News Village school


report praise HOLLINGBOURNE Primary School has continued to provide a good quality of education during the five years since its last full inspec- tion, according to its latest Ofsted re- port.


Inspector Sir Robin Bosher said: “This is a school where every child’s progress and personal development really matter.”


Senior leaders track pupils’


achievement well, pupils make good progress, enjoy school, work hard and want to do well, and their be- haviour is very good, said the report. The inspector’s findings were in- cluded in a letter to head teacher Ralph Baldock, following the first short inspection, carried out on Jan- uary 27, since the school was judged to be good in February 2012. Sir Robin praised the leadership team and said that Mr Baldock had established “a long-standing culture of high expectations” and had moti- vated the staff “to deliver good qual- ity lessons which inspire pupils”. The reports said: “Attendance lev- els are well above national expecta- tions and leaders are relentless in their drive for children to come to school every day. There are rewards for outstanding attendance levels and staff follow up every absence.” School’s head retires, page 12


downsmail.co.uk


Tories choose Spooner for Bearsted by-election


THE Conservatives have chosen Denis Spooner to fight the Maid- stone Borough Council by-elec- tion in Bearsted on May 4. It is not known how many other peoplewent for the candidacy, but Mr Spooner, chairman of the influ- ential Bearsted and Thurnham So- ciety, was selected on March 22. The by-election follows the resig-


nation of Cllr Mike Revell, formerly of Mote Park, after less than a year in the seat. Conservative Cllr Revell stepped


down for personal reasons and has since moved to Sussex. Mr Spooner and Cllr Revell fought a head-to-head campaign last year. Mr Spooner, a retired civil ser-


vant, stood as an independent after he failed to be picked to stand for the Tories ahead of Cllr Revell, who had just moved to Maidstone. He had to resign his Conservative membership to stand as an inde- pendent but has since rejoined. He lost by 50 votes but the mar-


gin of victory is likely to be far greater in the Tory stronghold in


May, the same day as the Kent County Council elections . Mr Spooner told Downs Mail: “I


am pleased to be given the chance to take part in the by-election and, if elected, I think I can do a good job for the area. “People pile in for by-elections so


I don’t know how many other of the parties I will be up against, but I’ll take nothing for granted. “There are no hard feelings – it


was all smiles and handshakes.” The Labour Party, Ukip, Liberal


Denis Spooner is opposing the possible develop- ment of Woodcut Farm at junction 8 of the M20


Democrats and Greens are all likely to put up candidates. Mr Spooner, who has been active


locally for decades, is likely to focus on issues troubling local people such as housing, school places, traf- fic problems and the possible de- velopment of Woodcut Farm at junction 8 of the M20. A spokesman for Ukip said:


“We’ll be putting someone up, of course. Bearsted is a strong Tory area but we’ll give it a good go.”  Election coverage, pages 36-37


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