I’m sure like many other parents of students at Easingwold School, I was disappointed to learn that, following its recent Osfted inspection, Easingwold School was being placed into Special Measures. As a former pupil and governor, and now the local MP, I feel I have a particular responsibility to the school.
The reasons Nikky and I sent our children to Easingwold have not changed and they will be staying at the school. According to the Ofsted report ‘the most able Year 11 pupils made good progress in 2015 and 2016 in both English and mathematics. Their progress was close to or above that of the most able nationally” and the school “promotes pupils’ welfare well. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is strong. They feel safe and secure in school as a result”. Most of all, we believe that the school stands at the heart of the community, the most important thing, in our view, and something that I have benefitted from enormously during my life. The school and teaching staff clearly perform very well in many instances, evidenced by the four students who have been admitted to Oxbridge over the last two years. However, some disadvantaged pupils do not progress as they should and this is not acceptable.
I believe that the situation offers a great opportunity for fundamental change. In the very short term, the interim Headteacher, Mr Pritchard, a National Leader of Education who currently leads an outstanding school in Harrogate, has assumed control of the school. Easingwold School will quickly become an academy, which is a requirement for all schools in these circumstances and will join a Multi-Academy Trust. Such a trust will have to demonstrate a proven track record in delivering outstanding education and results and an ability to turn a school around quickly and to make a clear impact within months.
Easingwold is, and I believe always will be, a community school that relies on the involvement and backing of local people. Please do get involved, first by attending the meeting on Tuesday 1st November and making your views known. I believe we have a good and willing body of governors and some very good teachers who will thrive under new leadership and your support at this time.