Speaking at Thurrock Council’s cabinet, Cllr Kent highlighted proposals for a new school at the top of Belmont Road – which, if all goes to plan should open for September 2014.

He said: “This has so many advantages locally and across the borough, it seems to me it has got to happen. We’re only being asked to agree a feasibility study at the moment, but to me it’s just common sense.

“Thurrock has among the highest percentages of young people in the country and this part of our borough has some real traffic congestion issues we can greatly ease these problems if we do this properly.”

He added: “We need to carefully look at the feasibility of building this school on the disused allotments at the top of Belmont Road – with access from Devonshire Road or Askews Farm Road. That gives us the chance to ease local traffic and resolve school-place problems in South Stifford and Grays.

“It will also ease pupil-pressure on the primaries in Chafford – including the new free school if it goes ahead – and it will help Belmont Academy and West Thurrock Primary too.

Cllr Kent also won cabinet approval for consultations on providing more places at three other primary schools – Bonneygate, in South Ockendon; Graham James, in Stanford-le-Hope; and Purfleet.

He said: “The pressure on school places in Thurrock is increasing and to me it doesn’t matter whether these are academies or not, we should help and support.

“We’re looking at increasing the size of Bonnygate and Graham James and increasing Purfleet from two to three classes a year and we’re working closely with the schools, the heads and their trusts.”

Following consultations, the final decision on whether or not to go ahead rests with the each Academy Trust and the Education Funding Agency.

Ofsted returned to Little Thurrock primary, six months after giving the school a “Requires improvement” rating.

They make the following comments:

1.Leaders have adapted the school’s improvement plans to address all of the areas of improvement from the inspection in March 2013. Attainment and progress targets are set for July 2013 only and not beyond. Some of the targets are challenging enough, including those for attainment in writing. It is difficult therefore for governors and others to monitor the school’s progress in improving achievement overtime, so that it is good by the time of the next inspection.

2.Leaders are working with individual teachers to develop their practice through coaching and there has been some improvement in literacy and numeracy teaching. Some evaluations of the quality of teaching in subjects other than mathematics and English, by senior leaders, are too generous. Some weaknesses are missed and therefore feedback is not as helpful as it could be.

3.More needs to be done to ensure that all governors can challenge the school effectively. Governors are planning to request achievement data in a way that can be easily interpreted by all of them. Governors have not yet received the information they need to consider the pay structure of the staff and the quality of teaching. Nor do they have a grasp on the impact of pupil premium funding.

4.The local authority has brokered support for leadership and management and to improve teaching, which is beginning to have an impact. They have arranged for a local leader in education to work with the school and support it through transition to new leadership when the current headteacher leaves in August 2013. However while the governing body is developing its own effectiveness, the local authority is not monitoring the school’s progress carefully enough.

The event, organised by the Rotary Club of Corringham Thameside required each school choir to sing two songs of their own choosing which were judged on the following criteria, choice of songs, quality of performance, teamwork, and the enjoyment displayed by the children in the choir.

Songs ranged from “The Purple People Eater,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, “It’s Always a Good Time”, and “The Water of Life”. After a fiercely fought contest, Arthur Bugler Junior School retained the coveted “Rotary Shield” whilst Corringham Primary were runners up and Abbots Hall Primary were third.

The excitement mounted as the children tried to guess who the “special” celebrity was going to be, who would present the prizes. An enormous roar of approval went up as “Shrek” appeared on stage to present certificates to each choir and to hand the shield to Arthur Bugler school. The children were overjoyed when “Shrek” left the stage and mingled with them after the show.

There was also a fine performance from Le Danse Fantastique, a troupe of handicapped and “special needs” children who received a standing ovation.

Monies raised from the competition will be donated to the charity, “Roll out the Rotary barrel” which stives to alleviate the necessity of young children in third world countries having to carry heavy loads of water over long distances to service their families needs.

This is done with a simple “lawn roller” type barrel which can be pulled along with far less physical effort and at the same time can carry more water. The concert is expected to raise in excess of £600.

The report may show why the leader of the  council, cllr John Kent has taken on the education portfolio.

The report makes the following criticisms:

Leadership

The lack of clarity about senior teachers’ roles and responsibilities, and the unwieldy nature of the extended leadership team, mean that this large leadership team is having little impact on improving the quality of teaching. Leaders lack clear direction and as a result, staff morale is low.

The action plan, like the local authority’s plan, fails to tackle the required improvements to leadership and management effectively.

Without a fundamental review of leadership roles, responsibilities and accountability at all levels, it will be extremely difficult for the school to make the rapid improvements necessary.

The Local Education Authority

“The local authority’s statement for action states clearly what the school needs to do to improve further, but some of the time scales are too ambitious and there is already slippage.

“The plan fails to state clearly enough how the local authority intends to conduct a review of leadership and management at all levels to provide a baseline from which to improve the capacity of leaders and managers.”

“The local authority statement of action is not fit for purpose.

Pupil progress

“It is clear that the actions you have taken to date to improve the quality of teaching have not had sufficient impact to improve pupils’ progress.

“The school’s action plan is not fit for purpose.

Salaries

Over half the teaching staff are paid on higher level salary scales, but pupils’ achievement indicates that the school is not getting value for money or rewarding staff in line with the guidance in the national Teachers’ Standards document.

The Governors

“Since the inspection in January, the local authority has acted swiftly to replace the governing body of the school with an Interim Executive Board (IEB). The IEB has held one meeting to date, but is planning to meet twice a month in the short term to hold the school to account and to drive the necessary improvement.

It is clear about its responsibility to bring about rapid school improvement, particularly to improve the quality of leadership and management of the school. However, as the board is new, its impact is minimal.”

YT will be seeking reaction from the main political leaders as well as the new education Tsar in the borough, Christine Gilbert.

Stifford Clays now have an invitation to take part in the Essex County finals which will be held at Billericay Cricket Club.

Twelve school teams entered this year’s event from Thurrock.

She achieved a distinction in the annual Pearson Teaching Awards, which means she was an outstanding candidate for head teacher of a primary school in London and the south-east.

More than 24,000 nominations were received for the awards, but judges were impressed by Mrs Coates’ hard work and dedication and the impact this has had on educational attainment at the school.

The Arisdale Avenue school’s deputy head, Gareth Jones, said: “This is a fantastic achievement, which recognises Mrs Coates’ success in raising attainment at Bonnygate.

“She is an inspirational headteacher, who is determined to improve the life-chances of children.”

The school’s Chair of Governors, Jo Spicer, said the changes that have been made at the school in the last three years are testament to the hard work of the whole team at Bonnygate, led with drive and enthusiasm by Mrs Coates.

She added: “This award is welcome recognition for Mrs Coates, who is popular with staff and children alike. The recent improvements at the school have had an impact on every child, who are all a credit to the school and the local community.”

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, published last year, rated leadership and management at the school as “outstanding”.

Mrs Coates said she was honoured to have been awarded the prize, with a distinction recognising her outstanding achievement. She added: “It is fantastic to receive this award, which I think is recognition, not only for my role as headteacher but for the hard work and dedication of all the staff, and of course the achievement of the children at Bonnygate, who are fantastic.

“This is an award for the whole school, which is certain to continue to improve and provide the very highest quality education.”

Thurrock Council Leader and education portfolio holder, Cllr John Kent, congratulated Mrs Coates and thanked her for her valuable contribution to improving education in Thurrock.

He added: “This award highlights how strong leadership can help a school improve rapidly and maintain momentum. This is a great achievement for the headteacher, her colleagues and all the children who attend Bonnygate Primary School.”

When Thurrock Council launched its six-month CCTV vehicle trial, local schools were invited to come up with a name as the car’s main aim is to try and bring an end to dangerous and thoughtless parking outside schools.

The winner was eight-year-old Jodie Fullerton, from Grays a pupil at St Thomas of Canterbury primary in Ward Avenue.

Her suggestion, PIPPA, won the competition and on Tuesday, portfolio holder for public protection, Cllr Angie Gaywood – with her shadow, Cllr Simon Wootton – visited the school with the car.

Jodie won £25 of Decathlon vouchers and her school received £100 of vouchers to spend too.

Cllr Gaywood said: “There was a really overwhelming response to the competition, with more than 650 entries overall.

“All of them were looked at very carefully and we would like to say a very big thank you to all the school children who took the time to enter.

“We know, when we have taken Pippa to some of our schools. that the pupils are really excited to see her – I don’t expect parents who do not take the time to park with care will share the same excitement – but the message is clear: please park properly to keep our children safe. Do that and you won’t get a ticket.”

She added that Pippa will be seen outside all local schools working hard to keep the children safe.

Cllr Wootton added: “We are asking parents and guardians to think carefully about how and where they park when they are taking or collecting children near schools.

“The best option – of course – is walking, but we know that is not always practical, so if you are going to drive please remember to park legally and safely’’

Woodside Academy in Grangewood Avenue, Little Thurrock, had wanted to change its admission criteria to give precedence to children in its nursery classes.

Cllr Kent said: “The council objected because this could prevent children who live closer to the school, but who couldn’t attend nursery, getting into the school’s reception class.

“Thurrock Council has to look at the opportunities for all children in the borough and it has to ensure all schools – whatever their type, academy, church or other – are held accountable.

“But I don’t want this to be seen as a ‘council knocks academy’ story as some will probably claim. I want to work closely with our schools to give each and every child the best possible chance – and the adjudicator agrees with us in this case.”

Full details of the adjudication are below, but Cllr Kent said: “I’d like to pick out some phrases from the adjudication. She says that while the proposals offer ‘advantage to those children, it disadvantages those whose parents decide not to, or cannot, make use of the nursery provision, or need different provision, or [who] do not gain a place.’

“She also writes: ‘The school has sought to make this link with the nursery classes by naming them as a feeder school. It has offered no evidence to show how they may be lawfully designated as a school”.

Cllr Kent also highlighted the adjudicator’s statement that “it is unfair to determine admissions into the school where the admissions arrangements are regulated by statute, largely by reference to attendance at the nursery class where admission arrangements are not regulated”.

He said: “Like the adjudicator, I do not think the school proposed this scheme for anything other than educational reasons, but the council’s duty is to the wider community, not a single school.

“Some people will claim we did this for political, anti-academy reasons, but nothing could be further from the truth.”

The principal of the Woodside Academy, Ed Caines said: “We changed our admissions arrangements to give some priority to our own nursery children after numerous appeals every year when children failed to get reception places.

“It is not easy explaining to three years olds why they are not continuing at the school with their friends. Our legal advice was that there was nothing in the admission code to say that a school could not do this, something which, in spite of her decision, the adjudicator admits.

“This was a grey area in law and we welcome the clarity this judgement brought. We have found another solution this year by taking 90 rather than 60 children and intend to do the same in the future.

“This means all our nursery children, plus many others whose parents chose Woodside, have places.

To all intents and purposes the school has all the hallmarks of an independent school with an arms length relationship with the local education authority.

It is now part of the Gateway Learning Community. Its chief executive is Kevin Sadler and the principal is Richard Epps.

The school has been told by Ofsted that it requires improvement.

It has returned to the school but the report makes a number of criticisms of the school.

These are:

“Leaders monitor the quality of teaching by visiting classrooms, tracking the progress of pupils and looking at the work in their books. Leaders are not yet routinely considering the results of this monitoring together to give an accurate picture of teaching over time. Teachers receive targets to improve their practice but these are not routinely followed through to subsequent observations to ensure that matters improve quickly.

“Academy improvement plans address all of the areas for improvement from the January 2013 inspection and leaders have set very helpful milestone targets, which set the expectations for each term. These do not include targets for the attainment and progress of pupils in each year group however. This makes it difficult for governors and the board of directors to monitor progress rigorously.

“The board of directors has responsibility for standards and progress. It has set targets for the attainment, the quality of teaching and attendance across all four academies in the learning community. However, the roles of the board of directors and the governing body have not been defined well enough. The trust has not set out clearly enough how the academy is monitored and challenged.

The Ofsted inspectors also note that the school is being helped by a “neighbouring local authority” as well as a number of consultants.

It also notes that the chair of governors has resigned and an acting chair is in place.

Gemma is also expert in throwing both the discus and shot, previously winning bronze with the shot in the Commonwealth Games. Woodside Academy has a strong sporting tradition and has been building on this following the Olympics with more than 50 regular activities including new additions, cycling, archery and handball inspired by the London games.

As well as being an outstanding athlete Gemma has a master’s degree in mathematics from St Andrews University. She told children how she took up athletics following a taster day and her excitement when she won her medal.

Woodside Academy Principal Edward Caines said “ We have had visits from a number of Olympic athletes before but Gemma was truly inspirational. Her triumph in overcoming her disability to compete and succeed at such a level is a lesson we can all learn from.”

Each year, the council co-ordinates the borough-wide applications for places in reception classes, following the rules and regulations of the individual schools.

Nearly nine-tenths of the on-time applications – 1,904 of 2,188 – were made on line and three-quarters asked to be informed of the outcome by email rather than letter.

In addition, 1,936 of the applicants received their first preference with seven per cent getting their second and just 31 families – one per cent – their third.

Cllr Oliver Gerrish, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services including schools, said: “In recent years there have been issues around the Chafford Hundred schools, but that doesn’t seem to be so this year.

“We have just five on-time applicants from the estate who will not be offered a place at one of its primary schools – this compares with over 20 at this time last year.”

He added: “There are another five applicants who made applications after the deadline and they will be offered places at the nearest local school outside Chafford Hundred.”

Cllr Gerrish added: “Over the last year we have worked hard to increase capacity for this September – at West Thurrock, Stifford Clays, Little Thurrock and Bonnygate – and also at Quarry Hill where we’ve agreed a bulge year.

“Unfortunately there are limits on what the council can do, but our admissions team works very closely with all of the borough’s schools.

“In the vast majority of cases this work ensures we find ways to accommodate people’s preferences. In the small number where this is not possible, we work equally hard to offer a place nearby.”

The damning Ofsted report is just one of a host of reports, published recently, that has seen Thurrock primary schools placed in the two lowest categories.

Earlier this year, Thurrock primary schools were placed third from bottom in the country for the percentage with good or outstanding Ofsted inspections.

Last month, Corringham primary and Benyon primary were placed in special measures whilst Purfleet primary, St Joseph’s primary and Harris primary Academy all were told that they required improvement.

The report may come as a shock for many as the school is situated in a well-heeled part of Grays on Rectory Road. However, this is the third “requires improvement” report for the head teacher, Ms Liz Jackson.

The Ofsted report made the following criticisms.

1. Teaching is not yet consistently good for enough pupils to make good progress across the school.

2. In some Key Stage 1 classes, teachers do not have high enough expectations of pupils and do not build on pupils’ prior learning to challenge them sufficiently well.

3. Pupils with special educational needs and those eligible for pupil-premium funding do not always make as much progress as they should.

4. The pace of learning is not always suited to pupils’ needs so that sometimes learning slows, especially for more-able pupils.

5. The monitoring of teaching by leaders is not consistently rigorous and sometimes does not lead to suitable training for staff.

6. Targets in the school’s action plans are not always as specific as they need to be, to improve leadership and management in particular.

7. The governing body is not as well informed as it should be with regards to teachers’ performance and the impact of pupil premium funding on their progress.

8. Some parents and carers reported that they would like to be better informed about their child’s progress and that communication from the school needs to be more timely.

However, it also made the following positive comments.

1. The school has improved teaching in Key Stage 2 so that this is stronger than at the time of the last inspection, especially for the current Year 4 and Year 6.

2. Pupils enjoy learning in school and have good opportunities to take part in a wide range of sports and music activities.

3. Pupils’ interest in reading is well promoted through a range of texts which enhance pupils’ writing and cultural development. As a result, pupils’ progress in reading is good throughout the school.

4. Pupils are welcoming and friendly. Pupils behave in lessons so that learning proceeds without interruption.

Headteacher Edward Caines said “This was a well deserved success both for the children and the staff who train them and a tribute not only to their skill and fitness but their excellent team work”.

The school has had a successful sporting term with the girls’ A team also winning their league with a 4:0 victory over Stanford on the last day of term.

Woodside Academy has a high commitment to extra-curricular activities and particularly sport. With A, B and C teams for both boys and girls in year 5 and 6 Woodside regularly fields 6 teams against other schools plus teams for younger players and other activities such as High Five Netball.

So, you can only guess at his reaction when Ofsted published their monitoring report on the Mayflower Road school.

The report stated: “They (staff) do not set their sights high enough and remain too accepting of weak teaching. They do not routinely check that staff implement the new policies agreed to improve the quality of teaching. For example, in some classrooms the teachers’ spelling and handwriting are incorrect in pupils’ exercise books and on the white board.”

“The leadership is not yet dynamic or proactive enough in ensuring that all staff make the required changes to improve the quality of teaching. This means that pupils are not yet on track to reach the highest standards or to make the progress of which they are capable.”

And so it looks like the Federation are ringing the changes. First out the door are a number of governors.

Chair of governors and local councillor, Tunde Ojetola announced on twitter that he was stepping down.

Cllr Ojetola had stepped into the breach, three years ago, after a large number of governors had quit.

YT understands that at least four other governors have also left the school.

Last month, the headteacher, Mike Lovett also announced his departure.