Dear Parents and Carers,
Brunswick’s Big News this week is the publication of the school’s latest Ofsted Inspection Report. Ofsted Inspectors have judged the school to be Good overall, with Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare judged to be Outstanding. It is published today on the Ofsted Website, at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/131843.
Heartfelt thanks go to all those parents and carers who have wished staff well and sent their congratulations Children cannot learn and make good progress unless they are safe and well cared for, and the report recognises the diligent work done by all staff to ensure children’s welfare is paramount. It also recognises the dogged determination over the last 4.5 years to improve the quality of teaching, resulting in high academic standards and pupils making good progress. Written work is described as ‘being of an excellent standard’. In summary, Ofsted Inspectors found a school that provides outstanding care, guidance and support and a rigorous academic education that children enjoy.
The report also states that ‘Senior Leaders…are in no way complacent’ and we will continue to do our utmost to ensure your children get the best school experience and educational start in life we can provide. We will continue to improve the quality of teaching and learning, and will continue to strengthen our partnerships with parents and carers for the
benefit of the children in our care.
It is a great shame, however, that we receive this most positive news whilst Brunswick Park’s funding is being cut yet again. Since 2010, whatever is said by Government to the contrary, schools in England have received less money year on year, and as you will have heard on the News, the time has now come that Head Teachers across the country are facing funding challenges like never before.
As the President of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), Judy Shaw, said on 30 April 2019:
“The government is always saying that the amount of money going into schools is the highest ever – that’s highly misleading, because what we’ve got to spend that money on has grown hugely. There are more pupils in the system, there are more costs. It’s like saying you’ve got more money to do your shopping each week, but you’ve got a whole load of things you never had to buy before and the prices have gone up. So you end up with less.”
For the last few years, Brunswick has been doing more and more with less and less, and now, because of cuts to Council funding that are passed on to the school, because of cuts to a variety of benefits and the Elmington Estate’s regeneration, the school receives less funding than ever. And as Ms Shaw says, we have to buy more with it. As a result, you will see some staff changes over the next few weeks as we make sure we best use the resources that remain so we can continue to build upon our achievements to provide the highest possible quality of education for your children.
With best wishes for a peaceful and enjoyable weekend.
Susannah Bellingham,
Head Teacher