Mixed views on school Ofsteds
Readers have their say on our series of articles looking at schools’ latest Ofsted gradings
WHAT a delight it was to read positive comments about West Borough Primary School, my alma mater. (KM, May 10). Living on the Cherry Orchard estate, I began life as a reception pupil in 1953. After five inspiring, exciting and wonderful years, I left for the local grammar school. I returned as a year five teacher in 1977. Many of the pupils I taught over the next 12 years are close Facebook friends! I became deputy head in the mid-80s, and served as acting head for a term before taking up a rural headship in west Cornwall in 1989. After another wonderful 20 years, I retired. I still have the Kent Messenger delivered, and was disturbed by the article about Maidstone’s “failing schools”. I was pleased to read Stuart Woledge’s report, which goes some way to redress the issue. Everyone in education knows that every school can improve but, by the same token, so can every inspector, government and newspaper. The best way to gauge a school’s success is to look at its pupils 20 or more years later. Every old West Borough pupil I know has made a great success of their lives regardless of SATs scores and inspections. A pity that the remit of Ofsted does not allow such measures. Dave Leek, Chiverton Gate, Penzance
AS chair of governors at a Maidstone infant school and a former primary headteacher, I am appalled at the treatment of the nine Maidstone primary schools which featured in your article on May 3. No school sets out to fail its pupils. Ofsted move the goalposts. No-one can now be “satisfactory”. Yet all schools have areas that they can improve. Children enter school now with fewer social skills and more language and emotional problems. And fewer parents provide real, effective home support. School staff are hard working and dedicated, and strive every day to make our children’s lives better. They need help and support not vilification. Ann Watts, chair of governors at St Paul’s Infant School, Maidstone
I AM writing in response to your articles relating to the recent Ofsted results for primary schools in Maidstone. The assumption appears to be that these results are due to falling teaching standards, but perhaps we should be looking more closely at what the politicians are doing to our education system and asking if they are the cause. Morale among teachers is extremely low, thanks to the constant pressure to improve and the never-ending changes showered on schools by Michael Gove. There has been little or no consultation with teachers over the practicality of these changes, and many replace perfectly good systems put in place by the Labour government. As an onlooker, it often appears to be change for change’s sake. Many highly experienced teachers are now disillusioned by what they are being forced to teach, feeling it denies children the chance to take enjoyment from learning. The pressure to improve seems to take no account of children’s ability. As with 100-metre runners, incremental improvements are ever decreasing in size. If only Michel Gove could be diverted from his ‘mother knows best’ policies, and see what I see every day — children enthusiastic and enjoying an education provided by dedicated and hardworking teachers struggling against the tide of bureaucracy. If we don’t call our politicians to book soon we will be left in 10 years’ time with a blighted and poorly educated generation of children. Who will pick up the pieces then? I work in a primary school, and my wife and son are teachers in primary education. Name and address supplied to editor