said: “I felt very privileged to be included in the invitation. The serv- icewas very moving, especially the speech by Stephen’s brother Stuart, which reduced us to both laughter and tears.” Stephen was buried in Jamaica, so thememorial plaque has become
a point of focus for the family living in England. Stephen Lawrencewas18whenhewas stabbed atabus stopinanun-
provoked, racist attack. Two men were jailed for life last year for the at- tack, but four more people are believed to have been involved.
Squatters hit by second eviction A YOUNG man and woman were arrested when bailiffs evicted a group of squatters from a disused NatWest bank inMaidstone. The squatters, who moved into the Bank Street building after
being evicted from the old Maidstone library in St Faith’s Street, were evicted by bailiffs acting for the Royal Bank of Scotland, which owns the property, with support from police. A 17-year-old youth was arrested for a public order offence and possession of a controlled substance and a 19-year-old womanwas arrested for a public order offence. Thewoman was cautioned and the youth bailed untilWednesday
June 12 - but the same pair were then rearrested for criminal dam- age and stealing electricity. A group of up to 20 young people got into the library in April after it had lain empty for almost a year.
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