THE working week starts at 6.15am each Monday with a flight from Gatwick to Manchester Airport for Salford head teacher Antony Edkins.
Despite his family home being in Brighton he travels north to take charge at Harrop Fold High in Little Hulton.
He lives in rented accommodation in Monton, Eccles, during the week and flies back to his partner and two children on Friday night.
His jet-set lifestyle started when he was headhunted to turn round the school after "alarmingly poor" teaching standards, appalling conditions, and bad pupil behaviour meant it was on the brink of meltdown.
Last month inspectors made their seventh visit since the school was placed in special measures two years ago. Their latest report, obtained by the M.E.N., reveals improvements in the quality of teaching, learning and behaviour. There has also been a marked improvement in attendance, a reduction in complaints by parents and a massive drop in the number of excluded pupils.
Impressed
Now Mr Edkins is so impressed with Salford and the north west that his family is to move to Eccles in September and he is hoping to negotiate an extension to his three-year contract, which started nine months ago.
His BA flights are paid for by the school and the Local Education Authority, but after he did wonders at a failing school in Brighton education bosses were keen to get him to Salford.
"The symbols of regeneration are not just The Lowry and Salford Quays - the real symbols are the people themselves. I get cross when people run down Little Hulton and Salford. There is a disease within society of violence, which a minority are spreading, but on a day-to-day basis great things are being done in the community."
Harrop Fold High opened in 2001 after the merger of Little Hulton Community and Joseph Eastham highs, but hit trouble almost immediately. One head brought in to revive the school quit after standards got worse.
But in their latest report inspectors concluded that, out of 49 lessons monitored, teaching was good in 12, satisfactory in 25 and unsatisfactory in 12 - an improvement from the last inspection.
It adds the pupils' attitudes were satisfactory or better in 41 lessons, including 18 in which they were good or very good.
Attendance has also improved and there is a striking reduction in reports of bullying, from 22 in September 2004 to just two in April 2005.
In the autumn and spring terms 36 pupils were excluded for a fixed term compared with 382 in 2003/04. So far this academic year there have been no permanent exclusions, compared to 24 in 2003/04.
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Concerned Parent, Walkden (07/06/2005 at 13:47)
May I remind you of the recent story in the Manchester Evening News dated Thurs 12 May 2005, headlined "SCHOOL PLANS UNDER THREAT" . This describes the possibility that three new schools promised for Salford are now under threat and may NOT NOW BE BUILT which is nothing less than scandalous. Although we are being asked to "Stand Up for Salford", how can we when we, the community, are constantly being let down by the uncertainty caused by this situation. Just to ensure everyone knows what is happening, here is a short extract from the story:
"After inviting three companies to submit tenders for the work, education bosses in the city believe B#48 million will not be enough to build the schools and about B#66 million is needed. The council will have to ask for more cash and education chiefs are furious at the prices being quoted by some of the private firms bidding for the contract".
Remember every year that passes involves further building costs, therefore every delay that Salford comes up with is costing even more money and Salford Council should hang it's head in shame. It is absolutely scandalous that the Local Education Authority are now saying they do not have the money to build three new schools which have been promised for the last five years. Do they ever stop to think how this appalling situation is affecting past and present staff and pupils of these schools? It does not matter what efforts are made locally, Salford Council always manage to throw a spanner in the works. They may be furious at the prices being quoted by the bidding contractors, but now might be able to relate to the exasperation felt within the local community who have been let down year on year. Salford created this situation by bulldozing locals into believing everyone would be better served by agreeing to closures and amalgamations as a result of the 1999 High School Review. It is in Salford Council Records that Harrop Fold Pupils were expected to be accommodated on one site (Hilton Lane) by 2005" To date, not one brick has been laid, and now they have the audacity to say that the new schools are now in jeopardy. I was under the impression that if all three schools cannot be built then under the agreement, none would be built" correct me if I am wrong. The Local Education Authority are quick to say that all schools are autonomous and self governing when they have been identified as requiring special measures. I am sure the current problems being experienced can be traced back to past decisions of the LEA together with the inappropriate meddling of Salford Council. Perhaps it is they that should be put into special measures for the shocking way the have handled the education system.
Mr Edkins congratulation on your good work so far, however get all the assurances you can that your school will in fact be built and let us, the community know of a confirmed date when building work will commence. Until then maybe we will still be hesitant when being asked to "Stand up for Salford"!
Concerned Parent, Walkden
David, Eccles (11/06/2005 at 02:00)
how much did that bus stop cost in eccles ?
MONEY WELL SPENT ?