News | Schools
downsmail.co.uk School earns ‘glowing’ praise
EDUCATION watchdogs have praised staff at a special school for their “relentless focus on raising standards”.
Five Acre Wood – which oper-
ates fromsites in Loose, Snodland and Maidstone – has been desig- nated “outstanding” byOfsted in- spectors. Officials Susan Conway and
CatherineDavies say they quizzed pupils, ploughed through 48 par- ent questionnaire responses, analysed surveys from seven stu- dents and 99 members of staff, sortedthroughdocumentationand observed lessons before making their ruling. Publishing their findings last
month following a school visit on March 28, Ms Conway said: “The leadership team, staff and gover- nors are passionate about the school and have high aspirations for the pupils…the curriculumis rich and highly-tailored to meet pupils’ needs.” Five Acre Wood caters for chil-
dren and young people, aged two to 19, with profound, severe and complex learning difficulties, in- cludingautistic spectrumdisorders. It has more than 425 pupils and
Give children
charity choice CHILDREN as young as four should have a say in the charities supported by their school, says newresearch. TheUniversity ofKent andCan-
terbury Christ Church University conducted a study into howmuch pupils aged four to eight under- stand about helping good causes. The results showed children
knewof charities they hadbeen in- volved in, such as Children in Need and Comic Relief. But when researchers explained
the concept of charitable giving, youngsterswere able to formulate ideas, opting for homeless and wildlife causes.
Abuse help
VOLUNTEERS are going into schools to tackle child abuse. The NSPCC has been running
workshops and events to help children stay out of harm’s way, using a mascot called Buddy to explain types of abuse to primary pupils aged four to 11. A free school visit can be arranged
atwww.nspcc.org.uk.
16 Malling May 2019 Pupils explore science labs
ADOZENpupils fromSnodland CEP Primarywere invited to spend time in the laboratories at “big school”. The students were guests of TheMalling School. A spokesman said: “The super scientists learnt important safety rules
in order to achieve their ‘Bunsen Burner Licence’ and then conducted a ‘fizz pop’ experiment.”
300 staff, and is supported by a school nursing team,NHS physio- therapists, speech and language therapists, and a family liaison team. The school is based in Boughton
Lane, Loose, but has satellite classes at The Holmesdale School and Eastborough Primary. Principal Peggy Murphy said
“My role at Five AcreWood is to ensure, above all things, that our children are happy and safe. “I know, because of the focus of
my incredible senior leadership team, as well as the work of my dedicatedandpassionate staff, that our students are happy and safe. “Thismeanswe can get onwith the important job of educating,
guiding and nurturing our stu- dents and giving them every pos- sible opportunity, bothwhilst they are inour school andintheir future lives. “The outstanding classification
fromOfstedrecognises thatwe are doing this job to the very highest possible standard. It is a truly glowing report.”
Footballmatch
for Charlie AMEMORIALmatch in honour of Aylesford’s Charlie Girling will kick off at the county town’s football ground at the end of June. Itwill be the thirdmatch at the
Gallagher Stadium,whereChar- lie was a keen supporter. The student and Scout from Ayles- ford died after suffering an asthma attack while at an inter- national Scouting jamboree in Finland in 2016. He was 12 years old. The game, on Friday, June 28,
is again being organised by Charlie’s schoolmates atMaples- den Noakes in Maidstone. His classmates also created and opened a school garden in his memory, within earshot of the football ground. Proceedswill be split between
his Scout group and the garden . Thematchwill be held from1-
2.30pm. Tickets are £5 for adults and £2
for children on the gate. Mem- bers of the public are welcome, as are friends and family of the students, the school and the Scout group.
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