Latest news with #Daventry
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Daventry school makes improvements after funding warning
A secondary school has said it has made improvements after it was sent a government letter warning it could lose its funding - following a critical Ofsted report. The Department of Education (DofE), wrote to The Parker E-ACT Academy, Daventry, Northamptonshire, in June, stating that it had not acted quickly enough to address its "weaknesses".It said that levels of pupil absence were too high and there were several issues with staff who did not address gaps in school said the DofE had told the academy it was "satisfied" it "was able to "deliver higher standards at the school rapidly and sustainably". The action comes after an Ofsted report in May rated the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management as DofE letter, written by Carol Gray, regional director, said: "The school, including the trust, has not taken effective action, or acted quickly enough to address the school's weaknesses."It "requires significant improvement", the letter added. It said school work had declined and it should "ensure swift action is taken to address the priority issues that have been identified".This includes ensuring that staff have the right knowledge, expertise and ongoing support to bring about the required absence was too high and children, including those with special educational needs (SEND) were "regularly absent from school, which means they miss out on learning". The letter said pupils were not learning as well as they should and the school had to "ensure that staff check pupils' understanding so that misconceptions and gaps in learning can be addressed"."In too many subjects, staff do not make appropriate adaptations for pupils with SEND to access the curriculum," it Gray said: "I need to be satisfied that the trust has capacity to deliver rapid and sustainable improvement at the academy. "If I am not satisfied, I will consider whether to terminate the funding agreement in order to transfer the academy to an alternative academy trust." 'Journey of transformation' An E-ACT Academy spokesperson said the DofE had told the school it had "confidence in the trust to deliver higher standards at the school rapidly and sustainably". It said a new head teacher, Maughan Johnson, was put in place in April, as well as a new deputy head teacher and education the team, "we have acted quickly and decisively to address the issues raised in the January report", they said. "We are confident that this administrative process will end shortly as we continue to make the necessary improvements to our school."The Parker is already a very different place to the one inspected over half a year ago and we are fully committed to finishing this journey of transformation."They added that since the letter had been sent a month ago, it had "made significant strides, and the Department for Education has now confirmed that they have no plans for termination." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Brackley school and Daventry industrial development up for sale
A former school and an industrial development are to be sold to generate income for a council. West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) hopes the sales of the now closed Southfield Primary School, in Brackley, and the industrial site in Heartlands, Daventry, could generate income of about £500,000. Two public open spaces are due to be transferred to Crick Parish Council for £1 each, as it is felt they can be better managed by the community. It is also aiming to formalise its ownership of two pieces of land in Green Lane and Off the old A45, both in Northampton. Members of WNC approved the plans at a meeting on Wednesday. The change comes after the authority agreed to put the modern extension of Northampton's Guildhall up for sale. Southfield Primary School, which closed in July 2024 due to a shortfall in pupils, could be demolished and the land used for housing. Its existing theatre block will be kept, along with 50 car parking spaces for the community, to be used as a family hub, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. WNC said "extensive checks" were made to see if there was a viable educational use for the site, but none came forward. 'Delighted' Brackley Conservative councillor Fiona Baker said the closure of the school had been "pretty devastating". "The space can provide a permanent home for a 'spoke' of the family hub service, the much-loved youth club, a community larder, a stem school for Send students, along with other early health groups that currently lack a dedicated venue."Now is the time to invest in infrastructure for Brackley that supports the expanding community."Regarding the sale of the open spaces, Liberal Democrat councillor Rosie Humphreys said: "Cracks Hill is known and loved by everyone in Crick. "It's widely used by the villages and outdoor amenity for ramblers, dog walkers and families."The parish council has long wished to have ownership of this local landmark and will be delighted if the transfer process is approved."WNS said solidifying its title on the Northampton land would enable it to be better managed. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Daventry marks centenary of making radio history
A town is marking the centenary of its world-famous transmission station going on air.A special exhibition opens on Saturday at Daventry Museum in Northamptonshire to celebrate 100 years since the BBC opened its site on Borough Hill. It became the world's first long-wave transmitting station and eventually sent signals across the globe for the BBC World display will include some rare vintage equipment and a chance for young people to step inside a radio show selfie booth. The transmission station opened on 27 July 1925 and its effect on the town was masts were erected on the top of Borough Hill, which could be seen for miles around, and hundreds of workers were brought in to manage signals were so strong that it was not just radios that picked them up. Rod Viveash, who worked at the site and is now a museum volunteer, said: "When it was in its heyday, various appliances at home could pick up the signal from the station, and it was particularly annoying when TV started because it would interfere with the TV programme."We weren't really popular then!" Carrie Gardner-Pett, Daventry Town Council's museum officer, said: "People in the town were really aware of that making of history, not just because they could literally hear the sounds from the cables above them, but because these huge masts went up on the landscape and made Borough Hill look even taller." The exhibition, Echoes of Daventry Calling, includes photographs of the BBC buildings over the years and artefacts from almost 70 years of sending out signals from Gardner-Pett said: "I think there's really something for everybody - it's going to be a really engaging exhibition, not just for those with a particular interest in radio."Even for children, we've got stories about the radio circle that was set up, sort of a forerunner to Blue Peter." Youngsters will also be able to step into a radio show selfie booth to take photos, record their own clips and experience what it was like to be on museum is open during the morning from Tuesday to Friday each week and on the first Saturday of each month. Entry is free and the exhibition continues until 28 November. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Daventry gets ready to party in the park for Pride
Organisers of a Pride in the Park event said they had been "inundated with support".The free event takes place on Saturday in Daventry, due to perform on the main stage include a singer who moved to Northampton to escape domestic is the third time the town has staged a Pride event. Afreine, who is the last act on the bill, lived in East London but escaped to Northampton as a debut single Clare St was dedicated to survivors of domestic abuse and on stage will be the drag artist Miss Cara-Mel Latte, who will introduce a dance parade and a minute of Cumbrian singer Stew Simpson is also in the line-up. Nick Allen, a member of the event's committee, said: "The Daventry Pride in the Park 2025 Committee is delighted to be presenting a free and welcoming event for all ages at Daventry's New Street Park. "We have been inundated with support from organisations linked with the LGBTQ+ community and allies to attend the event and to use sponsorship we have received from Cummins, Amazon and Daventry Town Council to provide an excellent line-up of live music and giveaways." Local community support groups, charities and organisations will be represented at the event. Q Space, a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth in Northampton, will be running a beanbag cafe, where people will be able to in the Park is free and takes place between 11:00 and 15:00 BST in the New Street Recreation Ground. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ofsted finds shortcomings at Daventry's Parker E-ACT Academy
Following an inspection a watchdog has identified a series of shortcomings at a secondary school previously rated as found issues with pupil absences, students' attitude towards learning and that staff were being ignored at The Parker E-ACT Academy in Daventry, Northamptonshire, in a report published on report rated the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management as inadequate - the lowest rating possible.A spokesperson for the Parker E-ACT Academy said: "This inspection took place in January 2025 and since then significant changes have already been made to secure the improvements our students deserve." Ofsted reported teachers did not have high enough expectations of the work students produced and pupil personal development and sixth form provision were rated as requires Ofsted's two-day visit in January, the academy was being led by interim head teacher Gary Carlile, who had taken up the position three weeks appointment came after the school's former head teacher, Jane Buggins, resigned in December after a petition called for her to quit.A new head teacher, Maughan Johnson, started in the role last month. The Ofsted inspection noted the school's instability in leadership, which had "contributed to a decline in standards in several aspects of the school's work".Other concerns were raised about the quality of education for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), such as staff not making appropriate Ofsted noted pupils were safe in the school and it was addressing issues with its SEND its previous Ofsted inspection in November 2021, the school had been rated as good, but since September graded inspections of state-funded schools no longer include an overall effectiveness judgement. Responding to the report, The Parker E-ACT Academy said: "New leadership is now firmly in place at all levels, including a new head teacher, deputy head teacher and education director. "Under this new leadership team, we have acted quickly and decisively to address the issues raised in the report."The Parker is already a very different place to the one inspected four months ago and we are fully committed to continuing this journey of transformation." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
