“I’m very proud to be here today and to congratulate you all,” said the mayor. “When you see what’s been going on in London and around the country and then contrast that with these young people’s work, it gives you confidence in the future.“All around the country we’ve been watching young people destroy things. But that’s really a tiny minority and we must all remember that. Here in Thurrock young people chose not to join in.”
And whilst their neighbouring senior school, Chafford Hundred Campus (soon to be a Harris Academy) marches from success to success and indeed was informed by Ofsted that because it was so good it would not be as frequently inspected as others,Tudor Court joins Chafford Primary in struggling to compete with the borough's senior schools.
.There are few opportunities for pupils to develop their writing and limited guidance is provided to help them model good work. New interactive whiteboards help teachers to capture and retain pupils’ interest and to actively engage them in learning. Enrichment activities, such as music lessons and sports competitions, are used effectively to reward pupils for good behaviour. Despite these improvements, the leadership’s monitoring shows that some inconsistencies in the quality of teaching remain which leaves the PRU’s target of 50% of good or better teaching by December 2011 a challenging one.
Cllr Gerrish said: “It doesn’t matter which measure you use, these figures show that our focus on improving Key Stage 2 results is working. It’s bound to be a slow process and there are likely to be some setbacks, but there can be no doubt that we’re heading in the right direction. “Thurrock’s secondary schools are now producing above average results and it won’t be long before the primaries are doing the same. This is just the latest step in our journey to raise the skills, education and aspiration of our young people, making them ready to grasp the opportunities Thurrock’s regeneration will bring.”
These figures speak for themselves and suffice to say Orsett C of E primary smashed the predicted figures! Finally I would like to offer my heart felt Thanks to Mrs Godfrey, Mr Meleady and all the other staff for making my daughters last year in primary school such a pleasant and happy time. I know that the school will continue to thrive and wish Mrs Godfrey and her team the very best for the future. The turn around in the school is more that I could ever have imagined and I was proved wrong – thankfully!
The Exec marked the end of the Fun Day by presenting Danielle Kiss, Community Fundraiser for Little Havens, with a cheque for an impressive £2000. She commented: “The Student Exec at Palmer’s have been a pleasure to support in their fundraising activities. Everyone at Little Havens is delighted that they choose to support the charity from the beginning of the academic year, and thrilled that they have managed to raise so much money for the hospice.”
The Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Charlie Curtis, had a two trips top the opera in recent days. As well as visiting the live large screen Royal Opera House production of Cinderella at Purfleet, he was equally impressed by a literally small production too.
IT HAS been a tremendous year for all the senior schools in the borough. Changing times but also very successful and exciting times as well. Staff looked relieved and will go away for a long earned rest. Many will have one eye on the exam results next month. We thought it would be appropriate to declare that school is out with William Edwards' school band Android performing their version of Schools Out.
BOOKS from the Chafford Hundred Library are now winging their way to Freetown in Sierra Leone. The presentation came as a culmination of the International Week at the school. YT spoke to Henry Forde from net:telecom as the books started their long journey from Chafford to Freetown.
ONE OF THE things that we have learned over the years is that each event at each school has a distinctive character. No sports day is the same; no open evening is the same and all the musicals are different. The same can be said of the celebration evenings. We can't quite put our fingers on what it is but somewhere they define the unique "selling point" of the school.
WILL WE see the like of Mr Ralph Henderson MBE again? After 41 years, the eminent teacher retired today. A living legend. We have a forty minutes version which is slowly uploading onto youtube including a fascinating one-to-one interview with Ralph.
THERE WAS a fantastic atmosphere at the Gable Hall Track and Field Champs. One of the things you notice about these events is the tremendous support from the sidelines as well as the keen contest on the track.
IT IS fascinating that each school manages to display its art in many different ways. William Edwards gather together all the creative arts to exhibit their art in its many forms. YT cameras took a walk around the classes to see the examples of the art work in the school.
MORE AND MORE we are seeing companies working with the students of Thurrock. Being a specialist technology college it is no surprise that Hassenbrook are at the forefront of forging relationships.
WE HAVE said it before and we will say it again. There is something very special about the end of year musicals put on by Quarry Hill Primary. The Missing Well is produced by musical renaissance man Steve Titford. Steve and the team take school plays to a whole new level.
