Readers may remember that at the beginning of June 2013, following a recent Ofsted inspection, Newport Primary School was placed in Special Measures.
New reaches OnTheWight today that Pat Goodhead, who is Principal at Christ the King College (rated by Ofsted as Good in Sept 2012), will ‘providing executive leadership and support’ at the nearby primary school to help guide them out of Special Measures.
The acting headteacher will be Mr Seaward, described as ‘a very experienced senior leader’ by Mr Andy Rolf, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Newport Primary (full details below).
Current headteacher to leave
OnTheWight have been informed that current headteacher at the primary school, Elizabeth Crayton, who was appointed in April 2012, will be leaving the school.
Although she was praised in part by Ofsted, overall they considered the Leadership and Management to be Inadequate.
Good practices shared
During our recent interview with Ofsted regional director, Matthew Coffey, he stated that those schools doing well on the Island could provide valuable advice and guidance for schools suffering special measures.
“Farsighted decision of the Governors of Newport Primary”
Newport West ward councillor, Chris Whitehouse, who is also Education Spokesperson for the Conservative Group of Councillors, and a parent of two children at Christ the King told OnTheWight,
“The farsighted decision of the Governors of Newport Primary to reach out to Christ the King is good news for the school and good news for local children in my ward of Newport West. The arrangement could prove to be one model through which some of our struggling primaries can access the resources and expertise of the beacon of excellence in Island education that is Christ the King College.
“Parents at Christ the King need not fear any diversion of focus on the part of the Leadership Team at Christ the King. I have discussed the new relationship with both the Principal, Pat Goodhead, and the Chair of Governors, David Lisseter, and as a parent myself, I am completely satisfied that the relationship is manageable and sustainable to the benefit of all involved.”
OnTheWight has requested a comment from the Isle of Wight Council and Christ the King College and will update this article once received.
Update 15.35:
Richard Priest, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member responsible for children’s services said:
“The proposals have been put forward by the governing body of Newport CE in conjunction with CTK and will be endorsed by the local authority as part of the school/LA action plan.
“I wish Pat Goodhead well in supporting the primary school. This approach endorses school to school support which is supported by the Department for Education and is very successful in many areas.
“I wish the school well in its current development and the council will offer its full support.”
Statement from Mr Andy Rolf, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Newport Primary
“On joining Newport Primary as new Head teacher, Mrs Crayton found that the school had major weaknesses across the range of its provision and these were recognised in our recent Ofsted inspection. We would like to thank Mrs Crayton for her dedication and clear vision that has enabled the school to progress under her leadership.
Mrs Crayton is taking up a new post on the mainland from September 2013. As Mrs Crayton’s new appointment happened long before the Ofsted inspection, the Governors are very grateful to her remaining with us until the end of the academic year in order to see the school through its inspection.
In planning for September 2013, we have looked for established local leadership that we know already has the high regard of parents, Diocese and Local Authority.
The school will come under the leadership of Christ the King College. The acting headteacher will be Mr Seaward, a very experienced senior leader, with Mrs Goodhead providing executive leadership and support. We believe this new partnership will bring benefits to both Newport CE Primary and Christ the King College and enable our school to make continued rapid progress in the months ahead.”
Update 16:32 – Updated details after receiving statement from Statement from Mr Andy Rolf, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Newport Primary.
