“But I am aware schools in Thurrock experience some serious challenges, not least when ministers get obsessed with structures of schools rather than the quality of learning. I am keen to meet all the headteachers of the schools in the Thurrock constituency to find out from them what would make a difference at national level to raise the ambitions and achievements of our young people here in Thurrock.”
“FOLLOWING his recent diagnosis with lymphoma, Principal James Howarth will be taking a leave of absence from The Hathaway Academy. James is a highly respected leader with a clear, shared vision for the academy that will continue in his absence. We are working together with the Chair of Governors and senior staff at the academy to look at how we will continue to deliver this vision and ensure there is no disruption to our pupil’s education over the coming months.
A former primary teacher at Bonnygate Primary School, in South Ockendon, her colleagues say she is convinced that any child, irrespective of their home circumstances, can thrive if shown love, trust and belief. She put this into practice by spending countless hours before, during and after school, coaching young people and building up their confidence and self-esteem.
A THURROCK primary school said to be requiring improvement in February is already making considerable progress, says the schools inspectorate Ofsted.
An inspector paid a monitoring visit to Somers Heath in Foyle Drive, South Ockendon, on 22 May – the first visit since Ofsted were there during the “focus” on Thurrock.
EXAM reforms in England will see tougher qualifications for some GCSE and A-level subjects, while others could be scrapped, a watchdog has said. Subjects such as applied science and electronics could cease to be GCSEs reports the BBC.
THE council's Street Cleansing Services made sure everything collected was disposed of properly, and its waste and recycling education officer was also on hand to discuss the hazards of littering.
A DRAMATIC timelapse video has just been released showing the new Thurrock Campus of South Essex College rise from the ground in just 60 seconds. The new build has two separate buildings and opens in Grays high street this September, with this video focussing on the larger West Building as it fills the screen and space that was there before it.
HARRIS Primary Academy in Chafford Hundred has received a "Good" rating from Ofsted. Last year, the school had been told by the government watchdog that it "Required improvement" This led to whole scale changes at the school with the governing body replaced and a new high-flying head installed.
ANDREW Blakey from the Riverside Community Big Local steering group went into Thameside Academy to explain to Shamid Ali and Michael Abebgo of the school council about what the Riverside Community Big Local were hoping to achieved. Shamid and Michael later reported to the Governing Body of the Academy as to what the council had been doing and considering, the Big local concept generated a lots of interest.
THE Concert took place on the 1 May 2014 at the College with the night being sold out in days. The concert was part of a marked unit and showcased the talent of both Music and Performing Arts students and featured musical performances, solo performances and choreographed various songs from the Musical Matilda. The students were very fortunate to have ex-students Jody Byrne and Shannon Williams come in to choreograph the songs as well as members of the dance group to perform in the concert.
THE SEAL of approval may be that they will leave you alone for a couple of years but we are sure that there are a number of hard-working teachers at both Abbots Hall primary and Arthur Bugler infants who are happy with that.
THE Sixth Form form at the Gateway Academy is set to close in July. It is understood that the Tilbury school has struggled to compete with Palmer's College, South Essex College and Harris Academy.
GABLE Hall’s success was identified in a recent in-depth analysis of official Department for Education data on all state funded schools in England by SSAT, the national school’s membership organisation for improvement and collaboration. The school qualified for the award by being in the top 20% of schools nationally for progress made by pupils between their key stage 2 results at primary school and their GCSE results at age 16.
ATTENDANCE is improving; it is now broadly in line with the national average because leaders monitor absence very carefully and intervene quickly. Changes to the school’s behaviour policy, together with improvements in teaching, have led to a sharp reduction in the incidence of poor behaviour within lessons. Attitudes to learning are less positive when activities are not engaging, or when students are working on tasks that are too easy, or too difficult, for them. The incidence of temporary exclusion increased, initially, as academy leaders made clear their expectations about behaviour. It has fallen considerably in recent months. The academy works very effectively with those at risk of permanent exclusion, so that they continue to achieve, and behave well upon reintegration to lessons.
MARK Bentley, the course leader for the new Logistics and Business course at South Essex College, is on a mission, a mission to showcase how the business of logistics and supply chain is the next big employer for Essex. And he will be taking to the internet to help spread the word and answer questions about the course with a live webchat on Wednesday 7 May, between 11am – 1pm. Visit www.southessex.ac.uk\webchat for further details or questions can be posted on Twitter, using #SECLogistics.
