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Academy plan to aid struggling school



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Published Date: 27 November 2008
A struggling Northampton secondary school may be turned into an academy to help improve pupil performance.
County councillor Joan Kirkbride confirmed Northamptonshire County Council would be issuing a Statement of Intent to the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to transform Weston Favell School into one of the Government's flagship acade
mies.

The school was designated as a National Challenge school in June after failing to meet the Government's new benchmark for having having at least 30 per cent of students achieving five good GCSE results at C and above, including maths and English.

Exploratory talks to establish a second academy school in Northampton have been taking place this month between the county council and representatives of Weston Favell School.

Yesterday it emerged the strategy for raising standards at Weston Favell is to apply for academy status.

Headteacher Dr Tracey Jones said: "The chair of governors, Roger Webb, and other representatives of the school were invited to attend a special meeting with the local authority where it was announced the local authority would issue a Statement of Intent for Weston Favell School.

"I think as soon as we were named a National Challenge School we knew there was a possibility of it happening and it was not confirmed to us until the meeting.

"This is a proposal which has been initiated by the local authority and we have to make the best of this situation by trying to make this into something positive. We are focusing on what is best for the current and future students."

The county council's preferred sponsor for a possible academy is the United Learning Trust, current sponsor of Northampton Academy, in Lings. Letters were sent to parents of 1,300 students at Weston Favell and to year six pupils of primary schools linked to the secondary School. Further letters announcing the partnership were sent to parents of pupils at Northampton Academy.

Councillor Joan Kirkbride, cabinet member for children and young people said: "As a council we are absolutely committed to improving outcomes for children and young people in the county and it is essential that we grasp opportunities which will build on the good work that is already taking place within the school."

The National Challenge programme is a £400billion rescue package to support schools who struggle to meet the Government's benchmark for good GCSE results.

They must raise standards by 2011 or face being replaced by academies or National Challenge Trust schools.



The full article contains 414 words and appears in Northampton Chron & Echo newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 27 November 2008 9:13 AM
  • Source: Northampton Chron & Echo
  • Location: Northampton
 
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robert angus,

27/11/2008 12:13:33
I find it amazing every time a school is struggling possibly due to lack of proper funding etc, they say pull it down and replace it with an academy. What happens to the staff who helped it to fail?
Are academies any better?
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anonymous student 2,

27/11/2008 19:36:42
I am currently attending Weston Favell School and have been for the past 5 years and in my time there I have seen vast improvements. Since Dr Jones has become the head teacher of the school we have been improving academically and the behaviour of students has become a lot better. I believe Dr Jones needs more time to continue with her plan and to get the school where she wants it to be before we even start to think of academy status.
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Faysal Biobaku,

Northampton 27/11/2008 19:40:44
I think turning the school to an academy will be a bad idea because the schoool is making such a good progress and to change the school will cause teachers to leave causing chaos in the school. All students are against it and i think it will be better if students are consulted on thier views.
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anonymous student 1,

Northampton 27/11/2008 20:09:29
I am a student at Weston Favell and have been for 5 years and I can tell you that it is no where near struggling compared to before Dr. Jones became Head teacher.
This is just the privatisation of the education system and "Nation Challenge" is just an implement.
Admittedly our school is under the 30% of 5 grades A* to C but so are many Academies, Northampton Academy being one of them, so I’ll let you come to your own opinion on that.
Dr Jones and her leadership team have done miracles over the last 2 years, while moving on to a new site and while moving all students on to that site, they have been able to, with the support of the staff, dramatically improve the educational and social environment of the school and if the school is given the time promised when being put on the "National Challenge" (3 years) instead of 5 MONTHS we could go from strength to strength WITHOUT being an Academy. This is a kick in the teeth to Dr. Jones, the leadership team, the staff and us the students. A question which we would like answered is why will a company take on a school? IS THERE A FINACAL INCENTIVE FOR THE COMPANY??
An Academy is not ruled by general rules covering education therefore an Academy can do vertically as it pleases, WHICH IS NOT RIGHT AND UNDEMOCRTAIC AS IT IS NOT ANSWERABLE TO THE PUPILS OR PARENTS.
Students and staff are outraged that they have had this forced upon them and let it be known that THE STUDENT BODY WILL NOT BE QUITE ABOUT THIS. WE WILL FIGHT OUR CORNER TILL WE HAVE NO FIGHT LEFT.
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anonymous 3,

Northampton 27/11/2008 20:18:49
I also attend Weston Favell School and have been going there for 5 years. I think turning it into an Academy is a bad idea. Dr Jones has guided this school to a much better position than it was previously over the last few years, and i am sure that given the time she could improve it further so that it meets the standards set by the Government. To make our school into an academy will be a huge mistake and will undo all the good progress made under Dr Jones. We know how good we can be and I'm sure with her help we can do it. None of us at the school want this to go ahead. WE'RE NOT LETTING THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT A FIGHT!!!
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anonymous student 1,

Northampton 28/11/2008 08:42:47
I would suggest that "desktop" goes and gets themselves an ounce of common sense before they start writing pathetic comments. Also students don't pay taxes as they DO NOT WORK as they are learning. They obviously do not have a clue about education and this is an insulting comment from an ingnorant person
7

anonymous student 1,

28/11/2008 13:02:48
We took offence to those who effectively call students with learning difficultes and those who can not get A*-C's mfrons. It that is acceptable to you then we do have different views.
8

weston student J.D,

Northamton 28/11/2008 14:31:03
I am currently re-sitting my first year of A-levels because of the disruption caused over the last two years due to the building work. I can't believe that the government want to cause more disruption to students by making this pointless change, we've gone from strength to strength over the last few years since Dr Jones has taken the school on and I can only see us getting better in the future. in reply to previous comments we are in the education system to learn and further ourselves so we can give more to society when we get our qualifications and help the economy.
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Star123,

Northampton 28/11/2008 15:12:31
I have to say I attended this school and it was truly awful when I was there but my brother attended it 10 years before me and it was great. I left school with hardly any GCSE’s and went to college where I obtained A’s in my retakes, 4 A levels and a degree I am now a teacher myself. In my opinion the teachers that were there when I was there don’t know how to encourage talent in the young people as they are not taught as individuals and to be honest when I was there I felt like the teachers didn’t even know who I was. The head teacher at the time left the school in a terrible mess and ruined opportunities for a lot of the students, I watched many talented, intelligent people at that school come out with only a hand full on GCSE’s. It’s a shame this school has declined so much but apparently since there is a new head teacher changes are being made for the better. I hope this school can go back to being the fantastic school it used to be.
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Librarian Number 1,

Northampton 29/11/2008 19:51:06
I am currently attending the sixth form at Weston Favell school and I have been at that school since year eight. Yes I admit that the school was failing for the first two years, however since the new head has arrived the school has been better than ever. I suggest that who ever came up with this ridiculous idea to change Weston Favell school into an acadamy reconsiders what they might be getting themselves into, we know the truth and if they don't back down we will go to the local newspapers and tell them why this business wants to change Weston favell school into an acadamy.
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