Portslade academy - another controversy

Argus,  Peter Truman, 9th February 2013

Pupils told "don't come back"

A controversial head has been  accused of “wiping his hands” of  underperforming A-level students after  25 were told to leave midway through  their courses.
 

The pupils at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy’s sixth form have been  told they will not be welcomed back to  complete their courses in September.
 

Instead bosses said they would find  them places at other colleges in the city where they would be “better served”.

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Worthing Herald front page news

Good to see Worthing Herald giving this scandal the coverage it deserves in this week's issue, Thursday 7th February.

Linda McVeigh, parent at the school, feels the school has "hit rock bottom" and points out that "the pursuit of academy conversion is a costly distraction and that structural change does not lead to better results". 

The damning Ofsted investigation took place just days after the school was granted academy status.

Argus: Worthing school falls into special measures

The Ofsted report will be published tomorrow, 5th February. Current parents at the school have been invited to attend a briefing at the school on 7th, although Chair of Governors, Tony Cohen, will not be present. Pre-submitted questions will be addressed but not questions from the floor.

We are sure that parents have many questions and concerns to raise for the governors' attention and would encourage you all to submit these as soon as possible.



Argus, 3rd February 2013

A high school has been put into special measures after a damning report by inspectors.

A team from Ofsted said Worthing High School, which has just become an academy, was failing to help pupils achieve their potential.

Inspectors rated Worthing High as inadequate, the lowest level possible, in three out of four categories while the fourth was rated as “requires improvement” – the second lowest level.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for the school refused to comment until the inspection report was officially published on the Ofsted website on Tuesday at 9am.

She said headteacher Carolyn Dickinson would also not discuss the issue.

West Sussex county councillor Bob Smytherman called for the governors of the school to resign and said they should “hang their heads in shame”

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Worthing High Ofsted

Worthing High School has written to parents today to advise that their school has been placed in Ofsted 'Special Measures.'

Ofsted report here

Michael Gove is destroying our school system

Guardian Education, Suzanne Moore, 30th January 2012

For the Conservative hardman in charge of our education policy, the three Rs are rigour, rightwing history and rote learning

One of the main things I learn as I age is just how much I don't know. Last week alone, I learned that I am clueless when it comes to putting together a TV stand from Ikea, making something "unscary" out of turkey mince, understanding the formulas in Brian Cox's new show or making a bored, tired child do pointless homework.

Such modesty, I am sure, is what stands between me and a cabinet post (oh, and the small detail of not being a bloke, in the Tory party or even an MP, but that's just for sticklers).

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Academy pays for £32,000 trip to New York

One of the pro-academy arguments that is frequently trotted out is that it gives schools more freedom to decide how they spend their budget. This academy has gone for a "value for money" trip to NYC! We wonder if the tax payer agrees that this is the best use of THEIR money?

BBC News, 22nd January 2013

Skegness Academy pays for trip to New York for 40 pupils

'All West Sussex schools should become academies' - Tory councillor

The Argus, Ben James, 19 January 2013

All schools in West Sussex should become academies or free schools, the county council's cabinet member for education has said.

Conservative councillor Peter Griffiths said that the authority's 250-plus schools should in time convert to try to improve standards.

His comments came in response to a 500-signature petition calling on the council to withdraw its automatic support of academies.

Speaking to The Argus yesterday, Mr Griffiths said: “The most important thing here is to improve educational standards.

“We need to make sure that is our priority and the politics and the rest can be forgotten.

“There is absolutely no deadline or anything like that. It will be a gradual change not a gallop.”

A petition was presented to the council by the West Sussex Academy Alliance, which formed following the controversial conversion of Worthing High School.

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