Another free school in special measures

[straggle]

This time it's managed by the E-ACT chain:

www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/138259

Its other schools are pretty rubbish too - why this school was allowed to open is a mystery.

[ipadquietly]

Interesting:
www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2014/03/damning-ofsted-assessment-of-e-act-academies-overwhelming-proportion-of-pupilsnot-receiving-a-good-education-says-letter-released-today/

I can't find how much government funding is going into the new building of Hartsbrook in Tottenham - part of a housing and business redevelopment apparently. Anyone know?

[DavidHarewoodsFloozy]

Bloody hell those poor children. Will they close it?

It,s a damning report.

[straggle]

I can't see either but it was a business opportunity for Capita which acquired Northgate.

It was already announced as one of the 10 schools which E-ACT will give up. It doesn't look good for independent Highgate school which provides it with a part-time vice principal.

www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/news/tottenham_free_school_slated_by_ofsted_inspectors_across_the_board_hartsbrook_e_act_primary_1_3485344

[Playfortoday]

That report is an absolute shocker. Those poor children, who don't seem to be advantaged in the first place.

Interesting that they were getting advice from Highgate school. People in North London are desperate to get their children into there. Goes to show that perhaps state schools don't have lots to learn from private schools after all and that their success is often mostly due to their easy cohorts.

[MillyMollyMama]

Just about to read the report. However, parents who have made a big leap into the new shiny world of free schools will be very loath to criticise it. They are going to look foolish. They will try and convince themselves everything is ok, even if they know, deep down, there are problems.

Also, having seen state and independent management styles as a parent and a governor, there can be a huge amount of parent schmoozing and selling in the independent sector. This can mean that management is not remotely hands on and believes its own hype. They may be very good at getting the "best" children and the better teachers but they do not necessarily manage as you would in a state school. Would many independent heads manage the Educating Yorkshire school effectively one wonders?!!

[straggle]

This was the first headship for the principal although she had worked in other roles. And that was a specific criticism of the report. It's extraordinary that free schools, with all the risks, have been considered a training ground for those who lack experience - like Lord Nash's own appointment of Annaliese Briggs.

Parents would have been assured by the fact that the sponsor had managed schools before. But the sponsor has been found guilty of financial irregularities and more than half of its schools require improvement or are inadequate.