The Willows could become an academy

The Greenham primary school could fall within Government plans to improve the country's weakest 200 schools

THE WILLOWS Primary School, Greenham, could be forced to become an academy following government proposals to target the weakest 200 schools in England and place them under new management next year.

Proposals unveiled by the Government's education secretary Michael Gove recently said primary schools that have fallen below minimum standards of 60 per cent of pupils achieving a basic level – level four – in English and maths by the age of 11, will be targeted.

The Government drive aims to turn these schools into academies to raise standards, increasing its direct control of the schools and reducing the level of control that the local education authority has over the school.

The Pyle Hill school's most recent exam results from autumn last year showed that 39 per cent of pupils achieved level four in English and maths by the age of 11.

West Berkshire Council's education portfolio holder Irene Neil (Con, Aldermaston) has strongly defended the Greenham school and said: “I would expect this year's results to be much better than last. The school is moving in the right direction and we have been working with the Government to achieve what they want.

“The Government proposals are very hazy. If we take the fact the school is on an upward trajectory I am very pleased with the way things are going and would expect the exam results to bear that out.”

The school, formerly the failing Greenham Court Primary, was reopened under the Government's ‘fresh start' scheme in 2007 and following its first full Ofsted inspection last March, was placed in special measures as inspectors noted that although there were times the school had moved steadily forward, there were others when it had faltered.

In November 2009, Alex Butler, the headteacher of Hampstead Norreys Primary School – one of the best performing schools in West Berkshire and the country at the time, was drafted in as executive headteacher to oversee improvement at the school.

Miss Butler could not be contacted to comment on the Government proposals.

A monitoring Ofsted inspection in March noted the school was making good progress, and Mrs Neil said she expected it to be removed from special measures this autumn, following a full Ofsted inspection.

Other local schools which could find themselves at risk of being forced into academy status should either slip below the 60 per cent floor rate include Calcot Junior School and Thatcham Park Primary, which last year saw 61 per cent and 62 per cent rate, respectively, achieving the Government's expected level four targets.

A further 500 schools across England will be placed on a Government shortlist, with councils ordered to improve standards by merging them with top schools in the local area.