It’s the start of a new term for parliament and a new year for schools
and colleges up and down the country. I would like to send my best
wishes to everyone who is starting a new school or college this
September and to those entering their final year before GCSE or A
level exams.
Whilst this is a time to look forward, I just wanted to reflect back
on the excellent exam results produced by our local schools this
summer. The GCSE results for the Folkestone School for Girls put it up
alongside the best schools in the country, with every pupil entered
for the exams gaining 5 GCSES at grades A to C. Pent Valley School and
the Folkestone and Marsh Academies also had record breaking results.
It is fantastic to see how much progress these schools have made in
the last few years. The Harvey Grammar and Brockhill Park also enjoyed
excellent exam results. The GCSE and A level pass rates do of course
only give a partial view of a school’s achievement and we can also be
proud of local success in the fields of the performing arts and sport
as well. We should celebrate the fact that we have more young people
achieving qualifications at school and going on into further and
higher education than ever before.
However, whilst there is much positive news to reflect on we know that
many young people come out of education without the qualifications
they will need to progress in life and some without even being able to
read and write to an acceptable standard. The Government has made
raising standards in education one of its top priorities and reforming
legislation that was passed by parliament last summer is already
having an impact. We have given more schools the opportunity to take
control of their own affairs and partner with outstanding local
schools by becoming academies. A number of local schools have
expressed an interest in taking up this opportunity, and the
Folkestone School for Girls is currently running a consultation over
whether to become an academy. The Government has reformed the
guidelines for teaching young children how to read, which is the
foundation of all future learning. This is by requiring schools to
teach reading using the traditional phonics method where children
learn the sounds of letters and words and how to put them together.
Studies have shown that this is the most effective method and I know
from my conversations with many head teachers of local primary schools
that they believe in this approach. The Government has also signalled
a change to the enforcement of discipline in schools. We want to back
the judgement of teachers when they decide to exclude a child or
intervene in the classroom. This will also mean getting rid of the ‘no
touch’ rule where teachers have been restricted from either
restraining or comforting a child when it has been required. The
Government is also removing the requirement for lengthy forming
filling on the part of teachers when they do.