Anything is possible at Freshwaters Primary Academy. THAT is the new positive ethos which has come with the appointment of acting headteacher Marios Solomonides. Teachers are learning that so long as their ideas benefit the children they are to go ahead, while pupils are being…

By Mark Sweeney HARLOW welcomed over 800 students from across the county for the third annual Essex Winter Games, spreading throughout three venues. The opening ceremony was conducted at the Harlow Leisure Zone, where the badminton, indoor rowing and table cricket events took place. Following…

THE AXED TROUBLED pupils unit in Commonside Road, is improving according to government watchdog Ofsted. The West Quadrant Unit is closing in July. It has and remains in special measures. There are hopes that the Aspire Academy, backed by headteachers Vic Goddard and Helena Mills,…

ESSEX County Council is pleased to learn that the Department for Education has selected two preferred Academy sponsors for Braiswick School in Colchester and Rivermill Academy in Harlow, meaning that progress can continue on developing the two new builds funded through the government’s Targeted Basic…

LAST MONTH, Latton Green Primary was placed into special measures. There are a number of people who believe it is politically motivated and has very little to do with education. A concerned parent has written to YH and added her concerns. Sir, “I am a…

X-FACTOR star and all round good guy, Rylan dropped in on St Luke’s primary to star in their school nativity play. The children, aged between 7 and 10, won TalkTalk’s Shining Stars competition aimed at finding the next generation of aspiring singers, dancers and actors.…

ARE HARLOW primary schools in crisis or are they on the way up? On Thursday OFSTED published the reading, writing and maths tables for primary schools in Harlow. All schools are supposed to ensure that 60 per cent of pupils gain at least “Level 4”…

ST JAMES primary has been praised by Ofsted in its first inspection since the government watchdog put them in special measures. The report notes that the headteacher remains absent from school but then goes onto to stress the progress that has been made. The report…

WHEN headteacher Gill Doyle arrived at Roydon Primary School two years ago, she started out on a journey to create a school Ofsted would class as first good and ultimately outstanding. Her first challenges were to ensure all teaching provision was either good or outstanding…

LATTON GREEN primary school has been placed into special measures as government watchdog, Ofsted has published a highly critical report. The report has come as a crushing blow to the headteacher, Lorna Handscomb, who has dedicated herself to education in Harlow for many years. YH…

ESSEX County Council has launched a consultation into the future provision of primary school places in Harlow as a response to significant growth in pupil numbers as a result of new housing, rising births and families moving into the town. Over the last 12 months…

ESSEX County Council is encouraging parents to apply for primary school places for September 2014. Parents and carers of children born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010 must apply between 11 November 2013 and 15 January 2014 for primary school places for the…

JEROUNDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL has received a glowing report from Ofsted. The report makes the following observations. 1. Standards are above age-related expectations in Year 3 and rising rapidly in Years 4, 5 and 6. Some Year 6 pupils are already working at close to the…

A LEADING Harlow day nursery has pledged to prove Ofsted wrong after the government watchdog put them in special measures. Dizzy Ducks Nursery which is situated in the Harlow LeisureZone was inspected in August. The report said: 1. The provider shows a lack of understanding…