Blinkered approach (From Oxford Mail)

Blinkered approach

10:00am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Letters

I was appalled to see Larkrise Primary School in East Oxford has been designated by Oxfordshire County Council as a failing school (Oxford Mail, February 7).

This in spite of an Ofsted report that says the following: “All staff are utterly committed to the children and the school, always interested in what parents have to say, showing real concern when any problems arise and acting quickly to solve them.”

Larkrise performs well on many levels, despite the fact that a significant segment of its intake of pupils consists of children with English as a second language.

Both my young grandsons attend the school and are happy and fully engaged in learning there.

As a former primary school teacher myself I fully understand the need to monitor pupils’ progress.

But to judge the whole school on a couple of anomalous Key Stage 2 SATs results seems evidence of a blinkered vision.

I sincerely hope that Oxfordshire County Council will revise its decision to impose academy status on an excellent school.

I feel sure that many parents will support me in this view.

CAROL DUNDAS, Bath Road, Wells, Somerset,