THREE newly-created primary schools have been officially unveiled as part of a project to improve education in Basildon.

Kingswood Infant and Junior Schools have merged to form Kingswood Primary School, in Clay Hill Road, Basildon, while Northlands Infant and Junior Schools have combined to form Northlands Primary School, in Winifred Road, Pitsea.

The Len Wastell Infant School and Pitsea Junior School have also been amalgamated to create Maple Grove Primary School, in High Road, Pitsea.

The mergers were the idea of the Basildon Excellence Panel, chaired by former Ofsted chief Sir Mike Tomlinson.

His crack team of experts has dramaticially improved standards since forming 18 months ago.

At the beginning of 2014, seven primary schools in Basildon were rated as inadequate by Ofsted and a further 14 required improvement.

Now none are inadequate, and just eight still need to improve.

Terri Sargent, Basildon councillor responsible for environment and community, said: “It’s great to see Basildon schools improving, as they have done over the past few years.

“Creating primary schools by amalgamating infant and junior schools will only enhance that, because of the benefits of consistency and planning that having an all-through primary school can bring.

“It’s better for the children, it’s better for parents and the community, and it’s better for the schools.”

The excellence panel is now being used as an improvement model throughout Britain.

Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s education boss, added: “We are committed to improving educational standards in Basildon and throughout Essex.

“What the Basildon Excellence Panel has achieved in a relatively short space of time is remarkable.

“The merger of infant and junior schools is a logical next step in driving further improvements and will help ensure better consistency and continuity in learning, as well as allowing closer monitoring of pupil progress.

“As a council, we are firmadvocates of the school-led improvement model and are actively encouraging schools in other areas of the county to follow Basildon’s lead.”

MP Stephen Metcalfe helped formally open the new schools, which hosted balloon releases to celebrate the landmark event.

Improvement needed

IN 2012 the Echo launched its Better Schools for Basildon campaign to push for education improvements.

We put the spotlight on the issues following concerns about failing schools and poor exam pass rates.

It led to the first Basildon education summit, which was designed to bring about changes to give every child a good start in life.

It was well attended by councillors, senior education officials, governors, teachers and MPs.

Stephen Castle, the man then responsible for schools in Essex, said he knew he had to act after Education Secretary Michael Gove raised the issue with him.

The hard work is not yet over for the Basildon Excellence Panel, a joint initiative between Essex County Council, Basildon Council and Basildon Education Schools Trust, as it aims to see all primary schools in the town rated good or outstanding by next summer.