Shadow minister’s praise for ‘shining light’ school
11:45am Thursday 1st May 2008
A BASINGSTOKE school is a shining example for other schools across the country to look towards, according to a senior politician.
Conservative Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb was glowing in his praise of Castle Hill Junior School, in Winklebury, when he toured it on Monday.
"It's an inspiring school," he said. "If we can just have more schools like this, we won't have any educational problems in this country."
The school was classed as good with some outstanding elements at its last Ofsted inspection in January and, like the inspectors, Mr Gibb noted the quality of leadership shown by headteacher John Martin and his team.
Head boy Scott Callaway, 11, and head girl Cara Barton, 11, took the MP on a tour of the school. The blazers that all the pupils wore particularly impressed Mr Gibb.
He said the £12 blazers helped pupils be successful because they would be treated as young adults rather than children, and everyone wearing the same uniform eliminated problems caused by people coming from different backgrounds.
The politician said he liked the happy, but serious, attitude of pupils, was pleased they were doing regular homework and thought the various extra-curricular activities, such as ballroom dancing and the award-winning allotment club, were good.
Mr Gibb added: "I hope that we can learn from this school and how they have created an atmosphere where children are happy."
The shadow minister told pupils that the school was excellent at a special assembly reflecting on the school's success.
The assembly was attended by a number of dig-nitaries, including Hampshire education chief Councillor David Kirk and Professor Joy Carter, the University of Winchester's vice-chancellor.
Headteacher Mr Martin told The Gazette: "It was good to hear the children being given the praise and credit they deserve, and also the teaching team being recognised."
Asked what politicians could do to help schools thrive, the headteacher said: "Schools would like to be allowed to get on with delivering the best education for the children involved, and initiatives which support that are welcome, as long as they are brought in on a realistic timescale and are resourced."