Three Thurrock secondary schools are 'outstanding' say Ofsted

THREE Thurrock secondary schools have been declared “outstanding” by Ofsted, the Government inspectorate.

The Ockendon School, which was previously in special measures, Grays Convent, and Gable Hall in Corringham, are all mentioned in the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills 2007/08, released last week.

Councillor Sue MacPherson, Thurrock Council’s Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “I would like to pass on my congratulations to everyone involved at all three schools.

“It seems to me that we, as a borough, concentrate on the negative at the expense of the positive.

“Our schools are improving, we’ve just had the best GCSE results ever and Thurrock is the most improved council for Children and Young People in England according to the Audit Commission.

“These are things to celebrate.”

Rob McCulloch-Graham, the council’s Director of Children’s Services, added: “In the last 12 months, we have made great advances in Thurrock’s Children’s Services.

“We have some tremendous head teachers — John King at Gable Hall, Barbara King at Ockendon and formerly Philip Kyndt at the Convent are just three — but all the heads at all our schools are working with the council to provide the best possible education for all our children.

“I would like to join with Sue MacPherson in congratulating everyone involved in this superb success story, let’s build on this and see Thurrock’s education service go on from strength to strength.”

Gable Hall, judged outstanding for the fourth time, has also been informed that it has met the criteria to become a Leadership and Innovation Academy.

There are only two other schools with this designation in the whole of the country.