Great news for Goodrich

[mayo]

James please get your facts right before you post on a public forum.

The current head started in early October, albeit part time initially and a second interim head was appointed to job share for the initial period. Both of them have worked in various schools accross London, employed specifically to go into those schools and raise standards. Therefore I would think they are pretty well qualified to comment on the standards of the school when they first arrive.

How many times have you visited Goodrich and spoken to staff, parents and pupils since October? And how often had you done this prior to the new head starting? If you have visited both before and after then you will surely have been able to see for yourself what a different place Goodrich is now?

If not then let me tell you that there have been incredible changes, all of which have happened since the new head started. Even just the physical appearance of the school is wholly different with new carpets, floors, play and learning equipment, astroturf playground area, benches, plants, work displays etc.

Both of my children have benefited from new learning initiatives which were not in place before and a more focused approach to learning and development. Communication is also vastly improved.

I think we'd all have a lot more respect for southwark council if they just held their hands up and admitted that they failed the school community by not taking any positive aaction to improve the previous regime. Instead you seem to be engaging in petty semantics and distortion of the facts to try and support your lack of action.

I'm afraid your points about the errors in the report that the school didn't spot come accross as a petty attempt to cast the current management in a negative light, without seeming to have any other purpose. You can cast around all you like for reasons not to attribute the great improvements to the new head, but those of us who are part of the school community can all assure you that they are.

As somebody has already said, this is the education and future of our children. I wonder what your feelings would be if it were your children at the school.

[James Barber]

I'm delighted the school is on a clear trajectory of improvement and as I said I can now see it reaching even higher Ofsted status than Good.

I have read the Ofsted report in full and would encourage others to also do this. It shows clearly wheere further work is required and the whole school family can help with that endeavour.

[baggie]

Deflecting from the points raised Councillor? How unlike a politician. Did you learn that from your new mates Gideon and Dodgy Dave?

[traveller1]

James - you express doubt that the new head (and his team) were able to accurately comment on the state of the school after a few months yet you are quite happy to accept the results of a 2 day inspection - funny. Not to mention that you are happy to discount the assessment of those of us with children at the school. It is even clearer to me

now why I simply have no faith in those currently responsible for governing the school and clearly local councillors cannot be relied upon as honest brokers either....

[Lishyloo]

All assessments are false and pointless

[Mick Mac]

traveller1 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

now why I simply have no faith in those currently

> responsible for governing the school and clearly

> local councillors cannot be relied upon as honest

> brokers either....

You need to be careful T1 with your reference to "governing" the achool. Whilst Southwark and local politicians may have failed the school, the school Governors have done an excellent job and we would not be where we are now without them.

[James Barber]

But governors select all heads including the current one and previous ones.

Schools are very complicated beasts.

[rosie_LaLa]

mayo Wrote:

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> James please get your facts right before you post

> on a public forum.

>

I am in intimately involved with Goodrich school so I do have to remain anonymous here.

I fully agree with the posters here that the new head has replaced an out-of-her depth incompetent predecessor. Be under no illusion, the new leader in the school, has done exactly that: lead. That is why our school has fundamentally changed. Lots of hard work from a whole range of other people, but good leadership has made the difference

As for James Barber: what a joker, he?ll support anything that helps him further his political career. Don?t be fooled by this man. I remember a while back him trying to force through paid parking on Lordship Lane despite something like 80% of people voting against it in a survey. Trying to make out he wanted the best for the area, whilst really pursuing a political objective.

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,772215,page=47

But, all in all, a fantastic result but not yet finished. Keep watching

[Dorothy]

Please - can you not have your arguments in private if you must? This is so undignified and if anything makes me embarrassed to be intimately involved with Goodrich School. Its great that the school has had a good Ofsted.

[showboat]

This isn't the time or place for Barber bashing, as much as some may enjoy it. Please take it to his own thread. I think he must mis-spoke. It happens, and he's apologised. Move on.

I'm tremendously pleased the school has done so well. I have a close relative working there and they told me how hard the head has been working to ensure they didn't go into special measures, and how seriously he takes his job. It's good to know there are still people of his calibre out there. I hope Goodrich will continue like this for as long as possible.

[intexasatthe moment]

Education and schools are driven by politics .

James knows this and seems happy to have a political discussion - which is what I would regard his comment at 9.42 yesterday as .

[lbsmith73]

James, do you not have anything better to do apart from stir up trouble? I suppose you need to get your one minute of fame before the Lib Dems bite the dust!