COMMENT: Dursley Primary School bouncing back (From Gazette Series)

Gloucestershire Gazette comment: Dursley Primary School bouncing back

11:00am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News By

CONGRATULATIONS must got to everybody involved in the growth of Dursley Primary School in the last 15 months.

The school has picked itself up after a damning review by Ofsted inspectors in January, 2012 which saw the school receive an "inadequate" rating, the lowest possible.

Going up two levels in what is essentially a year is an impressive feat and headteacher Paul Daniels said there is more to be expected from the school.

Indeed the former deputy head, who took over after the disappointing inspection, is attempting to make the school an academy for the next academic year, which will see it enjoy more independence.

It will ensure the school is free from Gloucestershire County Council control and will also have the freedom to adapt the national curriculum, set teachers' wages and terms and conditions as well as make set their own school days, weeks and years.

The appeal for teachers is obvious and the number of academies across the country is growing but there have been mixed results, with schools shown to have both excelled and stagnated under academy status.

A positive reaction from parents is not always certain either, as protest groups have formed in other parts of the UK to try and halt impending plans for their local schools to become an academy.

But the likelihood is this level of consultation has been brought up with parents at Dursley Primary School already and it is likely they are confident an academy under the stewardship of Mr Daniels and his hardworking team of teachers, support staff and governors will do just fine.