Primary school league tables show huge gains for academies

Crawley schools which converted to academies have shown massive improvements in reading, writing and maths.
David Tow, headteacher at Broadfield East Junior School (Pic by Jon Rigby)David Tow, headteacher at Broadfield East Junior School (Pic by Jon Rigby)
David Tow, headteacher at Broadfield East Junior School (Pic by Jon Rigby)

The final primary school league tables for 2015 showed the Key Stage 2 results for most academies in Crawley improving by as much as 17 per cent compared to 2014.

The tables, which were published on Thursday (December 10), showed four of the town’s five primary-level academies improved, with all of them exceeding or matching the national average.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Broadfield East Juniors made the biggest improvement, their results rising 17 per cent compared to 2014, from 69 per cent to 86 per cent. They were closely followed by The Oaks, in Tilgate, which shot up from 64 per cent to 80 per cent.

Hilltop Primary, in Southgate, and Seymour Primary, in Broadfield, both showed 11 per cent increases, rising from a 71 per cent pass rate to 82 per cent.

The only academy which earned lower results was Bewbush Academy, which dropped from 63 per cent to 51 per cent.

In 2013, only 35 per cent of children at Broadfield East Juniors, were meeting the average requirements in the three Rs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Headteacher David Tow put the incredible turnaround down to the school’s decision to join the TKAT (The Kemnal Academies Trust) family.

He said: “Since we changed the leadership of the school in January 2014, we have had a relentless focus on raising standards.”

While the academies could be rightly proud of their achievements, the school with the best Key Stage 2 results in town was Milton Mount Primary, in Pound Hill. A 15 per cent improvement on 2014 saw 90 per cent of youngsters at the community school earn the expected level 4 or above.

Headteacher Anne Holmes said a number of initiatives had been introduced to help children brush up on their skills. They included a breakfast group, which runs three times a week, and a football, pizza and maths club, which ran during the Easter holiday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mrs Holmes said: “We’re incredibly proud of all our children. The children and the staff have worked very hard.”

Gossops Green Primary also recorded an impressive rise, from 53 per cent in 2014 to 66 per cent. At the other end of the table, West Green Primary came bottom, with results plummeting from 83 per cent to 45 per cent.

While the Key Stage 2 results were good news for many schools in Crawley, countywide the news was not so good.

West Sussex failed to meet the national average of 80 per cent, with its achievement level dropping from 78 per cent to 77 per cent since 2014.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Not only did the number of children achieving average results fall but so did the numbers of higher achievers.

A county council spokesman said: “West Sussex Council is working with schools and education partners to improve the outcomes for all Key Stage 2 pupils. A detailed Key Stage 2 improvement plan is being implemented to help secure improved outcomes in 2016.

“Although West Sussex schools are amongst the lowest funded in the country we know that resources are never the only answer.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @Crawley_Obby

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.