Okehampton Schools - lack of choice or rural privilege?
By Richard_Penny | Thursday, August 26, 2010, 12:38
Earlier in the year, the papers were full of complaints from parents all over the country that their children failed to get into the school of their choice, and would have to be transported miles to schools they didn't like.
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Bridestowe Primary School - small but thriving
Here in rural Devon, the stories washed over us: we have no choices - except to choose the private sector and pay!
Yet if we look at the local primary schools, eight out of the ten that are listed here on Okehampton People are too small to even register on the national SATS statistics... the very type of school urban parents would sell their souls to get their kids into!
Week after week we read that our local - tiny - village schools have received glowing Ofsted reports, for example South Tawton last November. Parental and community support is outstanding, as I saw myself at a Spreyton School barn dance... despite having only 20 or so pupils, this school fundraiser attracted over a hundred supporters.
And despite a poor Ofsted showing last year, Okehampton Primary is held in great respect by parents: Hatherleigh Primary scores high marks in every aspect.
So would parents prefer choices, or are they happy in the knowledge that their children are receiving the best possible start in life?
When it comes to secondary education, the same rules apply. Okehampton College or private. Here in Okehampton we are undoubtably lucky to have a college with an excellent reputation, strong environmental and technological credentials - and which delivers exam results. (This year 76% of A level students achieved an A - C grade, while 62.5% GCSE students managed 5 A* - Cs.)
But in Tavistock, the college was recently described as failing by Ofsted (though now is back on track, thanks to the efforts of Okehampton College Principal Daryll Chapman, who is there as temporary Principal). When your only choice is a failing school, alarm bells must start ringing.
Of course, the local public schools are available, if you have the income or can gain a scholarship. Kelly College has a huge sporting reputation, Maynards is in the top flight academically, while Exeter School has years of excellence behind it... but it all comes at a heavy price.
So - are you happy with our local system, or would you like to see more choice - for example for Okehampton puplis able to go to Queen Elizabeth's, Crediton? Do you praise our village primaries, or think their size restricts opportunity? Let us know right here on Okehampton People.
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Comments
" and which delivers exam results. (This year 76% of A level students achieved an A - C grade, while 62.5% GCSE students managed 5 A* - Cs.)"
I think the national average is 70% for GCSE pupils, so they still have a long way to go to fully deserve your title of "delivering exam results". Obviously, the grade achieved can only be attained by a pupil who wants to put the effort in to get it, but, as a person who will have a daughter starting at the school in Year 9 in September, I'm hoping that they have the drive, support and high standards that we should all expect from schools in the 21st Century. What are the %ages like for the last 3 years? That will tell you more.
What the headline data doesn't tell you, is the value added data, this being where the pupils were at the start of their learning journey. If there were a large % of children with low attainment/ level children, then they may well have done well just to get out of bed in the morning and crawl to school. If however, they were able pupils in Year 7 and they have stayed that, then school haven't "added value". The true test of data is looking at the pupils who have achieved higher than expected levels from previous estimates.
I also have a child starting at the Primary school and, again, OFSTED can only tell you so much, but when a town only has one Primary school serving hundreds of children and families, then it is vital that that school is the very best of schools, as there is little choice for local families, without involving themselves in the mire of the appeals system.
What I'm hoping to see is outstanding teaching, committed to getting the very best out of every child in that class, at whatever level they are; strong leadership which demands the best from the workforce; and a community that cares passionately about what they can do to help the school go forward; it's what all our children deserve, and we should expect nothing less.
By Gillanco at 16:12 on 26/08/10
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