Addington High to become academy by April 2013
STRUGGLING Addington High will become an academy by April in a bid to improve standards, it was this week confirmed.
Ravens Wood executive principal Professor George Berwick has told the Advertiser that he hopes to turn the 881-student school in Fairchildes Avenue into an "outstanding" one.
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Prof George Berwick of Ravens Wood
His school's role as a sponsor will include helping teachers and upholding standards at the school, which was deemed "inadequate" by Ofsted in September.
Mr Berwick said: "Our aspiration is to turn Addington High into an outstanding school.
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"Our key strategy [for raising academic achievements] is to improve the quality of the learning experience provided for the students.
"We will provide staff with access to a renowned set of teaching development programmes, developed by Ravens Wood as the founding teaching school in the country."
Jo Tanner, chair of governors at Addington High, said the school was already working closely with Ravens Wood, in particular with its former deputy head teacher John Hernandez, now head at Norlington School for Boys in Waltham Forest.
She said: "Ravens Wood is an exemplary school, the first-ever teaching school, so the blueprint for excellence.
"We could not have a better partner. I have been very encouraged by conversations with the school on how we can transfer that expertise and excellence."
She said the school was consulting with staff over the move, but it was too soon to know whether there would be any changes to roles.
She added: "The response from staff has been superb, nothing but professional. I am very proud of them. The reviews we have had of our teaching staff from Ravens Wood have been very good."
Becoming an academy also means Addington High will no longer be controlled by Croydon Council and will have more freedom with its budget and curriculum.
Ms Tanner said: "It is more about what we can learn from Ravens Wood; what we can gain. There will not be any fundamental changes to the school itself, this is about a reinvigoration and reconcentration."
She added that the name of the school would remain the same.
Ravens Wood School, based in Bromley, says on its website that it has a "clear focus on the academic achievement we want for our students."
It adds: "We also see ourselves as a school community, committed to excellence and innovation."
Comments
by napopfro
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 7:18AM
“I agree StaceyS, parents should have more consultation on this but as usual it's only Addo so who cares? I refused to send my children there and ended up having to go out of the borough which is really sad. Children should be able to go to their local school and get a good education. It's better for them to be at the local school, better for the community and would be a lot better for people not having to do stupid school runs because of no alternatives.There are a lot of decent hard working children at that school and they deserve every opporunity. Since the current management of the school has proved drastically ineffective, surely it makes sense to make changes?”
by StaceySNA
Monday, December 17 2012, 6:05PM
“This is a joke!!! Yes it needs to be an academy but with this lot?. They've been involved with the school for a while now and its got worse!! Read up on Ravens Wood all you parents, they are already an academy with Westwood school and another so this is yet another for them to cope with, and Westwoods results are nothing to shout about. Can't believe there was just 1 meeting at Addington high about this, where were our choices? Was this the only other place who would partner?.
By no fundemental change does that mean Davies, Cartmel and all the others stay?. Can't believe after so much **** thats come out of there that these will keep their jobs. Seriously how un-touchable are these people!Needs sweeping out with the old and in with new but what the point parents dont seem like they will be asked an opinion - just done to cos its only New Addington and they can lump it seems to me. Well I can tell you Im moving my 2 kids as had enough of the whitewashing there.”