26th June 2025 • The HERALD • Page 43 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v Services offered: Private Tuition Home-Schooling Alternative Provision Exam Entry Coaching and Mentoring Phone: 07751 083447 Email: office@stgeorgeseducation.com Website: www.stgeorgeseducation,com KIDS ZONE Glowing Quality Assurance Review For Local Primary School A local primary and nursery school has come through a quality assurance review with ying colours. Black eld Primary and Nursery School received glowing feedback from education charity Challenge Partners, which improves school performance through peer-topeer challenge and knowledge sharing. A ‘Leading’ mark was given for overall peer evaluation following the developmental review of the larger-thanaverage primary school. ‘Leading’ was also given for leadership at all levels and quality of provision and outcomes, along with quality of provision and outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with additional needs. Black eld Primary and Nursery School, part of the Inspire Learning Partnership multi-academy trust, and with the motto ‘making learning irresistible’, has 441 pupils. Challenge Partners, a not-for-pro t organisation working to improve education outcomes for children, carried out an annual quality review on 28th April at the school’s invitation. e review provides a peer evaluation of a school’s practice in curriculum, teaching and learning, as well as leadership, and is di erent to an Ofsted inspection. In the review report, Challenge Partners referenced that the catchment area includes pupils from across the Waterside, including Calshot, which falls within 10% of the most deprived areas in the country. e percentage of pupils for whom the school receives pupil premium grant funding, to help improve the achievement gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, is considerably higher than the national average. An above-average proportion of pupils has special educational needs and/or disabilities, with 31 pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan. Claire Lowe, Chief Executive of Inspire Learning Partnership said: “Quality assurance reviews by Challenge Partners matter to us because they support our schools’ continuing development. What the teachers and support staff are achieving for pupils at Blackfield Primary and Nursery School deserves wider recognition and the ‘Leading’ accolades mean this has been a review met with flying colours. This was summed up in the review, which reported that ‘the school demonstrably cultivates a love of learning, successfully making it ‘irresistible’.” Claire added: “Encouragingly, the report also stated that, as a result of the school’s first-rate provision, pupils with additional needs make very strong progress from their starting points. The achievement of disadvantaged pupils, who do not have additional needs, typically matches or is above that of pupils nationally. Also highlighted was the school’s “passionate commitment to ensuring barriers facing disadvantaged pupils are broken down”. ese include multiple layers of wrap-round care, including breakfast club and snacks at break for all pupils. Disadvantaged pupils are guaranteed access to educational trips and clubs; their experience of “irresistible learning” contributes to regular attendance. Tariq Sasso is the Executive Principal at Black eld Primary and Nursery School, which was rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted following an inspection in September 2022. He said: “It was lovely to read in the report that the school demonstrably cultivates a love of learning, successfully making it ‘irresistible.’ Challenge Partners’ review has inspired us to strive to make even more improvements for pupils, who deserve the best of outcomes.” Challenge Partners also highlighted that leadership at all levels is “exemplary”. It continued: “Senior leaders are highly skilled, and their contagious enthusiasm plays a central part in sustaining the inclusive ethos that permeates the school. The Executive Principal provides inspirational leadership and is held in high regard by pupils, staff and parents. He has fostered strong, positive relationships that contribute significantly to the warm and purposeful atmosphere. Senior leaders are highly approachable and actively engage with the school community. They warmly greet pupils and parents at the beginning of the day and provide excellent role models for colleagues. The palpable, happy and positive environment owes much to the highly enthusiastic leadership team.” Inspire Learning Partnership, which serves 1,440 pupils and employs 244 sta , oversees Black eld Primary and Nursery School and Fawley Infant School on the Waterside, as well as three primary schools in Southampton: Kanes Hill, Hightown and St Monica. Challenge Partners is a charity working to advance education for the public bene t and is not a statutory accountability body. e quality assurance review does not audit schools’ safeguarding or behaviour policies and practices. However, lead reviewers and visiting reviewers are expected to follow Challenge Partners’ safeguarding policy and report any concerns as set out in the procedures. FLYING COLOURS: Tariq Sasso, Executive Principal, at Blackfield Primary and Nursery School, Waterside Pirates Arrr Returning to Hythe (Change of Date)! Pirates Arrr set to take over Hythe Village once more following the success of the inaugural Pirate Day last year. e previously published date has been changed; the Pirate Day will now take place on Saturday 23rd August. Organised by Hythe Alive, this year’s Pirate Day will include even more swashbuckling fun. Pirates young and old are invited to join in the Pirate Parade from Hythe Marina to the village. Keep an eye on Hythe Alive’s Facebook page for updates. Hythe Primary School Summer Fayre Hythe Primary School is marking 70 years of its parent volunteers this year with a summer celebration. To commemorate the milestone of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), a summer fayre will be held at Hythe Primary School, in School Road, on Friday 11th July, 3pm - 6pm. anks to sponsorship from local businesses, the PTA Friends of Hythe Primary School will host Jake’s Circus, where adults and children can enjoy juggling or attempt to ride a unicycle. ere will also be games, a bouncy castle, stalls and refreshments. Lois Wellman, PTA chairwoman, said: “The summer fayre marks one of the final events hosted by the Friends of Hythe Primary School for the school year, and we aim to make it a memorable celebration. We invite the community to unite for an afternoon filled with excitement and enjoyment.” All proceeds will fund extracurricular outings, activities, and equipment for pupils. Lois added: “We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Specsavers, Red Gorilla, Lambertlux and the local community that have sponsored this year’s summer fayre. A big thank you goes out to all the local businesses for their ongoing support throughout the year. Without your help, we wouldn’t be able to continue our fundraising efforts for the school and our children.” For more information, visit the Facebook page Friends of Hythe Primary School news. Veterans Breakfast Club Hythe Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club takes place on the second Saturday of every month at Hythe & District Social Club, Pylewell Road, Hythe. Go along on Saturday 12th July to enjoy the social interaction and banter with fellow veterans which will help improve your mental health and is good for PTSD. For more details text Graham on 07526 507053 or nd them on Facebook (Hythe Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club). SWING INTO SUMMER Romsey Ladies Choir & the Songbirds will be holding a concert, supporting Rose Road Association, on Sunday 13th July at Romsey United Reformed Church at 2.30pm. Tickets £7.50, under 16’s free. ere will be refreshments available and a grand ra e will be held. Beyond Belief Hythe & Dibden U3A meet at Hythe Parish Hall on the second Monday of the month at 2pm. eir next meeting takes place on Monday 14th July for a talk titled ‘Beyond Belief’ (NB this title may change) by Dr Sohail Hussain. Please email: membershiphytheu3a@gmail.com or visit: u3asites.org.uk/hythe-dibden or call: 07935 907456. ey are a friendly group so why not give them a go? Lady in a Yellow Caravan Langley WI’s next meeting is on Tuesday 15th July for a talk by Jane Glennie titled ‘Lady in a Yellow Caravan’. e WI o ers women the opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and campaign on wideranging issues. Langley WI meets every third Tuesday at Jubilee Hall, Fawley, SO45 1DF at 7.30pm. Email: langleypres@hampshirewi.org.uk or check out their website at: www.hampshirewi.org.uk/wi-page/ langley-wi
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