LEICESTER "FREE SCHOOL" PRAISED

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Head Sally Hughes with, from left, Diya Mistry, Myleen Mander, Neha Kancherla, Malwina Fudala & Abhay Keshwala 

Leicester "free school" praised

by Fiona Dryden, Education Correspondent

The first of the Government's "free" schools to open in the city has been given a good Ofsted report.

The visit was the first by inspectors from the education watchdog to Krishna Avanti Primary, in Evington, which opened two years ago.

Inspectors said pupils made good progress from their starting points, teaching was good and Krishna Avanti had a warm and caring environment which made good provision to support pupils' strong spiritual development.

Interim head teacher Sally Hughes, who took over from outgoing principal Christopher Spall when he left just before Easter, said: "It's fantastic news. The inspection was rigorous, but the outcome was just as we expected, showing that we know exactly what level we're operating at and what we need to do to become outstanding. It's well within reach."

Free schools can be started by charities, parents or teachers. They are outside local authority control, but are paid for by the state.

The report said pupils' behaviour was outstanding and they were "highly motivated learners who were kind, considerate, and caring" towards one another.

They said that staff used innovative IT to bring learning to life and this supported children well.

In addition, they praised the quality of teaching in the Early Years Foundation stage for being "outstanding".

They said that classrooms and their displays were vibrant and learning was "well-organised".

Mrs Hughes was also praised for settling in so quickly and rapidly winning the confidence of parents and staff.

They said she had an "accurate overview" of the school's performance.

She said: "The report is a true reflection of what we're doing here and highlights many of our strengths.

"I think the school's ethos of tolerance and respect shone through during the inspection. It's evident in our pupils' eagerness to learn and enthusiasm to be here.

"We have some outstanding teachers and have employed two more, along with four extra teaching assistants who start in September to accommodate our growing numbers."

The school will have 165 pupils in the new academic year and will be at planned capacity.

Mrs Hughes said: "We're a school that embraces all cultures and that was highlighted in the report through our pupils' spiritual, moral, and cultural development."

Pradip Gajjar, chair of governors, said: "We've done exceptionally well in our first report and we know what we need to do to be even better. The school is oversubscribed for September and that speaks volumes for the confidence of parents in what we're doing.

"We feel very proud of what's already been achieved."

To improve even further, inspectors said that teachers should be more confident to adapt activities.

FREE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL LEAVES POST

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Free school principal leaves post

by Fiona Dryden

The principal of Leicester's first free school has left after less than two years in the post.

Christopher Spall took up the job at Krishna Avanti Primary, in Spencefield Lane, Evington, when the school was launched in September 2011.

Occupying part of the former Leicester Grammar Junior site, the school has a Hindu ethos, but takes youngsters from all faiths.

The appointment of Mr Spall, a Christian, was seen as evidence of the school's commitment to welcoming everyone, regardless of religious background. He had been head teacher at an international primary school in Kuwait and taught in Basildon and at Loretto, a school in Scotland.

The Mercury was unable to contact Mr Spall, but chairman of governors, Pradip Gajjar, said he had left for personal reasons.

He said: "We are very grateful for the time he has been able to give to us, helping to launch the school and seeing it through to its successful second year. We were very thankful for his leadership."

Mr Spall left his post at Easter, following an official opening of the school by Education Secretary Michael Gove. Interim head, Sally Hughes, has now taken over.

Mr Gajjar said: "Sally has extensive headship experience and has delivered outstanding results. Parents were informed quickly.

"We are now looking for someone to fill this as a permanent role."

Krishna Avanti Primary was set up by The I-Foundation, which runs a school in Harrow, North London, using capital funding from the Government.

Free schools can be set up by charities, universities, businesses, teachers and parents and can set their own curriculum. However, Krishna Avanti follows the national curriculum.

An advert for the head teacher role placed by the school in the Times Education Supplement states: "The role will entail leading the school to outstanding and beyond. This is a unique opportunity to help lay the foundations of a growing and innovative school."

For more information, call Mr Gajjar on 07812 586790.

www.krishna- avanti-leicester.org.uk

EDUCATION SECRETARY OPENS FREE SCHOOL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Education Secretary opens free school

Education Secretary Michael Gove unveiled a plaque at a school yesterday to mark its official opening.

The minister was at Leicester's first free school, Krishna Avanti, in Evington, where he cut a ribbon in front of guests and pupils, including Leicester East MP Keith Vaz.

Mr Gove pioneered the free school concept in which parents, charitable groups and others can bid to set up a school.

Krishna Avanti was set up by the Hindu-based Avanti School's Trust in September 2011, using £4.5 million of Government funding.

Mr Gove spoke about the "inclusive" nature of the school, which takes pupils from all faiths.

Head teacher Christopher Spall said: "It was great to have the minister here and to celebrate the opening with guests from across the city's faiths.

"It also gave us a chance to show off the facilities and to thank all those who helped bring the school together."

DELIGHT AT PROGRESS OF CITY'S FIRST FREE SCHOOL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Delight at progress of city's first free school

Teachers, parents and children at Leicester's first free school say they are delighted with the progress in transforming its building.

Krishna Avanti primary, in Evington, opened in September in a grade II-listed building, formerly occupied by Leicester Grammar Junior School.

Youngsters have been working in temporary buildings put up on the site while thousands of pounds of refurbishment and extension work got under way.

The work is due to finish in August, in time for the autumn term, when pupils numbers at the school will increase from 30 to at least 75.

Head teacher Christopher Spall said: "We're thrilled with the way work's progressing.

"It's going to look amazing with a square piazza being created and cloisters around it – it's got a real spiritual feel to it."

Free schools are set up by charities, parents or teachers outside local authority control, but paid for by the state.

The building work at Krishna Avanti includes the creation of a classroom block for years one and two, refurbishment of the existing building inside and outside, with new windows, carpets and redecoration.

The square piazza is being built towards the back of the school and a garden area for the children to grow their own vegetables will sit to one side of it, alongside a new-look outdoor area with play equipment.

There are still 15 places left for parents who wish to send their children to the school.

Sabrina Braithwaite, from Narborough Road, in Leicester, is sending her son, Jahziah, five, from September.

She said: "I've looked around the school before but I wanted to bring my son so that he could get used to it.

"I'm very impressed with the school's calm ethos and its vegetarianism. I like the fact that children do yoga and I think he'll be happy here.Jahziah said: "I really like the school playing field."

Pargan Dhadda, from Queen's Road, has a son, Angath, five, at the school, and another son, Aaryan, four, who will start in the new academic year.

He said: "I was a little bit worried at first because it was a new school but I've been really pleased with how it's been run.

"The grounds are very impressive and far better than any other school we looked around and because it's a small school the children get lots of individual attention."

The primary, which will eventually have places for 420 children, is sponsored by education charity the I-Foundation.

It has a Hindu ethos but children of all faiths attend and follow the national curriculum.

School governor Pradip Gajjar said: "We're very happy with how the school and the work is progressing."

KRISHNA-AVANTI PRIMARY SCHOOL OPEN DAY

I'm attending an Open Day at Krishna-Avanti Primary School, Spencefield Lane, Evington this morning. The school is coming toward the end of its first teaching year. They're celebrating that milestone today, along with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend (for which reason, the event begins and ends with the singing of the National Anthem and Headmaster Christopher Spall is sporting a vivid Union Flag bow-tie).

There are demonstrations of devotional dancing, of yoga and of Maypole Dancing, and recitation in unison of verses from the Bhagavad Gita (in the original Sanskrit, then the English translation). One way or another, these activities allow all the school's pupils and teaching staff to do something in front of the gathering.

Mr Spall calls Cllr Manjula Sood to the microphone to speak. As well as currently being Assistant Mayor and Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths, Manjula was the first Asian woman to be Lord Mayor of an English city and - of more interest and relevance today - the first Asian primary school teacher in Leicester.

Other members of Leicester Council of Faiths are in attendance: Cllr Rashmikant Joshi, Suleman Nagdi and Tony Nelson. Cllr Vi Dempster, Assistant Mayor and Cabinet Lead for Children, Young People and Schools is also here today.

I have a brief chat with Fiona Dryden, who is here covering the event for the Leicester Mercury. I point out to her that there a number of members of Leicester Council of Faiths at this event and that we've helped provide occasional visiting speakers to meet pupils and staff. I give Fiona my card: we'll have to wait and see if any of this finds its way into the paper. 

By the time Pradip Gajjar, the school's Director, is offering his thanks and closing remarks, we have the first serious rain for several days. Time to move inside the marquees for a nice vegetarian lunch.

This is a very friendly, happy occasion and shows off the Krishna Avanti School in a very positive light. I'm glad that we're able to show our support for the school today and we wish staff and pupils the very best as the school progresses.

FINAL TOUCHES PUT TO LEICESTER'S FIRST FREE SCHOOL

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Final touches put to Leicester's first free school 

By Dan Martin 

From planning lessons to fixing locks on to the toilet doors, staff at Leicester's first free school have been busily preparing for the arrival of its pupils.

Krishna Avanti School, in Evington, was set to open its doors today and welcome 37 excited pupils who will make up its first two reception classes. 

It is one of the first 24 free schools to open across the country this month. 

Principal Christopher Spall, who will take charge of the Hindu faith school, said: "We've been working all the hours available to get the place ready. 

"It has been hard but enjoyable and we are very excited. 

"I've been back and forth to B&Q to get bits and bobs and my power drill has seen a lot of action. 

"We want everything to be just right for the children and I am really grateful to the teachers for all their efforts." 

Free schools are state funded but outside the control of local education authorities. 

On Monday, children and parents were invited to an orientation day and lunch at the five-acre campus, to get their first proper glimpse of the classrooms and meet the first four teachers, teaching assistants, administrators and catering staff. 

Mr Spall, who will ask the pupils to call him Mr Christopher, said: "It went really well but we'd only got our teaching resources 12 hours beforehand so it's been all hands to the pump." 

Teacher Deepti Shah, 27, who has moved from Queensmead Community Primary, in Braunstone, said: "I'm excited and a little bit nervous. 

"I was attracted to this place by the faith and nurture approach which I think will be great for the kids." 

The Krishna Avanti School is open to children of all faiths and will have one Sikh and one Muslim pupil, though its first intake will be predominantly Hindu. 

Project director Pradip Gajjar said: "There are principles from the Hindu faith that will really benefit children, such as having healthy vegetarian food, doing yoga and meditation. 

"People will be watching us to see how we do as we are the city's first free school but we do not feel pressure. We will do very well. 

"We have already had letters from a primary in Highfields, where the pupils are mainly Muslim and a number of Church of England Schools saying they would like to work with us. That is exciting." 

The first few days of term will be half days while the pupils settle in. Teachers will be making home visits. 

Backers hope to add a class every year until there are 420 pupils. Building work to create play areas, classrooms and spaces for worship is continuing. 

The school's leaders also hope to establish a free Hindu faith secondary school in the city that will be ready in time to take this year's intake. 

Mr Gajjar said: "We have been talking with the city council about opening a school since 2006.
"The free school route was really just a mechanism for us. 

"Naturally, we would like a secondary school, though that will be some years off."

In the photo: Principal Christopher Spall in one of the classrooms

LEICESTER'S FIRST FREE SCHOOL STARTS TO RECRUIT

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicester's first free school starts to recruit

Thirty parents have applied for places for their children at Leicester's first free school.

Krishna Avanti Primary, in Spencefield Lane, Evington, will be the country's second Hindu school when it opens.

Sponsor the I-foundation said it was pleased with the number of applications so far and there were still have places for another 30 children.

An open day on Sunday will give parents of four and five-year-olds a chance to look around the site.

Half of the places will be reserved for Hindus. The rest can be of any other faith or none.

Chris Spall, who will take up the post of head teacher following a three-year stint in Kuwait, said the school would follow the national curriculum but adopt a Hindu ethos.

Meals will be vegetarian and pupils will grow some of the vegetables in the school's garden.

Meditation and yoga will be on the timetable and children will learn about all faiths.

"We want the school to be a calm, peaceful and purposeful environment and for the children to learn about the world around them, whether that's being a Hindu, a Catholic or any other faith," said Mr Spall, 58, who did his teacher training at Loughborough University.

"I still intend to hold a nativity at Christmas but we'll celebrate Hindu festivals, too, along with other cultures," he said.

Youngsters will start the school year in one part of the building and temporary classrooms while work is completed on the former Leicester Grammar Junior School site.

Every child will be equipped with an iPad 2. Mr Spall said: "Children can really embrace the iPad because of its touch screen and it means there's instant access to information which can enhance outside learning, too.

"If we're planting potatoes in the garden and we want to find out how long they take to grow, children can find out at the touch of a screen."

Mr Spall said he intended to visit every child and their parents before they start at Krishna Avanti in September.

"I'm really excited about the future," he said.

"Once parents see what we're planning and how it will look, it's really going to take off.

"I've worked with many religious backgrounds and cultures and it's that diversity which attracted me to this post.

"We want to set up links with other schools in the city so that children get to experience as much as they can."

The free school was one of only eight approved by the Government last year.

It will be funded directly by the Government and will have freedom over its budget.

Project director Pradip Gajjar said: "We're very pleased with numbers so far and will look to grow in the future as intended.

"We're going to have a new school that's fully renovated and we're very excited about opening in September.

"We've had a lot of inquiries and some parents may think we're no longer taking applications. That's why another open day is planned on Sunday."

The open day runs from 11am until 2pm at the school.