League tables detailing how primary schools in Lincolnshire have performed over the last 12 months have revealed a decidedly mixed picture across the county.
Department for Education data has shown that 79% of Year 6 students in the county achieved at least grades of level 4 in their reading, writing and maths tests.
The rate is below the national average of 80% but level with the East Midlands average of 79%, and higher than in cities such as Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.
Overall, Lincolnshire is ranked 107th out of 152 local authorities in the national league table.
In Lincoln and the surrounding areas, many schools have far exceeded the national average while others have fallen short of the government’s minimum expectations.
Again girls (80%) outperformed boys (77%) in the county, but the gap has closed year-on-year since 2012.
Some schools in the Lincoln area saw 100% of their pupils achieve level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths.
These were:
Coleby Church of England (Controlled) Primary School
Dunston St Peter’s Church of England Primary School
Eagle Community Primary School
Hartsholme Academy
Washingborough Academy
While most schools in Lincoln reached the government benchmark or floor level of 65% pupils achieving level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths, some fell short of the target.
Schools under 65% floor level
Newton-on-Trent CofE Primary School (63%)
The Lincoln Bishop King Church of England Primary School (61%)
The Hackthorn Church of England Primary School (60%)
The Welbourn Church of England Primary School (58%)
The Priory Witham Academy (46%)
Primary schools failing to meet this level are considered by the Department for Education to be under-performing and are at risk of being turned into an academy, or taken over by a different sponsor or trust if they already have academy status.
Vicky Cook, headteacher at Welbourn C of E Primary School, said: “As with many of these league tables our performance needs to be taken into context. We are a small school and every child carries a significant percentage – for us last year this was over 8% a child.
“One child was absent for SATs week which means that they are not included in our figure- if that child had sat the tests the school’s combined reading, writing and maths percentage would have risen to 66.8% which is above floor and we would therefore not be featured in this report.
“While we are always looking to improve in areas necessary, it’s important to note the real situation behind some of these figures which can sometimes paint a false picture. We are confident of continual improvement and development for the benefit of our children.
“Looking further behind the figures, our school was above the national and local average for data at Foundation Stage – 88% of pupils achieved a Good Level of Development by the end of 2015 which is above the national average of 61%.
“Similarly, 89% of pupils passed the phonics test which is above the national average of 77%, while at Key Stage One we were broadly in line or above the national data. We have a lot of excellent practice to build on.”
Expected progress
Three of the five schools with 100% of its pupils achieving level 4 or above also ensured that all their children were making the expected progress in reading, writing and maths.
Dunston St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, Eagle Community Primary School and Washingborough Academy were listed as schools where all pupils attained the grades expected of them at the start of the academic year.
Other schools where all pupils were making the progress expected were:
Witham St Hughs Academy
Mrs Mary King’s CofE (Controlled) Primary School
The Potterhanworth Church of England Primary School
Ingham Primary School
The Bardney Church of England and Methodist Primary School
Number of other schools, including some under the 65% floor level, saw 100% of pupils attaining grades required in at least one of the subjects.
Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Children’s Services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Whilst we are pleased with the progress that’s been made, we are ambitious and want all our schools to be performing at the highest level for their pupils.
“We know how hard our children, young people, staff and governors work, and the support that is given by parents and carers. We want to make sure that all our children and young people in every area of the county have the best possible opportunities to learn.”
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “As part of this government’s commitment to extending opportunity for all, it is essential that every child leaves primary school having mastered the basics in reading, writing and maths – thanks to our education reforms thousands more pupils each year are reaching those standards.”
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Lincoln Castle is playing host to a farewell event for the 30 sculptures on this year’s imp trail, offering you one last chance to see them all before they are auctioned for charity.
The imps arrived at Lincoln Castle on Tuesday, September 14 after organisers of the trail Lincoln Business Improvement Group made the decision to take them off the streets of Lincoln.
This was after a spate of vandalism which saw multiple sculptures damaged and in need of repair, so Lincoln BIG made the decision to prevent any more of these incidents.
You can see them lined up at the castle. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The move signals the beginning of the end of the Lincoln Imp Trail, which despite its difficulties with vandalism and damage, has been a huge success in the city.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The sculptures can be viewed at Lincoln Castle between 10am and 5pm until September 22, before they are auctioned on October 1, Lincolnshire Day, at Lincoln Cathedral.
This auction will be in aid of St Barnabas Hospice, the official charity partner of the Lincoln Imp Trail. Tickets cost £15 and are on sale here.
See them while you still can! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Vandalism and damage on Lincoln Imp Trail
The Post Impressionist imp, designed by Susan Webber and sponsored by Ruddocks, was found with scuff marks and damage at its spot near the Royal William IV pub on Brayford Pool on Wednesday, September 8. It’s believed that a delivery lorry bumped into the sculpture, causing the damage.
The first imp damaged was the Community Imp on Guildhall Street, which was vandalised on July 21 by 20-year-old Bradley Pennell from Scunthorpe, after a drunken night out. He pleaded guilty in court and has been ordered to pay damages.
It was all change for the imp trail, as the Footie Imp was taken away for repair, the Community Imp returned and the temporary red imp was moved elsewhere!
The next imp to be removed from the trail was the Running Imp at the junction for St Mary’s Street with the pedestrianised High Street, but organisers Lincoln BIG said this was just for some TLC. That was replaced by “Goldie the Imp”.
Visit Lincoln will undergo a rebrand to incorporate the whole of Greater Lincolnshire, expanding the organisation’s geographical footprint.
Visit Lincoln’s new name will be Destination Lincolnshire and will be business focused, to build an engaged tourism, hospitality, leisure and retail community across Greater Lincolnshire.
The award-winning destination management organisation formed in 2012 and has supported a visitor economy growth of 30% to the city of Lincoln since it formed.
The transition to Destination Lincolnshire will be led by businesses, with representation from local authorities involved in the Towns Fund initiative as well as other schemes in Lincolnshire.
There will still be a commitment to Lincoln, as a continued investment in Visit Lincoln allows it to remain an internationally recognised brand.
All marketing activity including the website and social media will remain as Visit Lincoln, along with consumer facing brands such as Taste Lincolnshire and Cycle Lincolnshire.
The organisation’s evolution has been backed by councils across Lincolnshire, and has also developed a partnership with the University of Lincoln’s tourism research observatory which champions research and a data-led approach in the tourism sector.
Speaking about Destination Lincolnshire, Kate Ellis, strategic director for major developments at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Over the last 10 years Visit Lincoln has played a critical role in transforming the city’s tourism offer and international profile.
“Given the impact of COVID we need a much more collaborative approach to rebuilding the visitor economy led by the private sector. By working together we’ll be championing the recovery of the sector much more effectively then if we do it alone.”
Charlotte Goy is the Visit Lincoln CEO. | Photo: VL CIC
Charlotte Goy, chief executive at Visit Lincoln, explains: “Destination Lincolnshire will focus on building an engaged and resilient visitor economy across Greater Lincolnshire.
“Tourism, incorporating retail, leisure and hospitality has been most affected by the pandemic; and Destination Lincolnshire brings forward a new structure which is business led and across a wider geographical footprint.
“Our growth is supported by businesses and operator within the sector who want to see a joined-up approach, and together we’ll champion new packages, digital innovation and collaborations that have not been possible before.
“Destination Lincolnshire will also deliver against the Government’s key visitor economy priorities which include sustainability, skills, inclusive tourism and the levelling up agenda which include the multi-million-pound Town Deals across Lincolnshire.
“We’re at the beginning of this journey, and we will be asking people to help us shape Destination Lincolnshire into an organisation that can support all levels of the visitor economy, from sole traders right the way through to the local enterprise partnership.”
Lincolnshire County Council hopes to get a court order to remove an abandoned trailer of rotting rubbish in Lincoln – if it can’t find the deceased owner’s relatives.
The trailer, described by the county council, as a “wooden caravan-like structure” has been parked on Ripon Street for two years or longer according to a local resident.
The county council stuck a notice letter to the trailer in March this year, stating it was an obstruction to the highway and needs removing within 28 days, which has still not been done. However, commenters on The Lincolnite’s story earlier this week flagged up that the trailer’s owner had died, including one person who said she’d “reported it to the council after the family cleared his flat out”.
The Lincolnite contacted the county council to ask for clarification on the situation and a spokesperson said: “We’re still looking for the current owner’s family and alongside that we’re hoping to secure a court order to allow us to move it, should no living relatives be found.”
Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways at LCC, previously said the council was trying to find out who now owns the trailer to avoid local taxpayers having to pick up the bill for moving it.
She said: “We appreciate this is a nuisance for local residents. We want to make sure as much of your money as possible goes into maintaining and improving our roads.”
The council has not set an exact deadline in its search for the owner’s family, but once the court order comes through a more accurate timeline will be known.
The trailer is full of rotting rubbish. | Photo: Submitted
A notice from the county council was stuck to the trailer stating that it needs removed within 28 days, but this was back in March 2021. | Photo: Submitted
This comes after a concerned Lincoln resident contacted The Lincolnite calling on the county council to take action, saying he has never seen the area so filthy in more than half a century.
And the trailer full of rotting rubbish isn’t the only issue on Ripon Street, as there also appears to be a problem with fly-tipping and overgrown weeds, which City of Lincoln Council says it tackling.
The weed spraying programme is ongoing with Ripon Street scheduled to be sprayed in the next two weeks.
The city council added that Ripon Street and that general area is ‘subject to a significant amount of fly tipping, which is why we try to check and clear all streets around there at least weekly’.
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