Turin Grove School on road to success

Governors at Turin Grove School in Edmonton, recently reviewed the first year’s contract for the school’s management company, EdisonLearning, noting performance in the first five terms of the new style of management.

It was concluded that overall EdisonLearning had performed well, fulfilling 88% (14 out of 16 components) of its targets this year.

GCSE exam results overall (5 A*-C) have risen to 42% during EdisonLearning’s tenure, and including English and maths they have moved from 11% to 19%.

Martin Cocks, chair of governors, said:

“We recognise that it takes time to establish traditions of examination success and the school has gone through an enormous transformation.

“Staff re-organisation and the amalgamation of the upper and lower schools of the former Salisbury School to form Turin Grove have been a great success.

“The school’s refurbishment; a marked reduction in pupil exclusions; and more students going on to local colleges are even more successes, while general administration and leadership of the school has improved vastly.”

Targets that were not met include attendance, which dipped below 90% last year. But a robust system and plan is now in place to ensure improvements in the coming year.

Trevor Averre-Beeson, executive headteacher was pleased with the governors’ review and was looking forward to continued success in the coming two years.

He will be moving on from Turin Grove to lead on EdisonLearning’s strategy building on success of Turin Grove. In this role he will continue to offer support and advice to Turin Grove.

Martin Cocks said, “Trevor has been immensely influential in this first phase of the changes that the school has made since April 2007, and he leaves it with a firm foundation for continued progress.”

“Whilst we accept EdisonLearning’s decision to reorganise their team, governors are delighted that Trevor will still be available for consultancy within the school.”

New Headteacher, Janet Lewis who has a 26-year career in education is joining the school in November. She has a wealth of experience both as a Headteacher at the Sandringham School in St Albans considered ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, and as an Assistant Director in the Children’s Service in Hammersmith & Fulham.

Principal Leaders, Angela Gartland and Jessica Ward, continue at the school ensuring a smooth transition in this changeover. EdisonLearning’s existing advisers will be working with the school for even greater improvements.

Mark Logan, managing director of EdisonLearning, said, “Trevor and his team have overseen a challenging period of change and amalgamation, successfully completing the first five terms of the transformation plan. Janet can build on the work already done.”

Janet said, “I am delighted to be joining the EdisonLearning team at Turin Grove. The council and governors have taken a big step working with EdisonLearning and I look forward to helping it become the school we will all be proud of.”

Enfield Council will continue to work closely with Janet and EdisonLearning to ensure that the next phase of the school’s development is successful.

Cllr Glynis Vince, cabinet member for children’s services and a school governor, said, “Turin Grove now has all the right elements for success. It is a smaller learning community; it has wonderful new buildings and a determined staff and students.

“Trevor has made a fine contribution establishing Turin Grove and I am confident that Janet Lewis will build on this in the years to come. This is a real partnership effort with the governors, the council and EdisonLearning all working together for the good of the young people in Edmonton. I wish Trevor well as he moves on and I wish Janet every success in this new post."

In the five terms since Edison has been managing the school

exclusions have reduced from 200 to zero

teaching has improved significantly to adequate, good or outstanding

Enfield Council has invested £8.8m refurbishing the school and establishing all year groups on one site

students helped design a new uniform and the school was renamed Turin Grove

This document was last updated on 2008-10-24 13:53:29 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_133488