Page 30 - link magazine

30 The Link Magazine • November 2003
Coincidence of failure sees Freshbrook
School into special measures
I The chaos surrounding Swindon Council's failure as an education
authority by Ofsted in September 2001 appears to have resulted in the
At Olga's Hair Studio our talented team of stylists offer failure of Freshbrook School when inspectors made a visit in May
you a superior hairdressing service within a friendly and this year.
relaxed atmosphere at our modern Shaw village salon. During 2002 nobody in a higher professional expertise or manage-
supervisory or monitoring posi- ment skills.'
If you are after a new style, cut or colour call in for a tion at Swindon picked up the de- In this undemanding atmos-
free informal consultation or phone 874825 clining standards, low targets or phere, inspectors found that 'chil-
to book an appointment poor management and leadership dren enjoy school and are inter-
Open: Tuesday &Wednesday:9am-6pm; • at the school. Last year director of ested and involved in their work
Thursday & Friday: 9am-7pm Saturday: 8.30am - 3.30pm education Mike Lusty and senior and play. Attitudes to learning and
assistants left under a cloud and school are good; pupils' good be-
Special discounts for senior citizens Tuesdays & Wednesdays negotiations took place for local haviour around the site helps to
Unit 3 Ramleaze House ShawVillage Centre. Tel: 874825 education authority functions to make it a positive experience for
run by private contractors Tribal, the great majority; and good rela-
with new permanent senior man- tionships throughout the school
agers in post from the beginning of are a strong factor in its ordered,
2003. calm feel.
The damage had been
done by the time present
headteacher Steven Lake
arrived in January this year
and his pre-inspection as-
• Weddings 0 Children's parties
sessment to Ofted made it
0 Anniversaries 0 Business buffets clear that he had taken over
a failing school.
0 Party planning service The report, which has just
come to the attention of The
Everything, from a platter of sandwiches to a full served buffet
Link, states that:
... at a price to suit all budgets or pockets • Lhere has been a history of
Improving standards rapidlii Steven Lake
poor leadership and man-
Why not give us a call ... you may be surprised.
agement which has led to weak The report identifies hope for
teaching and very low standards the future by saying that, 'excel-
being achieved by pupils with the lent leadership by the new head
potential to do much better; has already seen real improve-
• available funds have not been ments in many aspects of the life of
well spent; the school and revealed the many
• the school does not provide a causes for optimism about its fu-
FAMNGDON good enough education. ture.'
Mr Lake said he had not been
The last inspection in 1997 found
that standards achieved by 11 year entirely aware of the situation
olds were average in English and when he accepted the job as
/ I mathematics and above average headteacher last Autumn, but had
in science. Since then the school very quickly advised governors of
has had five headteachers and the reality and had briefed Ofsted
standards in all three subjects de- of what to expect.
- to well below average. He said, "Ofsted say there is
Buy direct from your local riculum and environment for nor the teachers but they are capa-
nothing wrong with the children,
With the exception of the cur-
manufacturer and save money y oung children and the provision ble of much higher standards. The
of policies and schemes in all sub- report sets out what we have to do
At Faringdon Upholstery we manufacture top quality jects, standards in most subjects, to get better and I'm afraid that the
upholstery supplied direct to the public. We make assessment, the management children, teachers, parents and
your furniture the way you want it, with Q^ structure and job descriptions were governors have been let down by
thousands of fabrics to choose from 1'la ,ill identified as unsatisfactory. poor leadership in the past."
The report comments on the dis- Mr Lake has appointed a former
* Craftsman built appointment and frustration of headteacher from Birmingham to
active governors at having been assist him by working with staff to
* All suites fully guaranteed let down. It says: Previous arrange- improve teaching standards. He
ments did not provide them with said, "other West Swindon primary
All suites covered in —4 the information and procedures schools were helping our teachers
your own choice of fabric Don't settle for necessary to fully understand that with ideas and encouragement and
mass produced so much needed to be done or the officers from the new local educa-
* Solid wood frames when you can have 'upport to do something about it.' tion authority had been giving a
made-to-measure It also goes on to say: 'Until re- lot of time to help improve stand-
Made to measure for the same price! cently, the great majority of the ards. I would also give a lot of
school community were not in- credit to the majority of our par-
* Re-upholstery Come and colved in any discussion about its ents who have stuck by us.
service 01357 see our wide performance. Poor results were "There is a much greater work
241 i^5! selection of justified not analysed, targets pro- ethic around the school and this
* Curtains suites today vided little challenge for individu- clearer, positive atmosphere will
als or the school and staff perform- help us reach our full potential."
ance management was not being The full report can be found at
used to help teachers to build their www.ofsted.gov.uk