News School action
paying off THE head of Marden primary school has been praised for turning around the quality of teaching, but has been told more must be done. The Goudhurst Road school’s lat-
est report from Ofsted judged it as “requiring improvement” – down on its previous good grade. The report said: “Attainment and
rates of progress in the school have fallen for all groups of pupils. “This trend has been rapidly re-
versed over the past 12 months and all pupils are now making good, and for some better, progress.” But it added that further im-
provement in teachingwas needed. The school should ensure all teachers maintain a “brisk pace of learning” and make better use of supportworkers. The report continued: “Teaching
seen during the inspection was good, with some outstanding.” A spokesman for the school’s
governing body said: “We recog- nise the report reflects the rapid improvements made since Septem- ber 2012 and since the new head- teacher arrived at Easter 2013. It is a report of two parts reflecting past underachievement, but recognises that achievement and teaching in the school have rapidly improved and are now good.”
downsmail.co.uk
Anger at MP’s support for J8 business park
LOCAL MP Helen Grant (pic- tured) has incensed campaigners opposed to the ‘industrialisation’ of farmland off the M20 at junc- tion 8 by publicly supporting plans for a business park. The proposed Waterside Busi-
ness Park, near Hollingbourne, falls outside Mrs Grant’s constituency of Maidstone and the Weald, but she wrote to Maidstone Council’s head of planning Rob Jarman to reiterate her support for the plans, which, it
SIXTY-one groups have registered with a new online “dating” agency, designed to bring business and charity partners together. The Big Exchange, which aims to
pair up charities needing help with local companies, is the brainchild of Voluntary Action Maidstone (VAM) and Maidstone Council, which launched the website atMaidstone Studios. Representatives from charities in- cluding the Centre for Independent Living Kent and Emilia’s Little Heart
Charlotte Osborn-Forde of VAM, Clive Emson, AngelaWoodhouse of Maidstone Council and Dan Tozer of Whitehead Monckton
thought it was a great, much- needed idea.
is said,would allow Marden-based Scarab andADLto relocate. Both of these companies operate in her con- stituency. She told Downs
Mail: “I do appreci- ate the concerns raised. However, I also believe that it is essential to sup-
port local businesses. “There is a real danger that if
Website help for charities
barred from expanding, both ADL and Scarab Sweepers could relocate out of the region entirely, causing massive job losses and considerable damage to the local and regional economy.” The area’s constituency MP is
Hugh Robertson, also a Conserva- tive, who sent a recorded message opposing the development to a re- cent protest meeting at Mercure Great Danes hotel, attended by 300 residents.
Extended hours
AUTOMOTIVE Distributors Ltd has applied for extended Saturday working hours at one of its Marden sites. In 2009 the company was given permission to increase the hours of forklift truck movements and load- ing/unloading operations at Unit 9 of the Wheelbarrow Estate, Patten- den Lane on Saturdays to 7am– 1pm.
ADL, which has five buildings in Marden, wants this extended to 7pm. Maidstone Council will de- termine.
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