Parents want Leicestershire school to be given a chance
Parents and governors say they want a school threatened with closure to be given one more chance to show it has made improvements.
A 12-week consultation has begun into the future of Holmfield Primary School, in Leicester Forest East, after an Ofsted report criticised "inadequate" teaching and placed the school in special measures.
Governors say Leicestershire County Council's own inspectors judged the school to be making satisfactory improvements just days before Ofsted produced its damning report.
Earlier this week, a large group of parents and children marched in protest against closure.
Helen Lawson, of Thorpe Astley, whose son goes to the 152-pupil school, said it has a lot of support.
She said: "Support is not just coming from parents but from the entire community who feel the school is at its heart.
"I've just been into the chemist and they've already filled a page of a petition."
Susan Flannigan, who has three grandchildren at the school and whose own children were pupils there, said: "We don't think it makes sense.
"It just doesn't seem fair when you see the money that's pumped into other schools.
"The children here are happy kids. There can't be that much wrong with that."
In its inspection report published a fortnight ago, Ofsted said that despite some improvements over the last year, significant groups of pupils were not making enough progress and were "attaining standards that are exceptionally low for their ages".
But Malcolm Fox, vice-chairman of the school's governing body, said governors and parents were not sticking up for the school because of "misplaced loyalty" but because they believe it is improving – and would prove that to Ofsted when inspectors returned.
He said: "Local authority inspectors came into school and told us teaching was good and improving just four working days before Ofsted inspected us.
"We fully believe that when Ofsted inspectors return in December or January they will see that teaching is improving and the county council will withdraw its consultation into closure."
Councillor Ivan Ould, county council cabinet member for education, and David Parsons, the council leader whose own ward includes Holmfield, said they would listen fully to parents' concerns.
But education officials say they must consider the school's future because Ofsted said it was "failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement."
6 Comments
by Rob, Nottingham
Friday, October 30 2009, 12:56PM
“I finished at Holmfield in 2001 and back then with nearly double the students it was still under performing, so I'm quite surprised it has taken the Coucil and OFSTED this long to realise the school is a drain on a limited budget for LCC.
Parents are going to be concerned at the prospect of their kids having to travel to Stafford Leys, Ravenhurst or where ever they end up, but believe me, it will put them in better stead for their future.
So I say good riddance Holmfield, I hold fond memories, but it's time to move on to pastures new for all those concerned with the school, it will do you a great benefit.”
by R. Wood, braunstone
Friday, October 09 2009, 12:39PM
“my opinion is , why suggest closure now? 4 years ago the school was struggling. there was no permanent head teacher and behaviour and results were not good. over the last 3 years the school has improved so much. i have 3 children at holmfield and my eldest is in year 6. we are expecting fantastic SATS results from him at the end of the year and i know he isnt the only child in his class that is doing well. my other 2 children are also doing very well at holmfield and i hope that my 4th child will be able to start at holmfield next september. i think its unfair to criticise the head teacher when if you look at the changes since she has been there it is like looking at a different school.
the parents of children at the school know the truth. we know that our children are doing well in their education and that is why we are supporting the school and doing all we can to keep it open.”
by A Proud Mother, Braunstone
Friday, October 09 2009, 11:44AM
“The children need a safe, caring happy place where they can be nurtured and continue to learn and grow. They need Holmfield.”
by joseph langton, leicester
Thursday, October 08 2009, 2:27PM
“how many poor reports this this school recieved over the years . it has failed the pupils that have attended it the majority of pupils are white and come from middle class backgrounds . yet the school cannot teach the pupils to a high enough startard the stats results have always been poor . it is time that the pupils future is considered and the school is closed down . just as the berlin wall was pulled down so should the high fencing and gates that surround the school and give the children hope for the future . close it down now”
by Steve, Knighton
Thursday, October 08 2009, 12:46PM
“Get rid of the head. Are you mental? She is the only person who has kept this school going. If you have informed opinions H, please comment. If you are going to write ludicrous conjecture please keep your ill judged, worthless opinion to yourself. The people of Holmfield are behind this school because of her, not in spite!”
by H Thompson, Braunstone
Thursday, October 08 2009, 11:34AM
“They should get rid of the head, pump some money into it and make an entrance to thorpe ashley. They will need this school if more houses are built!! and this community needs the school, a lot of people here dont have cars and the nearest schools are quite a walk away!!!!”