Darwen headteacher hits back at councillors' ‘struggling’ claims

12:09pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

SUPPORT St Barnabas Primary School, Darwen SUPPORT St Barnabas Primary School, Darwen

THE headteacher of a Darwen school and parents of children who attend have hit back at councillors’ claims that the school is ‘struggling’.

The Lancashire Telegraph last week reported that St Barnabas CE Primary School was discussed last week at a children and health overview and scrutiny committee meeting at Blackburn Town Hall.

Concerns were raised that it had only just hit the 60 per cent ‘national floor’ for pupils achieving Level Four English and maths at Year Six.

Headteacher Alison Howarth said she was surprised at what had been said in the meeting.

She said: “We were very disappointed with the comments as last year’s Year Six test results did not fall below the floor targets.

“Parents have been very supportive, particularly those whose children were in Year Six last year, knowing the quality of teaching and nurturing the children received during their years at the school.

“The children of St Barnabas remain the primary focus of all our attentions and we continue to strive for the very best outcomes for each individual in all that we do.

“We are very proud of our children’s progress in all aspects of their learning and development, what- ever their starting point or their individual needs.”

Parent Sonja Barnes, whose son Jack has Asperger’s syndrome, said staff at the school were superb.

She said: “We moved to the area from Australia in 2010 because my husband Paul’s family was originally from Darwen and we required support following Jack’s diagnosis in 2009.The support for children with Asperger’s in a mainstream education setting in New South Wales was lacking, so we moved to be closer to family.

“We were really pleasantly surprised at the level of support Jack received. This is a school that really cares about children and goes out of its way to help them.”

Mrs Barnes, of Egerton, added: “Jack had so much support that he got 100 per cent in his Level Three to Five maths test and is now on the Gifted and Talented programme at Canon Slade in Bolton. And this was a boy who had previously struggled in education.”

Comments (3)

1:56pm Thu 21 Mar 13

stevieh says...

I find the comments from the blackburn with darwen council unwelcome at best and totally at odds with my experience of this wonderful school. It is inclusive, embracing and friendly. All of the staff are very approachable and professional in the extreme, in my opinion. My son attends this school and has received an exemplary standard of teaching and support. The feel when within the school is one of belonging to a wider family. All children, without exception seemed to be taught values that are sadly missing at other schools, values of family, fairness and endeavour. Would that other schools were failing as badly! And, no, I am not a teacher or related to one. Well done all at Saint Barnabas.
I find the comments from the blackburn with darwen council unwelcome at best and totally at odds with my experience of this wonderful school. It is inclusive, embracing and friendly. All of the staff are very approachable and professional in the extreme, in my opinion. My son attends this school and has received an exemplary standard of teaching and support. The feel when within the school is one of belonging to a wider family. All children, without exception seemed to be taught values that are sadly missing at other schools, values of family, fairness and endeavour. Would that other schools were failing as badly! And, no, I am not a teacher or related to one. Well done all at Saint Barnabas. stevieh

8:17pm Thu 21 Mar 13

salcat says...

stevieh wrote:
I find the comments from the blackburn with darwen council unwelcome at best and totally at odds with my experience of this wonderful school. It is inclusive, embracing and friendly. All of the staff are very approachable and professional in the extreme, in my opinion. My son attends this school and has received an exemplary standard of teaching and support. The feel when within the school is one of belonging to a wider family. All children, without exception seemed to be taught values that are sadly missing at other schools, values of family, fairness and endeavour. Would that other schools were failing as badly! And, no, I am not a teacher or related to one. Well done all at Saint Barnabas.
I totally agree with this post. As a parent of a child that attends this school, I have had experience of the fantastic work that they do with children that may need extra support- when (again from experience) other schools have not had the patience, care or understanding to put the support into place. Maybe it is also down to the willingness of the staff that put their hearts into their jobs rather than wondering what effect SEN children have on their scores etc.
I cannot thank them enough and back them all the way, as would many other parents.
[quote][p][bold]stevieh[/bold] wrote: I find the comments from the blackburn with darwen council unwelcome at best and totally at odds with my experience of this wonderful school. It is inclusive, embracing and friendly. All of the staff are very approachable and professional in the extreme, in my opinion. My son attends this school and has received an exemplary standard of teaching and support. The feel when within the school is one of belonging to a wider family. All children, without exception seemed to be taught values that are sadly missing at other schools, values of family, fairness and endeavour. Would that other schools were failing as badly! And, no, I am not a teacher or related to one. Well done all at Saint Barnabas.[/p][/quote]I totally agree with this post. As a parent of a child that attends this school, I have had experience of the fantastic work that they do with children that may need extra support- when (again from experience) other schools have not had the patience, care or understanding to put the support into place. Maybe it is also down to the willingness of the staff that put their hearts into their jobs rather than wondering what effect SEN children have on their scores etc. I cannot thank them enough and back them all the way, as would many other parents. salcat

6:38pm Fri 29 Mar 13

OBT2 says...

Keep up the good work all at St Barnabas! Jumped up local authority cretins who have obviously forgotten what it's like to teach in a classroom OR don't have ANY experience of teaching what so ever! I know exactly what is expected of teachers these days (because I am one) and the hoops needed to jump through are numerous and ridiculous!!! They don't let you do the one thing you really want to do... teach!
Keep up the good work all at St Barnabas! Jumped up local authority cretins who have obviously forgotten what it's like to teach in a classroom OR don't have ANY experience of teaching what so ever! I know exactly what is expected of teachers these days (because I am one) and the hoops needed to jump through are numerous and ridiculous!!! They don't let you do the one thing you really want to do... teach! OBT2

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