A WARRINGTON high school due to be closed in two years’ time has been named as one of the most improved schools in the country.
Woolston High School has been included in a list of 200 schools that have shown sustained and improved achievement 
in the past three years, in a report from the Department of Children Family and Schools (DCSF).
Woolston – which improved its results by 24 points, is in the top 40 schools – and that shows the decision to close it in 2012 is “barking mad” says Warrington North MP Helen Jones (pictured)
The MP congratulated the school on its achievements.
She said results show it increased the number of pupils getting five or more GCSEs at A to C grade including English and Maths from 32 per cent in 2005 to 56 per cent in 2008 – an increase of 24 per cent, and that it was the 36th most sustained improved school in the country.
“It’s one of the most improved schools in the country. The improvement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the pupils and staff at the school,” said the MP.
“This improvement highlights once again how inept our Lib Dem/Tory council actually is. Their policy is clear – close improving schools. It is barking mad. Woolston High should be going from strength to strength in the years to come but unfortunately it has no future to look forward to thanks to Coun Marks, Coun Bland and their friends.”
Headteacher Jill Robinson said: “This is a real tribute to the hard work of teachers and pupils in the school. We are really proud of our record breaking results and we are delighted that our achievement has been recognised by the DCSF.”
School closure decision barking mad
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
4 Comments
I thought that is was the Government that Mrs Jones is a member of that determined the money that Warrington has available to spend on its schools. That being the case, maybe rather than putting out press releases that continually attack the Council, she should be campaigning for more money for Warrington schools….or maybe that is just asking too much of her.
Yes, Warington eye it is the Govt who determine how much Warrington has available to spend on it’s schools BUT IT IS THIS COUNCIL WHICH DECIDES WHERE IT IS SPENT! WHICH SCHOOLS TO DEMOLISH, CLOSE, EXPAND WHATEVER!
Rather than campaigning for more money (which will enable this council to do even more damage!) perhaps Mrs Jones could press her govt to closely monitor exactly where the money they are handing out is going, and if they find it is planned to be used unwisely they should refuse to give it.!
School closure decision “barking mad” I agree!!!!!!!, and a cheap political point scoring snipe from Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
It was the Labour party that put the policy in place to close Woolston High School, the Lib/Con parties are just finishing what they agreed, because at that time Woolston High School was in ‘Special Measures’, so an ill-informed decision was made to close the school for no other reason that it would be easier to close a school in ‘Special Measures’.
Now because of the dedication and hard work by the head teacher, teachers, support staff, pupils and the governors of the school, Woolston has proved itself once again to be one of the best in the borough, as if we were in any doubt. It was given a lifeline to improve itself, which the school achieved with flying colours and a glowing report from Ofsted, but all that hard work has counted for nothing and a community and a town will be losing one of its finest schools. The very people who made this terrible decision are no longer at the council, so cannot see the folly of their ways?, or would they even care?
Maybe if this Labour MP and her government were serious about funding education and less cut backs, Woolston High School would not be made a scape-goat for other failing schools in the borough or is it just because Woolston High School is in a Labour Ward, and the Lib/Con parties have taken this opportunity to make another point scoring exercise at the expense of the people of Woolston?
Let’s face it Helen Jones is a self promoting joke. Just look at the recent expenses report on her! The sooner the likes of her get kicked into touch the better off we all will be.