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HEAD DEFENDS SCHOOLS OVER DISAPPOINTING INSPECTIONS


Ofsted ‘keeps changing goalposts’ Diversity at the


A MAIDSTONE head teacher has defended the standard of local primary schools after a series of Ofsted reports demanded im- provements. West Borough, which has been led since


2006 by Ashley Crittenden, is one of 11 pri- mary schools in the Maidstone area in- spected since September 2012 given a rating of three, where the school “requires im- provement”. The results coincide with Ofsted chang-


ing the definition of the rating from “satis- factory”. Now, schools that get a rating of three re-


ceive amonitoring visit within twomonths of the report, to ensure that the Government watchdog’s recommendations are taken on board. A three rating also puts pressure on some schools to become academies. Mrs Crittenden said: “It is important to


make clear what a three means. It means a school is not inadequate and not failing. It makes it very, very clear that a school re- quiring improvement is not yet good, but not failing. It is crucial to remember that.” Mrs Crittenden says schools face the chal-


lenge of meeting Ofsted targets that change regularly. Since she has been in charge at West Borough, the school has had three in- spections – in 2008, 2011 and 2013 – under three different frameworks. “The goalposts have moved,” she said. Ofsted now bases judgments on four cate- gories: achievement of pupils; quality of teaching; behaviour and safety of pupils; leadership and management. West Borough, which is located in Green-


way, Maidstone, received ratings of two – “good” – in the latter two categories, but were said to be inadequate in achievement of pupils and quality of teaching, which brought down the overall rating. Mrs Crittenden said: “Ofsted recognised that we know our schoolwell, because areas


Ofsted ratings 1 = Outstanding 2 = Good 3 = Requires improvement 4 = Inadequate


they pointed out to us we already knew through our own self-evaluation. “The fact we got a two in leadership and management says that as a school we know our strengths and where areas of improve- ment can be made. “We have a good capacity to improve, and


we had improved since the previous in- spection. “For schools to get a good rating, pupils


have to do better than the national expecta- tions, but if everybody did that then what becomes average? It doesn’t make sense.” Primary schools that get a good in pupil achievement are expected to better the na- tional average of 79% reaching level 4 by


heart of school WEST Borough is one of Maid- stone’s most ethnically diverse schools. More than 20 of the 397 pupils


onthe school role speak English as an additional language. Primary languages include Turkish, Latvian, Nepali, French, German, Malay- alam and Pilipino. “Thedifficulty is thatsomeof our


pupils started in the juniors and didn’t do their Key Stage 1 SATS, which is a point we can measure progress from,” said head teacher Ashley Crittenden (pictured).


year 6 over three consecutive years. In 2012, West Borough achieved 80%, up almost 20% from the previous year, but despite this, the school didn’t have a chance of get- ting a good at this year’s inspection. “There were 35 bullet points in the report


and only seven of them didn’t say some- thing positive,” Mrs Crittenden added. “I have not had a single parent come to


me after seeing this report and ask what is going on at the school, because we commu- nicate fully with our parents.” West Borough is working with a host of


other local schools and educational estab- lishments, such as Brunswick House, Alling- ton, Palace Wood, St Michael’s, Barming, St Francis and Bower Grove Special School, to share ideas on improving the schools. “Both Ofsted and we in our own monitor-


ing concluded that there was evidence of outstanding teaching in early years and year 6, but if pupil achievement requires im- provement then Ofsted will automatically put the same about the quality of teaching.”


Day nursery gets


Park Way school head Karen


Dhanecha with deputy head Denise Hill and some of the pupils


Education founded on more than ‘three Rs’


PARKWay Primary School is in a similar sit- uation to West Borough, with an Ofsted re- port claiming it required improvement due to the achievement of pupils and quality of teaching. Like West Borough, the primary school re- ceived good ratings in behaviour of pupils and leadership, but fell down as it had not shown a three-year improvement in results. ParkWay’s ethos is “Respect, Responsibil-


ity and Resilience” and aims to help pupils in the following ways:  worry box: pupils can register any con- cerns and then receive help and advice


44 East


from a member of staff;  pictures around the school of pupils with 100% attendance and of those awarded home learner of the week, writer of the week and reader of the week;  golden behaviour book;  anti-bullying posters;  class rules;  a four-zone playground: purple zone (quiet area); blue zone (skipping area); green zone (Lego-playing, creativity); red zone (ball games including basketball);  dress-up days: on special occasions such as St George’s Day.


outstanding rating THE care provided by Maidstone Day Nursery, in the grounds of New Line Learning Academy in Boughton Lane, has received the highest grade possible from Ofsted inspectors. The outstanding rating is an im- provement on the good rating it re- ceived at its last inspection. The nursery cares for 110 children aged from three months to five years, a number of whom have spe- cial educational needs or disabili- ties.


Inspectors found there was a very effective key person scheme in place, which helped children settle quickly and flourish. Parents have excellent relationships with staff, and are able to participate in their children’s learning.


Enthusiastic staff encouraged chil- dren to explore their environment, and demonstrated a good under- standing of safety procedures. The inspectors suggested that the nursery could improve early years provision still further by encourag- ing children to express their ideas on what might make people feel bet- ter when they were feeling upset or cross.


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