HARRIS FREE SCHOOL

The land identified for the new free school has been sold to Procter & Gamble for the expansion of their production facilities.  This is obviously great news for the local economy, but in the absence of a secured site for the school, Harris is left with no choice but to defer opening to 2016.

This will be of great disappointment to the parents of the 85 children who have been offered places this September.  These children are the immediate priority and we must make sure that they are all awarded suitable alternative places.

It remains the case that the department and Harris are committed to delivering the school.  An alternative site has been identified which belongs to the Council, and there are other alternatives too which are being explored.  Sadly though, the land deal fell through too late in the day to firm up any of these other options.

So far two new free schools have been delivered: Gateway in Tilbury and Harris Academy Mayflower.  It is unfortunate that we have lost out on the land to make this third school happen this year.  We will deliver this school, just as we have the previous two. 

Labour oppose free schools.  I have led free school campaigns to deliver more school places and real choice to parents in Thurrock.  Parents in Chafford may wish to reflect that this school will be delivered if the Conservatives are re-elected. Labour will simply cancel it.

ENDS

Jackie Doyle Price

Members of Parliament for Thurrock

New Secondary School in Chafford

THURROCK is to get a new secondary school after an education trust’s free school bid was given the green light by the Government.
The new state secondary school, which will be built in Chafford Hundred and run by the Harris Federation - who already maintain the "outstanding" Harris Academy Chafford Hundred - will cater for around 1,150 pupils aged 11 to 18.
The new school project was one of just 38 to be given the backing of the Department for Education on Thursday and Prime Minister David Cameron, commenting specifically on the new school for Thurrock, called the Federation’s plans “commendable”.

He said: “I’m delighted that Harris Chafford Hundred Free School will be opening in Thurrock. Free schools, many of which are set up by parents and teachers, are around twice as likely to be rated outstanding by Ofsted as other schools.

“The plans this school has to support pupils by partnering with the nearby ‘outstanding’ Harris Academy Chafford to drive up standards, are truly commendable.
“As part of the Harris chain, the new free school will share curriculum teaching, pastoral care and administrative services with other highly successful schools.”
The Harris Academy Chafford Hundred is currenly one of the top performing secondary schools in the country, receiving three applications for every place.
The new school, which will be state funded but free from local authority control, will create 180 Year 7 places.
A steering group had been set up to gather support and develop plans for the school.
Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price was delighted on hearing the news and said the new school would give parents in West Thurrock and Chafford Hundred more choice.
She told the Gazette: “This will see the creation of more good quality school places in the west of the borough where they are much needed and shows that this Government is committed to providing the schools that parents want for their children.

The Harris Academy Chafford Hundred
“Parents shouldn’t be forced to accept a school place for their child which is not what they would choose for them. Sadly this is too often the case in Thurrock, especially in Chafford where the existing academy is oversubscribed.”
A primary free school opened at the Harris Academy Chafford Hundred in September, providing 60 additional primary school places.
Harris Chafford Hundred Free School will be Thurrock's eleventh secondary school.
 (from Thurrock Gazette)

Proposed New Secondary School for Chafford Hundred

Proposed New Secondary School for Chafford Hundred

School places row hits Parliament

7:30am Monday 17th September 2012 in News

THURROCK MP Jackie Doyle-Price has debated the lack of primary school places in Chafford Hundred in the House of Commons.

The Gazette reported in May, how 23 children in Chafford Hundred had been unable to secure school places at one of the three primary schools in the town.

The majority of those parents have now accepted a place at schools outside of Chafford, but four are still without a place.

During her speech, Jackie questioned the fairness of the council’s appeal system, and criticised it for making parents feel “like a nuisance”.

Chafford (Harris) leads the way

(From Thurrock Enquirer)

Chafford Hundred parents in school place boycott row

Chafford Hundred parents in school place boycott row
FROM BBC

A group of parents plan to boycott the start of the new school year after their children did not get places in any of their three local primaries.

Initially 23 children were without a place at any of the three schools in Chafford Hundred, near Grays.

Six of those children are still without a place at schools in the town - and their parents say the places they have been offered are too far away.

Thurrock Council said it had "made every effort" to address concerns.

The council said it had looked at creating extra space at the town's three schools - Warren, Chafford Hundred and Tudor Court - but decided it risked harming the education of existing pupils.

The authority has also called in independent auditors to look over this year's applications for places to ensure the process was fair.

The parents of the affected children will risk prosecution by refusing to send their children to Grays, where they have been found places by the council.

One of them, mother-of-three Lea Agambar said: "I applied to the schools in Chafford Hundred and I assumed I would get one of the three."

'Exhausted every option'
But the school place she was offered for her son Hayden, she said, was more than an hour's walk away which she said was too far, especially as her mother, who does not drive, will be doing the school run.

"I've been told if I don't educate him then I face prosecution," she said. "I won't be educating him at home as I have two other children."

Fellow parent Jane Read, whose daughter Ava also missed out on a place, said an hour's walk each way meant a four-hour school journey a day for parents.

"Walking your child to school is one of the things you look forward to," said Ms Read. "But we will have to give up work to take our children to Grays."

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price said: "The whole episode has been a nightmare. I totally sympathise, it is a very distressing time for them.

"The state has let them down."

Chafford Primary School joins Harris Federation

Chafford Schools for Chafford Kids

Chafford Hundred mums stage council protest (From Thurrock Gazette)

Chafford Hundred mums stage council protest (From Thurrock Gazette):

A GROUP of Chafford Hundred mums staged a protest outside the Thurrock Council offices last night.

The Gazette recently reported that 23 children who live in the town have been unable to get a place in any of the area's three primary schools.

Furious mums brandishing placards that read "Chafford schools for Chafford kids" and children holding "Where's Mine?" banners camped outside the offices just before the first full council meeting of the year.

Improving Eltham school aims for outstanding status (From News Shopper)

Improving Eltham school aims for outstanding status (From News Shopper):

A SCHOOL put in special measures less than two years ago aims to be officially labelled 'outstanding' by 2014.

Eltham Foundation School came out of special measures last month in what executive headteacher Chris Tomlinson called "record-breaking time".

But its sights are aimed higher, expecting further improvements this summer when it becomes an academy run by the renowned Harris Federation - which has put in a £15m government bid for a new building.

Already head at Chafford Hundred School in Essex, Dr Tomlinson was appointed by the Department for Education along with head of school George McMillan last January following a disastrous Ofsted inspection the previous November.

New nursery opens at school (From Thurrock Gazette)

New nursery opens at school (From Thurrock Gazette):

EXCITED children celebrated the opening of a new nursery building in Chafford Hundred.

Building started on the environmentally-friendly centre, within Chafford Hundred Primary School, last Easter.

Headteacher Mike Lovett said the former nursery block will be transformed into three reception classrooms.

He added: “The growth in Chafford Hundred as a housing area gives us the capacity to meet the needs of families in the area.”

Chafford Hundred Primary School joins Harris Academy

The Governors of Chafford Hundred Primary School have unanimously voted to join Harris Academy. 

In a meeting on Monday night, the Governing Body considered the outcome of their consultation and agreed that it was in the best interest of the pupils and staff of the School to become an academy and join Harris. 

It is the first primary school in Thurrock to join the Academy. 

At the same meeting, the Governing Body agreed to change the name of the School to 'Harris Chafford Hundred Primary Academy'. The School will now work with the Local Authority to transfer assets with the plan for the transfer to be complete by April 2012. 

I congratulate the efforts of the parents, staff and governors who have made the interests of the children paramount in arriving at this decision. 

Chafford Hundred School extension plans get the go-ahead

PLANS for a school extension have been given the green-light.

The proposed two-storey building at Chafford Hundred Primary School, in Mayflower Road, was given the go-ahead by Thurrock Council’s planning committee last Thursday night

The extension will provide six new classrooms, a hall, a lift and toilets, which will enable the school to take on more pupils.

Planning officers said the increase would create ‘additional pressure’ on local roads, particularly Mayflower Road, which regularly suffers from congestion at school start and finish times.
However, officers agreed that staff and pupil surveys have shown levels of car usage have reduced over the last four years.

The school also submitted a Green Travel Plan to reduce the number of cars on site, with car sharing schemes for staff and appointing some pupils as road safety officers.

Proposals to increase parking restrictions in Mayflower Road will also be considered in a forthcoming public consultation.

School Closed

Dear Residents

Please be informed that both Chafford Hundred Primary School and Chafford Hundred Campus will be closed today (Wednesday 1 Dec 2010) due to the weather conditions.

I commend all the teachers who were able to make it to the 3 Schools that opened yesterday.

Please contact the schools directly in case of enquiries.

Cllr Tunde Ojetola

Tudor Court Primary School achieve Investors in Families Award

Congratulations to Tudor Court Primary School for achieving their Investors in Families Award.

The assessors said: "The school has shown that working with families and the local community is at the heart of the school and what they do. They recognise and are excited and motivated at developing the Investors in Families Plan."

Malcolm Peckham, Investors in Families Development Manager, said: "It was an absolute pleasure to read and gave me a very engaged picture of the school with its parents and families."

The introduction of the Investors in Families award in Thurrock has been brought about through a working partnership between the Central Cluster and North East Cluster of Schools.

Chafford Primary School is 'Satisfactory'

Chafford Primary School was awarded a 'Satisfactory' mark by Ofsted in the recent Inspection carried out in May 2010. Satisfactory is the score allocated where Ofsted is of the view that the School is of reasonable quality, and providing adequately for its pupils. In some cases, the School actually scored 'Good' - which indicate very positive features of a school and a school that is good is serving its pupils well.

The inspectors spoke to Staff, Pupils, Parents and Governing Body. They observed the school's work and lessons; they looked at pupils' books and displays, and at documentation, including the school development plan, the self-evaluation form, assessments, records of pupils' progress, teachers' planning, safeguarding and welfare arrangements. Inspectors scrutinised 162 parents' and carers' questionnaires.11 teachers were observed in 18 sessions.

It acknowledged that that the school has been awarded:

• the Financial Management Standard in School,
  
• International School Award (Intermediate Level),
  
• Healthy Schools Award, &
  
• Activemark and Basic Skills Mark.

It also noted the increase in size of the School and the consequential change in staffing and buildings. For the full report, please click on the topic above (which links to the Ofsted website).

Congratulations to all those involved.

Primary School Admissions

Dear Residents

This update is in furtherance to my previous note about a consulation to review primary school places in Chafford:

a)Admissions
The results of the primary intake will be sent out to parents today (Friday 23 April 2010), but I have received assurances that all children based within the Chafford catchment area (which includes all 3 primary schools) have been allocated a place in a Chafford School.

b) Extra Classroom
I can also confirm that Chafford Primary School is now a 3 form-entry of 90 places.

Both the Headteacher and I (as Chair of Governors) have had discussions with the Council to ensure that adequate accommodation for the extra classroom will be sorted out prior to September 2010.

c)Finance
At the Governor's meeting yesterday, we received confirmation that adequate funding for the extra class has been earmarked into the budget.

d)Warren
Warren Primary School is still a 2 form entry of 60 places.

Please contact me (tojetola@thurrock.gov.uk) if you have any queries. Happy St George's day

Re-elect Tunde Ojetola - working hard for Chafford Residents - 6th May 2010 local elections.

30 Extra Primary School Places In Chafford

Dear Residents

You may recall that in November 2009 I advised that the Council embarked on a review of school places in Chafford. The review is now complete and the it is now confirmed that from this year:

Chafford Primary School – Increased from 60 - 90
Warren Primary School – 60
Tudor Court – 90

Making a total of 240 primary school places available.

This is in response to the continuous demand for school places in Chafford Schools.

This is now permanent and remove any concerns residents have about school places for next year.

Please contact me on:
tundeojetola@gmail.com
tojetola@thurrock.gov.uk

If you have any queries about this.

Chafford Hundred Celebrations

Chafford Hundred Campus is celebrating yet again after being the first school to gain the Investors in Families award.

The award is in recognition of the effort that has gone into the school's work with families. The scheme has come about through a working partnership between the Central Cluster and North East Cluster of schools.

My congratulations to Chris and all those involved.

Another Increase in Chafford School Places

As the last Schools Admissions Forum meeting (which both Cllr Veryard and Cllr Tunde are members), the following issues were requested on behalf of Schools in Chafford Hundred:

Campus
· Chafford Hundred Business & Enterprise College have requested an increase in admission number from 180 to 210 a year; and
· Also requested to alter the upper age limit at the school by adding a sixth form.

Primary Schools
· Chafford Hundred Primary School has requested an increase in admission number from 60 to 90 a year.
· Warren Primary School has requested an increase in admission number from 60 to 90 a year.

The proposed changes will be the subject of consultation, but if agreed, then it will increase primary school places in Chafford to 270, as follows:

Chafford Primary School – 90
Warren Primary School – 90
Tudor Court – 90
Due to the huge request for places in Chafford Schools this academic year we already have 270 places as we had additional classes in both Warren and Chafford Primary Schools.

This proposal will make the provision permanent and remove any concerns residents have about school places for next year.

Please contact Cllr Tunde if you have any queries about this.