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8 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, April 13th, 2000
Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified),
www.eastlancsnews.co.uk ,,3
— Write to: The Editor, Clithcroc Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street, Clitheroe BB72EW Editorial e-mail:
clitheroe.edilorial@rim.co.uk Paper’s staff should Teaching profession
hang heads in shame THE staff of the Advertiser and Times who compiled the blatantly biased head line for last week's paper - "Clitheroe School in National Shame List" - should hang their heads in shame. Certainly the school has not command
ed a headline of this size and importance during its many successes. It drives one to
the conclusion (witness Mr Murray's own letter to the paper several months ago) that the school is being treated most unfairly. As a frequent visitor to the school, I can personally vouch for the warmth and con cern which permeates the school. Mr Mur ray himself is outstanding as a headteacher who cares for staff and pupils alike. He is aided by a hard-working and dedi
cated staff. Surely this warmth and con cern is as much a part of education as a high place in the league tables. Are we to be consigned to a future of despotic headteachers who ride roughshod over everyone in sight to achieve their idea of success, i.e. a place in the league tables as elevated as that of St Michael and St John's? If so, I am delighted that my own chil
dren have successfully completed their edu cation - begun at St Michael's and St
John's of course. I shall arrange to donate my 47p next
Thursday morning to a worthier cause. ANGRY READER.
OWE do not doubt, for one minute, the warmth and concern which permeates St Michael and St John's RC Primary School - but we have great difficulty understanding why our newspaper seems to be the dastard ly perpetrator of the criticism recently lev elled at it. This came from Ofstcd; we were merely reporting its findings. As for the heading, (he Government is not frightened of using the phrase "name and shame" when highlighting schools which, it feels, need to address problems spotlighted by Ofsted and we therefore feel justified in including it to lead off the story. We are mindful of the support of parents
and townspeople for the school, which we wish well in the future. To answer our critics, who have both writ
ten to us and telephoned, we are keen to visit the school for a special feature, in which the headmaster, if he wishes, can expand his views on the Ofsled criticism. Meanwhile, we stand by our treatment of
is demoralised WHEN St Augustine's was last judged by an Ofsted team, the lead inspector began the process by saying to me that a reliable inspection was like a mirror. It should reflect back to pupils, teachers and parents an image of the school they could all recog
Primary School in Clitheroe, following his two day visit, has provoked such strong reactions. His verdict that it is "under achieving" bears no relation either to objec tive statistical evidence about the school's achievements, or to the view of so many people who know that St Michael and St John's is a welcoming school, where chil dren are cared for, challenged and succeed. It is worth remembering the reason why
judgement on St Michael and St John's RC
nise. This is the reason why the inspector's
report criticised the school for "coasting", with regard to not pushing the brighter pupils. Does this justify the subsequent headline appearing on the front page of our local newspaper, implying that the school
the school was given a short, rather than a full, inspection in the first place. On every possible indicator, including value added scores, SATS results and performance trends over several years, St Michael and St John's has been going from strength to strength. Little wonder it is oversubscribed or has recently been awarded government grants specifically to share its good prac tice with other schools. At St Augustine's we feel proud and fortunate to be in part nership with a primary school which year on year sends us motivated and enthusias tic pupils. The vast majority of teachers I know
more in common with bur gutter press. The paper may argue it was merely expressing a balanced view, but as a parent of a child at the school, who was present at the parents' meeting with Ofsted inspectors, I am angered at the way one aspect of the report has been sensationalised to the detriment of the staff, leaving the head in isolation having to defend himself against unneces sary media interest. Moreover, at this meeting, at which no staff were allowed, the feedback from parents was one of total belief in the school and its management in all aspects and this was reciprocated by the inspector's comments. However, one or two parents did raise the issue of pushing pupils in their early years, but many would dis agree even with respect to the-brighter pupils. They are more than well prepared for senior school. Let them have a child hood I Finally, the Government has to consider
is a bad one? This was typical toilet brush journalism
which most of these children go on, are more than satisfied with their teaching. To put this school in the national shame
list is a disgrace which must be rectified and a full apology given. I wonder who inspects the inspectors? I am sending a copy of this letter to the
R. L. CARTER BA, Cert.Ed, Bleasdale Avenue, Clitheroe.
School should be
a source of pride WE are writing to express our disgust at your front-page article in last week's edi tion, which maligned Clitheroe's excellent St Michael and St John's RC Primary School. It has been appallingly treated, first by
reviewing its policy on Ofsted inspections if this is the effect, after a short two-day appraisal. It is shooting itself in the foot. Perhaps, if it ran the country like Mr Mur ray and his staff run St Michael and St John's we would all be better off.
MRS B. ARNOLD, Barrow.
recognise there is always room for improve ment and work hard to achieve this. They readily accept criticism, especially when this is given in a supportive and balanced way and when their achievements are not overlooked. The Government is now open ly worried about its inability to recruit new teachers, and the mounting level of demor alisation within the profession. If it is look ing for ways to reverse these trends, it could start by ensuring its inspectors reflect, rather than distort, the work of our schools.
ANTHONY MCNAMARA, Headteacher, St Augustine's RC High School, Elker Lane, Billington.
Ofsted is shooting
itself in the foot I WAS disappointed to read the criticism of St Michael and St John's Primary School. I t is a top performing school, whose
this important story - including the headline, which has to briefly summarise the story's contents - and do not doubt that some good will come from the publicity, even if only to show the school and its governors how highly its establishment is held in people's minds - Editor.
exam results speak for themselves, and anyone who knows the school will vouch that the headmaster and staff are totally dedicated to the moral and academic stan
dards of pupils. The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times's
stance on the matter was unfortunate, unfair and negative. Apparently an Ofsted
Who inspects the
Ofsted inspectors? I HAVE read the article in your paper by Julie Frankland concerning St Michael and St John's RC School with mounting incredulity. Here is one of the best primary schools
in Lancashire, if not the best, only recently inspected with such a good result that it was awarded Beacon status. It is led by a brilliant headteacher in Mr Vincent Mur ray, with an absolutely devoted staff of the highest quality, who spend their entire time in promoting the well-being and education of their pupils. I am able to say this without any possi
Rt Hon. David Blunkett, the education minister; Nigel Evans MP; and the Direc tor of Education for Lancashire.
achieving school and its SATS results for last year's leavers - 94% in English, 88% in maths and 100% in science - speak for .themselves. All schools, including St Michael's, always strive to improve standards. It is a
their family, school, parish and communi ty. This is a situation, which does not arrive by accident, but is as a result of the struc ture and framework that exists within the school managed by an excellent head teacher, Mr Vincent Murray, and ably sup ported by his staff and the parents. St Michael's has Beacon status, is a high-
very good primary schools in our area. Like the others, it has a dedicated staff; seeking , to do the very best it can for the children in its care. And SATS are just tests — the ., embodiment of a government preoccupa- tion with academic results - which is fine if , you are an academic child, but not so fine if ;
you are not. The results prove that St Michael and St ; '
John’s school is challenging its pupils enough for each of-them to achieve his or , her best in the SATS. How much further do you'think our children should be chal
challenge, and the skill for headteachers and teachers is to achieve the correct level of proportion and balance between stretch ing high flyers while encouraging those less academically able. I believe St Michael's achieves this balance. St Michael and St John's was specially
Ofsted, then by the local press, with your totally inaccurate and sensationalist head line. As parents of one of the pupils, we know that all aspects of the school should be a source of pride, rather than shame, to the wonderful headteacher Mr Murray and all his staff. Academic results are excellent, pupils are
all our schools fair praise and criticism ^ when praise or criticism is due, and never • again use such inappropriate and sensa tionalist language to humiliate and damage any part of our community.
lenged? ’ Finally, a simple request, that you give
,
selected for a short two-day inspection because of its excellent record. It was then condemned for under-achieving. I have two boys, aged nine and six, in the
'
SIMON HALL, The Brows Farm House, Grindlcton.
school and a daughter, aged 12, who was one of last year's leavers, and I am very proud and happy that my children are part of St Michael and St John's RC Primary i School./'
happy and surrounded by an atmosphere of caring and respect for others. These are some of the reasons that St Michael and St John's was awarded Beacon School status last year. Where was the front-page head
line then? We feel very strongly that you should
MR and MRS KITCHEN, Highfield Road, Clitheroe.
Sensationalism of
the worst kind SHAMED - no, I am very proud to be connected to St Michael and St John's School. What is a shame is that your headline
bility of contradiction because I was privi leged to be a governor of the school and in my capacity as literacy governor was able to sit in at classes, and can confirm the high quality of teaching. I taught for nearly 40 years in the inde
and the billboard poster outside your Clitheroe office could help give prominence and credence to the Ofsted inspectors' claim that St Michael and St John’s RC Primary School is a school that is under achieving, coasting and subject of nation al shame. While your article last week gave a bal
pendent sector and there it was physically possible to have small classes in which one could force along the more able child. But considering the sizes of the classes state school teachers have to cope with, it is inevitable that from time to time the bright child may not always receive that extra bit of tuition. I think you will find that the parents and the secondary school, St Augustine's, to
u m i i u f 1
publish an apology to the headteacher and his dedicated staff.
PAUL DUDBRIDGE, Eastficld Drive, West Bradford.
‘Utterly outraged’
at vicious attack I AM certain that I was not alone in being utterly outraged last Thursday, when you launched a vicious and unwarranted attack on a local primary school in your front page article and the newsagents' posters you used to sell your paper. In June last year, you carried an article
Destruction caused by the Ofsted report
, I jWOULD like to declare my unfaltering support for Mr Murray, and for the staff at St Michael and St John’s RC Primary School, Clitheroe, and to say how disap- , pointed I feel that a government initiative can cause so much destruction. My involvement in the school spans 16
years, so I feel I know it well. I am a school governor of another school, and fully aware of Ofsted, and the implications of such inspections on the education of our chil dren. As the school has been publicly "shamed", I would like to publicly offer my
opinion. In the report, the children, we are
praising Clitheroe primary schools for their excellent SAT results - but you failed even to mention St Michael and St John's RC Primary School, which had the top results in the Ribble Valley. In fact, St Michael and St John's is cred
ited with the fourth highest results in Lan cashire over the period since tests for pri mary schools were first introduced. This doubtless accounts for it being the only school in the area (and one of only 75 nationwide at the time) to be granted Bea con status - a high accolade, which received scant notice in your columns. So how can you, in writing about such a
anced view, your billboard announcing "Clitheroe school in national shame list" is sensationalism of the worst kind and not what I have come to expect from your paper. St Michael and St John’s provides both
informed "are given a very good start, make good progress and attain high stan dards". The children "are very well behaved, and have positive attitudes to work". Another comment is that "the school provides a high level of care and support for pupils that effectively promotes their personal development". The report informs parents that behav
a sound educational platform for children to learn academic subjects and an environ ment that helps to foster a child that cares for others, has strong religious, social and moral values and is a credit to themselves,
school, justify your use of the highly-emo- tive word "shame" in your headline and on posters outside every newsagent in town? Your allegation is that Clitheroe's top-per forming school is failing adequately to challenge its brighter children? If that were true, what does it say for Clitheroe's other schools which have consistently fared less well in the SATS? The simple - but, in journalistic terms,
dull - truth of the matter is that St Michael and St John's is just one of several
iour in the class is exemplary, and that chil dren show respect and courtesy to each other and to adults. We also learn that the children are happy and like coming to school and that parents are happy with the value and attitudes that the school pro motes. Why, then, should this school be
"shamed"? It is my firm belief that in our world today these are the most important values a school can teach our children, and that is not all. The inspectors inform us "standards in maths and English are very high at the end of Key Stage 2", and "stan dards attained in English and science at the end of Key Stage 2 have been consis tently above average for the past three years". 9 continued on next page
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