This in from the office of Andrew Turner, in their own words. Ed
Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP this week visited Weston School, which next year will become the Island’s very first primary academy school and one of the earliest primaries in the country to convert to Academy status.
Mr Turner spoke to the pupils during their assembly about the forthcoming change and told them that it would mean that decisions on what was best for the school would in future be made locally by people involved in the school, rather than in Newport by council officers.
School was under threat of closure
Mr Turner said, “I was very pleased to see that many of the pupils knew about the forthcoming change in leadership and were enthused by it. They also knew that the change had come about as their school was under threat of closure. Talking to pupils and members of staff afterwards, I got the impression that the whole school was looking to the future with confidence and were more than ready to take on any challenges the new structure presents.
“Their most recent OFSTED report judged them to be a good school with outstanding areas and they plan to build on that to become an outstanding school, which was very good to hear.”
Worked in forerunners to academies
Mr Turner continued, “Before becoming the Island’s MP I set up the Grant Maintained Schools Trust in 1988 and ran it for almost ten years. GM Schools were the fore-runners to Academy Schools so I know how successful they can be.
“Our smallest school was Kettleshulme which had only 12 pupils – and it positively thrived out of local authority control – so I know that small independently run schools can be very popular with parents and pupils and I’m sure that Weston School will also flourish under its new leadership. I was also interested to learn that if Weston School should choose to work in partnership with a specialist education company their financial situation would be much the same as at present.”
New opportunities
He went on to say, “Academies and Free Schools (which are schools set up from scratch) present new opportunities for governors, school leaders, teachers, parents and pupils to shape their school in a way which is right for them and their local communities so I hope other schools will also be looking at the options carefully.
“I discussed the future of Weston School with Schools Minister Nick Gibb MP only last week so I was also able to deliver a good luck message from him.”
Mr Turner had also received five copies of Cressida Cowell’s popular book ‘How to tame your Dragon’, which he presented to the school, the books were warmly welcomed by pupils.
“Very pleased to be visited by Mr Turner”
Mrs Angela Collins, Headteacher of Weston Primary added, “The staff, governors, pupils and parents of Weston are delighted about converting to Academy Status, it is a very exciting time for everyone. We were very pleased to be visited by Mr Turner with opportunities for the staff and pupils to talk to him and would also like to thank him for the books for our school library”.
Image: © Paul Hartfield
