In the meantime, here is a summary of the full set of Primary school OFSTED Reports for Kent and Medway since September, also showing change from the previous Inspection. These new Inspection outcomes operate on a different set of awards from in previous years, with the old ‘Satisfactory’ being changed to ‘Requires Improvement’.
Kent:
School |
Town |
Grade |
Change |
Sheldwich |
Faversham |
Outstanding |
Up one |
Cobham Primary | Gravesham | Outstanding | Up one |
Kingsnorth CofE |
Ashford |
Good |
Up one |
Brookfield Junior |
Aylesford |
Good |
Up one |
Bean |
Dartford |
Good |
Up one |
Gateway Community |
Dartford |
Good |
Up one |
Worth |
Deal |
Good |
Up one |
Capel-le-Ferne |
Folkestone |
Good |
Up one |
Shears Green Junior |
Gravesham |
Good |
Up one |
Shorne Cof E |
Gravesham |
Good |
Up one |
Bobbing Village |
Sittingbourne |
Good |
Up one |
Canterbury Road |
Sittingbourne |
Good |
Up one |
Iwade Community |
Sittingbourne |
Good |
Up one |
Hildenborough CofE |
Tonbridge |
Good |
Up one |
Snodland CofE |
Snodland |
Good |
No change |
Holy Family RC |
Maidstone |
Requires Improvement |
Up one |
The Brent |
Dartford |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
Warden House |
Deal |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
St Richard’s Catholic |
Dover |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
St Mary of Charity |
Faversham |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
Greenfields |
Maidstone |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
North Borough Junior | Maidstone | Requires Improvement | No change |
High Firs Primary |
Swanley |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
St Stephens |
Tonbridge |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
Aylesford Primary |
Aylesford |
Special Measures |
Down one |
Cage Green |
Tonbridge |
Special Measures |
Down one |
Not only does this show further improvement in Grades to 58%, closer to last year’s national average of 60%, what is more remarkable is that 58% of the schools have improved their classification, showing a strong upward trend. Sadly, two more Kent Primary schools have been placed in Special Measures, which means they are likely to be forced to become academies. Although this is still a small sample, there is no reason to think it is atypical. Congtatulations to Cobham Primary School & Sheldwich Primary School on their Outstanding awards.
The improvement is underlined by a parallel advance in Key Stage Two results, with 78% of Kent children achieving national target of Level 4 in maths and English in 2012, compared with 74% in 2011. Whilst still just below the national average of 79% and so there is much to be done, it underlines the sense that Kent has at last awakened to what schools and children need, and results are coming, as KCC implements its new policies, described in the document “Delivering Bold Steps in Kent”, published in May.
Medway
Meanwhile in Medway, the picture for the same period is as follows:
School |
Town |
Grade |
Change |
Maundene |
Chatham |
Good |
No change |
Brompton-Westbrook Primary | Gillingham | Good | Up one |
Deanwood |
Gillingham |
Good |
Up one |
Twydall |
Gillingham |
Good |
1st Insp Academy |
High Halstow |
Hoo |
Requires Improvement |
1st Insp Academy |
Temple Mill |
Strood |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
Sherwin Knight Infant |
Strood |
Requires Improvement |
No change |
St Mary’s Island |
Chatham |
Special Measures |
Down one |
Although too small a sample to draw conclusions, this table is noteworthy for two reasons. Firstly, it continues the disgraceful situation that NO Medway primary school from the 65 OFSTED Inspections I have logged has been found Outstanding by OFSTED. a shocking statistic (Kent has 19 over the same period). Secondly, the failure of Medway Council, and possible more importantly the governors of St Mary’s Island CofE Voluntary Aided School, the school with the most prosperous hinterland in the whole of Medway, who allowed it to fall into Special Measures. I have had clients at the school over each of the past four years and have been shocked by the reports I have received. If I could see this from a distance, why did no-one in authority observe and take action on the same? Hopefully, Barbara Peacock, the new director in Medway will be able to bring about similar changes to those being undertaken in Kent. It is a colossal task, but this time the Council’s Report on Low Standards in Primary Schools appears to offer little hope that the Council understands what to do about its problems. You can read my comments on the Report here.