MP praises school transformation

4 October 2006

Don Valley MP, Caroline Flint has praised Hatfield Visual Arts College for the huge improvement in GCSE results this summer.

The Don valley MP met with Headteacher, Chris Coady, to discuss the improvements in the school's performance.

Said Ms Flint: "The staff, governors and pupils of Hatfield Visual Arts College have done tremendously well and the evidence of this improvement is there for everyone to see as soon as you walk into the school. The pupils have responded brilliantly and the staff appear delighted by the improvements."

The MP was impressed by the standard of uniform, the quiet atmosphere in the school and the new learning logs, personal organisers that all pupils carry with them, to aid their studies and plan homework.

Hatfield Visual Arts College has seen its GSCE results soar, with 62% of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSEs A-C this summer.

Said Cllr Ken Knight, a governor at Hatfield Visual Arts College, "The College has been through some real challenges in recent years, with a major fire a few years ago. Today, parents and pupils can see that we have created a first class institution of learning. The school is going from strength to strength and I couldn't be more proud of everything that has been achieved."

Hatfield has been innovative in improving attendance and behaviour in the school, with the successful introduction of mentors on buses to improve behaviour and the ending of pupils leaving school at lunchtimes. The school now runs three staggered lunch breaks in order to manage the increased numbers using the school canteen.

Ms Flint was also given a tour of the recently constructed £4.5million maths, art and design block. The block will be formally opened later this year.