News
downsmail.co.uk Parents support free school plan PARENTS have defended the Jubilee Primary School after itwas criticised by borough councillors.
Maidstone Council’s planning committee deferred an application to allow the school to remain at Gat- land House, Fant – six months after it opened to 30 reception pupils. There were 80 public objections and committee mem- bers had concerns about parking and traffic issues, the school’s lack of amenities and its faith ethos.
However, Mark Long (pictured),
on behalf of the school’s parent forum, said: “This application re- ceived an unprecedented amount of support letters, the amount on a par with objections, which is unique. “KCC investigated nearly 30 po-
tential sites for the school, taking into account the local need, facilities,
traffic and its suitability criteria. As parents we have no concerns over the size of the property and the out- side space as, although smaller than some schools, it still offers an en- riching and versatile environment. “We recognise there will be a traf-
fic impact on surrounding neigh- bours, but have worked with the school to devise a travel plan. In this document we collated information on how pupils travel to school, with more than 30% of them walking to school. Many parents have also im-
plemented a car share scheme and the majority of parents opt to park further up Gatland Lane. “We would hope that as parents
we can work with the local commu- nity, and are investigating locations to set up awalking bus.” Some members of the committee
felt the Jubilee’s facility-sharing arrangement with nearby Bower Grove, a special school, would be unfair to pupils. But Mr Long added: “This part- nership is not only beneficial to the pupils of Jubilee Primary School in providing playing field space, but also to those of Bower Grove School through the sharing of facilities on both the school sites and by includ- ing pupils with educational needs opportunity to experience a main- stream school.”
‘Quality school Councillors ‘wrong on facilities’
offers choice NEIL Pattison, a founding member of the Jubilee Primary School, said: “For two and a half years our team has worked hard in the planning and formation of Jubilee Primary School. “Why has the final part of the process – that should be straightforward – been delayed since Decem- ber 2014 and is still
unre- Neil Pattison
solved? “The strong support, prob-
ing scrutiny and stringent checks given at every stage by the Department for Education seem to count for nothing. “Confirmation by the DfE
that the size of the Gatland Lane site was adequate for a healthy school; confirmation by theDfE that the need for pupil places was present in the west Maid- stone area; confirmed support from residents' initial consulta- tion of more than 5,000 homes asking for their views about the school; the benefits of a faith ethos school to the pupils and community – all of these points seem to be have been dis- counted or overlooked. “In addition to the checks
made by the DfE, we even started the consultation process with Kent Highways before it was required. “We have a quality school, on
course for a very positive Ofsted evaluation, offering the very choice to local parents that free schoolswere designed for.”
36 Maidstone Town May 2015
MARK LONG hit back at com- ments made by councillors at the planning meeting, which was re- ported in theDownsMail. CllrPaul Harper said: “The school is not needed or wanted.” Mr Long: “There
Cllr Paul Harper
were rigorous crite- ria that needed evi- dencing, and one of thesewas establish- ing that therewas a genuine need for a school in the com-
munity. “Not only was this evidenced in feedback received by local parents in public consultations prior to the school receiving its funding agree- ment from the Department of Edu- cation, but even KCC supports the findings, stating that the Jubilee Pri- mary School is ‘meeting the demand from indigenous population growth in the planning group’.“ Cllr Dan Daley said: “I don’t be-
lieve anyone would want to con- demn children by not providing them with space and facilities you
ANURSERY school in Maidstone has received a good Ofsted report. The Teddies Nursery at North Lodge, in Queens Road, was good at meeting the needs of children, their well-being, and in respect of its leadership and management. The inspector suggested that to
Cllr Dan Daley
get elsewhere.” Mr Long: “All the parents of the school had the op- portunity to view the facilities and space on offer, to- gether with plans for how the school would grow.
“The areas of the school in use
have been refurbished to a high stan- dard creating a safe, enriching and stimulating environment in which all the pupils are thriving, both in- doors and outside.” Cllr Ian Chittenden said: “This
school fails to meet the level we would expect to see in a modern school in manyways.” Mr Long: “As parentswe have the highest standards in mind when ap- plying for a school place, where our priority lies in hav- ing a school with a
Cllr Ian Chittenden
strong ethos focusing on the indi-
Cllr Tony Harwood
vidual needs of our children, help- ing them to develop socially, emo- tionally, physically as well as academically, in a safe and creative environment. Jubilee Primary School has exceeded all of our standards and that is why our children go there.” Cllr Tony Harwood opposed the principle of faith schools. Mr Long: “Al- though itwas estab- lished with the help and support of Ju- bilee Church, it is not a faith school but a faith ethos school. There are clear differences. While there may be a Christian ethos
underlining the values of the school, all of the parents, regardless of faith or belief, find these values to be an important part of society. “Our faith ethos only impacts our curriculum in delivery. The school operates the admissions criteria characteristic of a KCC school, giv- ing no preference to faith.”
Nursery praise Primary raises standards
raise standards further, staff sup- port young children's communica- tion skills by ensuring they use the correct words for objects and pro- vide more opportunities for chil- dren to solve problems by themselves.
STAFF at a primary school in Maidstone have been praised by a Government inspector for raising standards. St Francis' Catholic Primary School, in Queen’s Road, earned a good Ofsted grade in its latest re- port, after being rated inadequate at a monitoring inspection less than a year earlier. The inspectors, Janet Pearce and Barbara Saltmarsh, praised the work of acting head Elisabeth Blanden, concluding: “The relent-
less determination and commit- ment of the acting headteacher and deputy headteacher have sig- nificantly raised standards of teaching and pupils’ achievement since the last inspection. As a re- sult, all aspects of the school’s work are good.” They noted that teaching had improved and was now good. They also praised the behaviour of pupils, who they observed “are unfailingly polite and friendly to adults and each other”.
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