School attracts unwanted headline

After a difficult 2011, the new term will see all at Audlem St James' school trying to shake off the headline in last week's Nantwich Chronicle.

'Damning SATS Score at School' was splashed across the front page of the newspaper last week. This followed the publication of Key Stage 2 performance tables that ranked Audlem 118th out of 124 Cheshire East schools.

The results were based on assessments last May, we understand, when only 60% of local pupils reached the expected level in both English and maths.

This compares with an average of 81% in Cheshire East and a national average of 74%.

The new term will see Rachel Jones as head until a permanent replacement is appointed for Catherine Nolan-Burnitt, who left her job as head at the end of last term – see Audlem Online on 19th December.

The school has been run by a Cheshire East-appointed Interim Executive Board (IEB) since 1st September 2011. The IEB is due to give an update on progress at the school to Audlem Parish Council's January meeting next Monday.

Audlem Online will also be pressing the IEB for regular reports on progress as the issues at the school affect the whole community as long as regular adverse headlines in local newspapers persist.  

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