Councillors praise The Grange School in Shrewsbury

Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet has unanimously praised a Shrewsbury school which came in for criticism under a new Government scheme.

The Grange School was highlighted as being a school which missed the criteria set by The National Challenge – which stated that every school should have more than 30 per cent of pupils achieving five or more GCSE grades A-C, including English and maths, by 2011.

A report to Cabinet on Wednesday (25 June) said that The Grange School was working to a target of 42 per cent this year, and would comfortably pass the 30 per cent threshold by 2011.

Councillors said they were delighted with the work the school was doing.

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The National Challenge is wholly unfair. We have got mixed ability admissions to certain schools and not all pupils are capable of achieving five GCSEs, including English and maths. Making the most of what pupils have got is so much more important. The Grange is absolutely brilliant at achieving these ‘value added’ goals.

“It is most unfortunate that The Grange has been unfairly highlighted in this way, and Cabinet endorsed the excellent work that staff, pupils and governors are doing. I will be writing to Education Minister Ed Balls conveying our disappointment with such a crude policy.”

Councillor Alan Mosley, who is a governor at the school, said: “I have personally written to the minister strongly objecting to the treatment of The Grange School which has caused unnecessary anxiety in the area, along with disbelief and anger among those who know the school. This is not a failing school but one which is improving and will be very much above the baseline next year. It is well led with active governors and supportive parents, and I was delighted that the Cabinet and officers unanimously expressed their support for the school and its work.”

1 July 2008