Newbury Weekly News 110517

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

Welcome to our fortnightly education section. Newbury Weekly News education brings you interviews, columns, schools and college news and all the issues that matter most to the children, teachers and parents of West Berkshire. If you want to get involved with stories, opinions or simply tell us about something your school has been up to, please get in touch via chris.ord@newburynews.co.uk

Schools warn of ‘tough decisions’ Headteachers advise parents ofbudget cutsandrising costs Report by CHRISORD email chris.ord@newbur ynews.co.uk twitter @chriso_nwn

Glowing report for St Andrew ’s STAFF and pupils at St Andrew’s School in Buckhold, near Pangbourne, are cele- brating following a glowing report from the Independent School Inspectorate (ISI).

Following their visit to the preparatory school in March, inspectors deemed the quality of pupils’ academic achievements and the quality of personal devel- opment to be ‘excel- lent’. The inspectors

“TOUGH decisions” will have to be made as West Berkshire primary schools continue to wrestle with dwindling budgets and rising costs. The worrying news comes in a letter written to parents from the West Berkshire Primary Head- teachers’ Association, which says it cannot guarantee that tightening budgets will not affect teaching conditions. However, the letter, signed by the heads of each primary school in the district, offers re-assur- ance that schools will do their utmost to prevent this from happening. The letter states: “School budgets across the country have been under pressure for some time. “Senior leadership teams at many schools have been faced with funding challenges, leading to a number of tough decisions being made at some schools.

ship levy, the new formula will not bring the benefits that we had hoped to see for West Berk- shire children.” “We will work hard to ensure that cuts have the least impact on teaching possible. “However, rising costs and a frozen budget mean that tough decisions will have to be taken. “We cannot guarantee that such cuts will not affect teach- ing, despite doing our utmost to prevent this.” The heads continue: “Please be assured that we will take abso- lute care with budgets, to ensure all the money we have is spent effectively on your children. “We are also letting the local authority and Government know just how serious the funding crisis has become. “This includes meeting with local MPs, and the minister for schools, Nick Gibb MP.” said: “I honestly am gutted that it was my first and the last time I’d be able to enter because I enjoyed it so much, but poetry is defi- nitely now something more for me than just a GCSE exam – so surely that is something to take away from the whole experi- ence.”

recognised ‘skilful and knowledgeable’ subject teaching and significant achieve- ments in music, sport and the arts, as well as noting the diverse range of extra-curricular opportunities avail- able to pupils.

“In time, it will affect more and more schools.” According to the correspon- dence, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has shown that more than half of school leaders felt that their budget would be untenable by 2018/19, while the National Audit Office estimates a £3bn real- terms cut across all phases and in all schools. A new government funding formula is set to be introduced later this year, but the letter says it is unlikely to improve the financial pressures faced by schools in West Berkshire. “With increasing costs placed on all schools, including higher pension and national insurance contributions, as well as the introduction of the apprentice-

StAndrew’sSchool andheadteacher Jonathan Bartlett

“The report is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of the school’s exceptional staff and supportive community.” He added: “Our focus now is on planning for an exciting future. We are developing new facilities for sports and performing arts as part of our commitment to deliv- ering the best all-round educa- tional provision of any prep school in the area.”

pupils’ moral devel- opment described as ‘outstanding’. Inspectors also praised the school’s leadership, noting:

“Pupils’ high standard of achieve- ment is supported most effec- tively by strong governance and leadership.” Responding to the report, head- master Jonathan Bartlett said:

The school, which has 289 pupils, also met all required stan- dards of compliance and safe- guarding across all areas. Pastoral care was deemed to be of the highest calibre, with

BDZ backing Achievement for All A NEWBURY businessman has urged local schools to take advantage of a funding scheme aimed at closing the attain- ment gap in West Berkshire. Managing director of BDZ, Bob Rae, recently formed a partner- ship with education charity Achievement for All, who are also based in Newbury, to provide a specialist support programme for pupils who are under-achieving or from a disadvantaged back- ground. a vital part of any community and as a local organisation, we want to do our best to support as many schools as we can in West Berk- shire. “Achievement for All does fantastic work in helping all pupils to achieve academically, but also socially and emotionally. “We are pleased to be able to help schools to pay for this unique programme and I am delighted to announce that BDZ is in a position to fund half the cost of the programme for 40 schools or Early Years settings in West Berkshire. “I’d like to encourage schools to make the most of this opportu- nity and get in touch with the team at Achievement for All to see how it can support you.” The charity offers schools and Early Years settings a two-year, coach-led programme which supports teachers in closing the attainment gap. The scheme provides up to £6,000 of funding to each West Berkshire school to register. Any schools or Early Years settings that are interested in registering with Achievement for All can contact schools partner Sue Bowen via sue.bowen@afaed- ucation.org or 07788 281 520. The scheme will see BDZ cover 50 per cent of the cost of the programme. Mr Rae said: “Schools are such

Young poet makes her mark in national contest A YOUNG poet from Trinity School has received a special commendation for her entry in a national poetry reading competition. Fundira made it through the regional round and went to London for the semi-finals.

The talented teen didn’t reach the final, but received a commen- dation from judges for her performance of Minority by Imtiaz Dharker. Following the competition, she

The school entered the Poetry by Heart Competition for the first time and was delighted when Year 13 student Koshesai

Week commencingMay 29th 2017

Publication Space & Copy Deadline Newbury Home Search Thursday June 1st Property/Accomm display Thursday May 25th, 10am Accommodation lineage Friday May 26th, 12 noon NWN inc N2 Thursday June 1st ROP Ents + cinema Wednesday May 24th,10am Features Wednesday May 24th,10am Leisure Tuesday May 30th, 10am Motors Tuesday May 30th, 10am Classifieds/Trades Tuesday May 30th, 10am ROP/Greeetings Tuesday May 30th, 10am Sits Vac Tuesday May 30th, 12 noon BMD’s Wednesday May 31st, 10 am Advertiser Friday June 2nd All As Above Issue Date Classification

MaryHareSchool pupilswith theirentryintheNewbury&District agriculturalcompetition

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Growing success of agricultural contest PUPILS from special schools in Berkshire wowed judges at a recent annual agricultural competition. Court Young Adults were awarded first prize for their coun- try craft project and also for their recycled bird feeder. Mary Hare Primary School finished in third place overall. Education officer for the soci- ety, Jan Murray, said: “We have been running this event for a number of years now and this year saw more teams than ever taking part.

Every year, the Newbury and District Agricultural Society puts on a challenge for schools with special needs across the county. Schools are asked to work on a number of themed projects over two terms, before presenting the finished works to a panel of judges from the society. This year sawNewbury College win the cookery class challenge; The Castle School won for their collage of the seaside; and Prior’s

First and second place went to Kennel Lane School in Bracknell and Addington School in Wood- ley, respectively. Certificates were awarded to all the students who participated, as well as the winners of each activity. Trophies and prize money were also awarded to the overall winners.

“It is so rewarding that the schools are embracing it with such enthusiasm and using the challenges to support their curriculums back in school. “The students who attended were very animated when talking to the judges and the staff appre - ciated the opportunity to network and share ideas.”