School ‘undermined by local authority’
STAFF at St Francis Catholic Primary School have been told there have not been enough signs of improvement since it was placed in special measures in May. The harsh words came in a damning first monitoring in- spection two months after Of- sted deemed the school inadequate. Leadership and management of the school were still inadequate, despite the ap- pointment of an acting head who had restructured them, the report found. Inspectors said Elisabeth Blanden had brought more sta- bility and direction to the school but this had not yet had time to impact upon achieve- ment or teaching. The local authority and the diocese were criticised by Of- sted for failing to act quickly to bring about improvements. The report said: “Nearly a term has passed since the inspection and there are not enough signs of improvement. Actions to im- prove the school have focused too much on teaching that re- quires improvement, rather than the immediate and crucial priority of leadership and man- agement.” Inspectors noted there were
plans in place for the school to become an academy but said there was insufficient joint planning and communication between the local authority, the Diocese and school leaders for this to happen. Since the inspection the head teacher and one class teacher had been absent and deputy head Ms Blanden had been ap-
MAIDSTONE Work- ing Men’s Club in Brewer
pointed acting head. Five teach- ers and a group of teaching as- sistants had attended local authority training programmes. Three governors, including the chairman and vice chairman, resigned, and a new chairman and vice had been elected. Of- sted praised the new chairman, saying she was rapidly acquir- ing the necessary expertise to help the school out of special measures, along with a core group from the governing body. Inspectors said, however, there
were a small number of gover- nors who did not regularly at- tend meetings and were not performing their role effectively. Parent governor John Jackson
was one of those who resigned. He told the Downs Mail he stepped down because he felt the governing body was being “undermined” by the local au- thority, not because of the poor Ofsted report. He said: “I be- lieve St Francis is a good school and a representative of the LEA has said the same thing.” Sue Rogers, KCC director of education, said: “The gover- nors, working closely with the local authority and the Arch- diocese of Southwark, have acted quickly to bring about im- provements. There is new lead- ership in the school for the start of the new school year. “The staff and governors at St Francis have also been working closely with Kingswood Pri- mary School, which has twice been judged by Ofsted to be a good school. This has provided valuable support for improve- ment. We expect the school to make a quick recovery.”
A close shave boosts charities Street
proved to be a cut above the rest when Peter Turner, Ken Poorer and Dennis St John raised £500 for charity by having their hair shaved by Tracey Stainton, Mel Macaulay and Faye Wilkinson of Head Gardeners, Union Street. The money will go to the three charities supported by the club
- Heart of Kent Hospice, Kent Air Ambulance and Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Tree ‘blocks view’ MR Jasvinder has applied for conservation area consent to re- move a catalpa tree at 1-3 Clarendon Place, King Street, Maidstone. His application form said: “I would like to remove the tree to create consistent frontage of the building.” Maidstone Council will de- termine the application.
Bedsits proposal A FORMER sheltered housing unit in 105 Old Tovil Road, Maidstone could be converted into 12 bedsits. Jamie Copland of Easyoffice Rental has applied to convert the building, which was used by Abbeyfield Kent Society, into a house of multiple occu- pancy. Maidstone Council will determine the application.
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