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Academy status
set to secure
Gartree future
Officials at Gartree Community School believe they have delivered a ‘bigger, brighter and better future’ after securing Academy status.
The school - based at Tattershall - will become part of the Collaborator Academy chain for this September.
Headteacher Geoff Cowley, one of the driving forces behind the campaign for Academy status, described the development as ’brilliant news.’
And Mr Cowley said the development could not have been better timed as speculation is mounting about potential funding problems for ’smaller secondary schools’ in rural counties like Lincolnshire.
In an exclusive interview with the News, Mr Cowley said: “I can confirm Gartree will be an Academy for September and it is absolutely brilliant news for everyone concerned.
“It means the school can look forward with a lot of optimism to a bigger, brighter and better future.
“And that future should also be a lot more secure from a financial point of view.
“I’m not saying Academies are immune from funding cutbacks but it (Academy status) will definitely help.
“Certainly, if I was the head of a smaller secondary school that is totally reliant on local authority funding then I would be a worried man.”
Mr Cowley was brought into Gartree last year to turn around the fortunes of one of the country’s worst performing schools.
Gartree has been placed in special measures after a damming Ofsted report highlighted a catalogue of problems - ranging from teaching standards to the behaviour of pupils.
Mr Cowley specialises in turning failing schools around and has made a massive impact in a relatively short space of time at Gartree.
The school is performing much better. GCSE results were much improved while recent inspections have brought positive reports
Mr Cowley - although delighted with the improvement, insists he is part of a team which is building the foundations for the future.
He added: “A lot of people deserve credit for the way Gartree is operating now. It is not just down to one person.
“Several members of the existing staff have made a vital contribution - as have the students, parents and governors.
“I’m am not saying everything is perfect. There is still a lot of hard work ahead, but I think Gartree has a very positive future.”
There are reports that the Government is looking to change the way it funds primary and secondary schools in rural areas.
Previously, schools received a ‘block grant’ but it is thought the Government wants to introduce a system based on the number of pupils per school.
That has prompted fears about the futures of some schools - and speculation about mergers for others.
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Weather for Horncastle
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
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