ARTHUR BUGLER Junior School were in celebratory mood after receiving a "Good" grading from government watchdog, Ofsted. Their last inspection told them that they "Required Improvement" and that is exactly what they did!
DURING the visit, Wates’ Resident Liaison Officer, Doina Caniparu, and Trainee Quantity Surveyor, John Ajidahun, told pupils how everyone on the building site uses maths, including engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, site and project managers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and bricklayers.
THE GATEWAY ACADEMY Free School in Tilbury has received a "Good" grade in its first ever Ofsted inspection. The school opened in September 2013 and is part of the Gateway Learning Community (GLC). The report, bucks a trend, which has seen (since May 2013) nine Thurrock primary schools receive a "Requires Improvement" grade, one placed in special measures and just one other (Arthur Bugler Junior) receive a "Good" grade.
Brian Martin, who chairs the local governing body, was delighted that OFSTED had recognised the progress that had been made since last September. “We are aware that some of our pupils are not making as much progress as they should, especially in Maths, but OFSTED also recognised that the school is in a process of radical change for the better.”
THE HEADTEACHER OF Gateway Academy, Debbie Bull has stepped down from her role. In what was described as an emotional staff meeting on Friday afternoon, Ms Bull announced to staff that she was moving on.
MOST people whose children attend denominational schools and who rely on council-provided transport for them to get to class will have to pay from September. Following a major consultation exercise last year, Thurrock Council’s cabinet agreed the “three-tiered” fees on Wednesday (19 March) evening.
THURROCK'S schools will be taking ever-more control of the borough’s education and schools following agreement at Wednesday (19 March) evening’s council cabinet meeting. Members were discussing how recommendations from the Education Commission had been moved forward in recent months.
MANY critics believed that schools such as Ockendon would find it impossible to retain their "Outstanding" status under the new reporting arrangement. Schools such as Passmores Academy in Harlow, made famous by the TV show "Educating Essex" had an almost identical report late last year.
A-LEVEL student, Alison Edwards from Palmer’s Sixth Form College, has been chosen to demonstrate her artist’s eye to MPs and guests at the House of Commons. The event was attended by Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, and Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt who both met the students and discussed their work.
THE presenter of Children’s TV Art Attack Lloyd Warbey was at South Ockendon’s Phoenix Centre on Friday (14 March). He spent the day with the pupils creating a Big Art Project based on the pupils’ current learning topic of the Ancient Egyptians. Each pupil was involved in the entire process – from the design, creation and sculpting of the final piece.
A CHILDREN'S Centre in Purfleet, run by Thurrock Council has been told to improve. In a report by Ofsted following an inspection last month, the government watchdog has made several criticisms of the service.
THE BATTLE to improve Ofsted took a backward step today as one of the borough's primary schools was downgraded by Ofsted. Somers Heath primary has been rated as "Requires Improvement" by the government watchdog.
AN increasing number of parents are not ensuring their children have the widest choice of secondary school because they don’t fill in the admissions correctly.
Thurrock Council’s education portfolio holder, Leader Cllr John Kent, said on Friday (7 March): “When I saw the admissions figures I was initially shocked by the fact that around a hundred were classed as ‘unplaced’.
INTU Lakeside is looking for schools across Essex to register their interest to take part in its Elephant Parade. Children from six local schools will be given the opportunity to create unique elephant designs and six winners will be selected to join the tour which arrives at intu Lakeside in May.
