News


downsmail.co.uk Grammar tops results league


MAIDSTONE’S Invicta Grammarwas the top local performer in last year’s exam results. The school, in Huntsman Road, Vin-


ters Park, was rated the 13th best sec- ondary school in England for GCSEs andwas 16th top in A-Levels. Everypupil in the school achievedthe benchmark standardof fiveormoreA*- Cgrades inGCSEsincludingmathsand English, with the average points per pupil used to rank schools in England. The next highest scorer from the area was MaidstoneGrammar, in42ndplace. Percentage of students achieving five or moreGCSEA*-Cs, including English and maths, and how they compared to 2012:


THE Ofsted rating for Harrietsham Primary School has been raised from satisfactory to good. An inspector found that school leaders and governors had tackled areas for improvement since the last inspection. Pupils made good progress through the school and standards were rising. Behaviour was good and pupils


felt safe. They enjoyed well-planned lessons with lots of opportunities to promote their development. Teachers made lessons interesting and engaging and all pupils had


Charity quiz date


MAYOR of Maidstone, Cllr Clive English, is holding a charity quiz night in support of Maidstone Mind and Maidstone Mencap. The quiz night will take place


on Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm at Mote Hall, Maidstone Leisure Centre. Tickets are £6 each, and teams of eight are preferred. A bar is available, but guests can bring food and drink.


Invicta Grammar – 100% (same) Maidstone Grammar: Girls – 100% (+1%)


Maidstone Grammar – 97% (same) Oakwood Park Grammar, Maidstone – 95% (-4%) SuonValence – 87% (+5%) St Simon Stock, Maidstone – 73% (+16%) Aylesford School – 59% (+10%) CornwallisAcademy, Maidstone – 57% (+2%) Maplesden Noakes, Maidstone – 55% (same) Valley Park,Vinters Park – 52% (-


made good progress, helped by the effective use of additional adults to support groups or individuals. Middle leaders were new to their


jobs, and while they were knowl- edgeable about the school’s strengths and weaknesses their ac- tions had not yet resulted in more pupils making better than expected progress.


Attainment in writing in reception


year remained weaker than other areas, although children had achieved well from their starting points.


8%) Swadelands, Lenham – 51% (-7%) St AugustineAcademy, Maidstone – 49% (+10%) The Malling School, East Malling – 45% (+10%) Holmesdale College, Snodland – 41% (-14%) NewLine LearningAcademy, Maidstone – 40% (same) Percentage of students at local schools passing at least threeA levels (A*-E): Invicta Grammar – 100% Maidstone Grammar: Girls – 100%


ST SIMON Stock in Maidstone has become the first of a new breed of academy, as part of a county-wide partnership of Catholic schools. The school, near Queen’s Road, will be followed by 31 other Catholic sec- ondary and pri- mary schools from


across Kent to break away from KCC charge over the next two years. St Simon Stock’s head BrendanWall (pictured) said: “This move will give


Maidstone Grammar – 96% St Simon Stock Catholic School, Maidstone – 82% Oakwood Park Grammar, Maidstone – 68% Maplesden Noakes, Maidstone – 61% Focus School, Linton – 38% CornwallisAcademy, Maidstone – 29% The Malling School, East Malling – 20% Valley Park,Vinters Park – 18% St AugustineAcademy, Maidstone – 7%


School improves Ofsted rating Academy ‘has more freedom’


Kent’s Catholic schools greater free- dom to choose the most cost-effective provider of outside services.” KCC takes about 8% of school funding from the Government for core services for Kent’s schools. MrWall added: “We will be able to


use this money more effectively to improve our teaching and grades.” The school, which has 1,030 pupils, became an academy in January. Mr Wall said: “We do not expect parents or pupils to notice any difference – other than an improvement in the day-to-day running of the school.”


Councilswaging war on obesity in children


BOROUGH councils in Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling are in the same fight against childhood obesity as many of their national counter- parts.


Figures compiled for the Depart-


ment of Health show that 33.3% of Year 6 pupils (aged 10 and 11) and 22.2% of reception pupils (aged four and five) are rated overweight or obese in England. In Maidstone this number was


AN unoccupied property in Northfleet Close, Vinters Park,was burgled. Asmall trailer and equine equipmentwas stolen from a field near the stables at Mantles Farm, Firs Lane, Hollingbourne. A47" Baird flat screen televisionwas stolen from a property inWoolley Road, Senacre. Afencing panelwas stolen from the garden of a home in Greenborough Close, Shepway. Cashwas stolen from a home in Shirley Way, Bearsted. Therewas an aempt to break in to a barn in Lenham Heath Road, Lenham Heath. Therewas an unsuccessful aempt to break in to a home in Fordcombe Close, Senacre. Cash, a clock,watches and jewellerywere stolen from a home in Graveney Road, Senacre. Therewas an unsuccessful aempt to break in to a home inWingham Close, Senacre. The suspectwas described as a white man, 5 8ins tall, of medium build. Hewas unshaven andwaswearing dark clothing. Jewellery and cashwere stolen from a home in Merton Road, Bearsted.


46 Maidstone East February 2014


30.1% (of which 16% were obese) at Year 6 and 24.4% (8.8% obese) in re- ception. In Tonbridge and Malling the figureswere 31.3% (17.5%) and 20.9% (8.7%) respectively. Both councils say they are taking


the obesity problem seriously. Little Stirrers’ healthy cooking pro- gramme targets school children in both areas. A “Sporty Kidz” pro- gramme to encourage exercise among up to the age of five is also about to


start in Maidstone. Tonbridge and Malling Council’s


free after-school club LEAP will also help parents and children learn about their food, eat more healthily and be more active. The programme is running at St


James the Great Academy School in East Malling, with more to be launched this year. The council’s “Go For it” programme also targets youngsters.


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


Intruders searched a home in Egremont Road, Bearsted, but it was not known what was taken. An orange light was stolen from a white Ford Transit van in Crismill Lane, Thurnham. Thieves got in to a property at Dickley Court, Dickley Lane, Lenham, and stole a television. Awheelwas stolen from a Vauxhall Corsa in Graveney Road, Senacre. Prescription medicationwas stolen from a home in Orbit Close,Walderslade. Therewas an aempt to break in to the garage of a home in Lenham Heath Road, Lenham Heath. Apair of sunglasses, business stationery and confectionerywere stolen from a Land Rover Discovery in Roman Heights, Maidstone. The suspectwas said to be a


white man aged between 18 and 25. He was of slim build with short hair andwas wearing a dark jacket, dark trousers and white trainers. Therewas an aempted burglary at a garage in IvensWay, Harrietsham. Three Stihl chainsaws and a Stihl brushcuerwere stolen from an outbuilding in Headcorn Road, Sandway.


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