Disappointed

I write in reference to your article published on September 17, by your

Successive governments have closed the training facilities which supported unemployed people. BARRIE LOVE

reporter Tom Cotterill, which had the headline ‘Police arrest man, 28, after £17k cocaine bust in street next to Gosport primary school’.

I am extremely disappointed that my school was named in the article.

The school has nothing to do with this incident or the criminals in question, nor does the school wish or deserve to be associated with this type of crime or situation.

We have worked hard to establish our reputation as a beacon of the Gosport community and we are

now a good school rated by Ofsted and SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools). I feel all our hard work and good name has been tarnished by the article and potentially skewed the opinions of families with young children who will be starting school next year and beyond.

At Newtown C of E Primary School, we are committed to providing a high standard of education with a fun and engaging curriculum alongside exciting extra curricula activities for all of our children. Aside from their learning, our curriculum includes helping pupils to develop the skills to have successful futures and be good citizens. The most recent Ofsted report about our school stated that our pupils enjoy school, are safe and benefit from a clear emphasis in the curriculum on how to keep themselves safe and healthy.

I am very proud of our pupils and their achievements and our dedicated staff and governors. I am also grateful to the parents, carers and wider school community for their steadfast and continued support.

Emma Howlett Headteacher of Newtown C of E Primary School, Gosport