THE NEW school year at Sir William Ramsay School in Rose Avenue sees the introduction of major changes after a damning report by Ofsted inspectors gave the school the lowest rating of “inadequate”.
During a two day visit in June the inspectors concluded that pupil behaviour and attitudes and staff leadership and management were all inadequate and that the quality of education and the pupils’ personal development “requires improvement”. They excepted the sixth form provision which they rated as “good”.
The inspection came just a few weeks after a new headteacher, Paul Ramsey, took control.
In his first week he instituted a stricter school uniform policy and banned hoodies. He insisted that lessons start with a silent activity “to allow a calm and orderly start and improve behaviour.” In his second week he reinforced punctuality rules.
In a letter to parents before the start of the autumn term this month Mr Ramsey laid out a new, stricter behaviour policy. He also tells parents that heavy make-up, including false eyelashes, are not permitted and neither are nail extensions.
Following publication of the Ofsted report last month a school statement read: “The school has developed an action plan which addresses the key areas for improvement identified in the report.”
The inspectors spoke to a number of pupils on their visit and drew worrying conclusions.
Their report says: “Pupils at this school are not always protected from bullying and harassment. Some pupils at key stages 3 and 4 do not report bullying as they are not confident it will be dealt with effectively.
“The school’s personal development programme does not yet ensure that all pupils show tolerance and respect for one another. As a result, some pupils use homophobic and racist language. They do not understand its impact on others.”
The inspectors say that school governors and many members of staff have confidence in the new head to make rapid improvements. The school is attended by around 1,000 students from the immediate area.
*Nine out of ten of the school’s sixth form students succeeded in obtaining their first or reserve choice university following the publication of A level and BTEC results last month. Half the students received A* to B or the BTEC equivalent.
Half the village has hosepipe ban while the other half escapes water restrictions
ABOUT half the residents in Penn and Tylers Green are affected by water restrictions, including a hosepipe ban, while the other half aren’t.
That’s because the boundary between Thames Water and Affinity Water writhes like an empty hosepipe through the middle of the community and while Thames Water imposed restrictions on 24 August, Affinity has indicated it does not expect to impose any this year. Both companies are asking customers to restrict their water usage voluntarily,
The boundary between the two companies seems illogical. It means, for instance, that households at one end of King’s Ride can use a hosepipe, while those at the other end can’t.
Work has been ongoing over recent years to standardise the pipes linking the two areas, so that in an emergency – like a major fire for instance – water can flow easily from one company’s pipes to the other. However, there’s no suggestion that Affinity can “lend” water to Thames in the current restrictions.
Meanwhile, local farmers reported that grain harvests produced lower than average yields this year because of the dry weather. Most completed their harvest earlier than usual this year – by mid August – also because of the weather.
The Penn Estate said it was the first time in anyone’s memory the harvest had been completed without losing a single day to bad weather.
Firefighters were kept busy during the dry spell. On 11 August they spent five hours dealing with a blaze that destroyed 20 acres of wheat on a farm in Gatemoor Lane, Penn. Later the same day trains were stopped at Beaconsfield station when fire took hold on an embankment nearby. On 24 August they were called to an out of control bonfire in a garden in Penn Road, Hazlemere.
While thunderstorms brought temporary relief to gardeners in other parts of the country, there were only a couple of heavy showers in Penn and Tylers Green, meaning there has been only occasional drizzle and no significant rainfall throughout the whole of July and August.
Farewell Bill
Boundary commissioners recommend placing Penn and Tylers Green in the same council ward
FOR THE first time Penn and Tylers Green could be represented by the same councillors if recommendations proposed by the local government boundary commissioners are approved.
Even though Penn and Tylers Green is one community an old ward boundary line splits through the middle of the area, ensuring that we are not represented by one voice at Buckinghamshire Council.
Now, after visiting the area, boundary commissioners are recommending major changes to ward boundaries in the county in an attempt to level up the numbers of local electorates. They are also proposing an overall reduction in the number of councillors in the county.
They recommend taking Penn out of the existing Penn and Old Amersham ward and placing it with Tylers Green and Loudwater in a new Buckinghamshire Council ward, which will elect two councillors. Old Amersham will join the rest of Amersham in a separate ward.
The commissioners said: “We decided that a ward that links Penn parish with Tylers Green would reflect community identities and interests. Conversely, despite Penn Parish Council’s view to the contrary, we were not persuaded that Penn parish has particularly strong community links with Amersham town based on the evidence received.”
The recommendations are subject to a public consultation until 10 October. A final decision will be taken early in the new year.
Taylor Wimpey’s Gomm Valley housing plans are strongly opposed
OBJECTIONS to Taylor Wimpey’s planning applications to build around 600 homes in the Gomm Valley, between Cock Lane and Hammersley Lane, have continued to flood in to Buckinghamshire Council. (see the two previous blogs for plan details).
Here’s a selection of just a few of the hundreds of objections, highlighting some of the points made and edited for brevity. Councillors are expected to consider the applications at the end of September.
Owen Brangwin, chairman of Tylers Green Middle School governors: The development risks the health and safety of our pupils, staff and community. The traffic outside the school is already very difficult and often dangerous.To add an even greater flow of traffic would create a situation which would be extremely difficult especially as the school will also be impacted by the proposed Ashwells development. The developers have not consulted with the middle school on the likely impact.
Nicole Webster on behalf of Penn Parish Council: The housing design is unimaginative and its impact on the visual landscape ill considered. It takes no account of climate change and future housing design solutions. It will increase traffic from the London Road and hence traffic movements in Penn and Tylers Green.
Dr Matt Thomson, Chilterns Conservation Board: The enjoyment for users of the footpath network, including walks connecting High Wycombe residents to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, would deteriorate. The views from the AONB along the Hammersley Lane boundary would be significantly negatively affected.
Tony Garner, former chairman of Pimms Action Group: There is no need to mix commercial premises with domestic housing in the valley. The existing Peregrine site has vacant business space as does the Kingsmead Business Park nearby. Elsewhere office accommodation is being converted into domestic use.
Jack Taylor, lead campaigner for the Woodland Trust: The application may result in damage and deterioration to two ancient woodland sites, Little Gomm’s Wood and Pimms Grove. We recommend buffer zones of at least 50 metres between any development and ancient woodland.
Jonathan Smales from Human Nature, the previous developers who had the rug pulled from under their feet when landowners Aviva sold the land to Taylor Wimpey: The Gomm Valley deserves more. This is essentially ‘houses in a field’ with some decorative bits of planting to attempt to prettify the landscape. There will be cars everywhere. It will struggle to possess a true sense of place.
Miles Green, on behalf of the Penn and Tylers Green Residents’ Society: If permitted this development would become a collection of unremarkable standardised houses by the roadside with not a glimmer of a sense for community or sense of place. It would be a shocking waste of a unique opportunity for Wycombe to create something truly memorable, a landmark development of national significance.
Dr Chris Woodman, on behalf of the High Wycombe Society: We do not believe Thames Water’s assurance that they can cope with the foul water effluent, given their record of allowing sewage to pass into the River Thames and other locations at a frequency for which they have been heavily fined by the Environment Agency.
Simon Kearey, on behalf of Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group: In the light of existing pressures already in place, we would be concerned about the pressure to local health services of such a large development.
Mike Chadwick, on behalf of the Chiltern Society: There is only scanty information on how proposals to enhance biodiversity will be delivered and maintained in the future. More robust procedures need to be in place.
On the other hand…
Natural England, the Government quango with responsibility for ensuring the “natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed” has said it has no objections. Ellen Satchwell, the sustainable developer adviser for the Thames and Solent region, said: “Natural England considers that the proposed development will not have significant adverse impacts on statutory designated sites and has no objection.”
Penn and Tylers Green news in brief
Parking problems – The council is considering placing double yellow lines at the junction of Ashley Drive and New Road and the junctions of Ashley Drive and The Lawns after complaints about inconsiderate parking. Elsewhere, Tylers Green First and Middle Schools have asked the council to consider painting further double yellow lines in School Road, Tylers Green and in Cock Lane in order to stop parking and improve safety at school arrival and leaving times.
Open days – Penn’s 12th century Holy Trinity Church will be open for tours and refreshments during the national heritage open day weekend on 9,10 and 11 September. Earl and Countess Howe are conducting tours of Penn House during the heritage weekend. Pre-booking is essential.
Bin charge – Householders in the former Wycombe council area, which includes Tylers Green and Hazlemere, will be charged £50 a year from 26 September if they want their green rubbish bin collection to continue.
Sign of the times – St Margaret’s Church, Tylers Green now has a card machine so those wishing to donate at services with a credit card instead of placing cash on a plate can do so.
Inquest delay – The inquest into the death of a young man killed in a road accident at the corner of Hammersley Lane and the London Road has still not been held a year after this death. Nessar Khan, 20, was returning home on his moped to Wooburn Green from his job at Kentucky Fried Chicken at Wycombe Retail Park when he was involved in a collision with a car at the junction on 6 September last year. A pre-inquest review is due to be held today (1 September) to sort out arrangements for the full inquest. Such reviews are usually held when crash investigations are particularly complex.
Timetable changes – Arriva Buses is changing the timetable of the number 31 Penn to High Wycombe service from 4 September. The service will remain hourly in non-peak times, Monday to Friday. See their website for details.
Jubilee funds – The village celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in May raised £2,750 for the Buckinghamshire branch of Parkinson’s UK.
Wrong Penn – A report and photograph in the Daily Mirror of a UFO over Penn caused much puzzlement in the village. It transpired it was spotted in Penn near Wolverhampton and not, as the paper stated, over our Penn. In any event it turned out to be a deflating foil balloon reflecting the setting sun’s rays.
Regional news in brief
Gently does it – A giant gantry being manoeuvred into position to help build Britain’s longest railway bridge – the two mile viaduct over the Colne Valley Regional Park in Denham. The gantry was dismantled and brought here from Hong Kong where it built a new bridge over Hong Kong harbour. Picture Keith Hoffmeister.
Hospitals under pressure – Neil McDonald, chief executive of Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, told the latest board meeting that the heatwave, staff hit by Covid and catching up with the consequences of the pandemic, continue to present considerable challenges to local hospitals. The problems are particularly acute in emergency departments where latest figures showed 72 per cent of patients were being seen in under four hours. The trust target is 95 per cent.
The number of patients being handed over to hospitals from ambulances in under 15 minutes was 27 per cent, compared to the trust target of 65 per cent; while the number being handed over in under 30 minutes was 78 per cent compared to the target of 95 per cent. Mr McDonald paid tribute to all NHS staff in the area for their hard work and dedication during trying times.
MP calls for HS2 restrictions – Penn’s MP Sarah Green is asking Affinity Water to restrict the volume of water being used to construct HS2 at a time when everyone is being asked to limit their water usage. The tunnel boring machines under the Chilterns use 10 million litres a day – the equivalent of four days usage for a town the size of Amersham – although some of it is recycled.
Shopping centre transformation – Plans have been made to transform the Chilterns shopping centre in High Wycombe, keeping outward facing shops, including Primark, and creating a new pedestrianised street at the rear of the complex linking Frogmoor to Priory Road, which will include cafes and restaurants. The remainder of the centre will be converted into flats and apartments.
Burke investigation – A famous Beaconsfield based politician who launched a school in Penn for refugees from the French Revolution, may be ‘cancelled’ by Parliament because his brother ran a business linked to the slave trade. Edmund Burke, the 18th century Whig MP who has buildings and a road named in his honour in Beaconsfield, was a lifelong opponent of slavery and often spoke against its excesses, while his brother Richard made money from plantations in the Caribbean. Parliament is reviewing the backgrounds of all those who have portraits or statues in the Palace of Westminster and Burke’s name has been added to a list to be considered because he had “family interests in the transatlantic slave trade.”
Songwriter dies – Former Wycombe Royal Grammar School pupil Tom Springfield who, which his sister Dusty and Mike Hurst formed the group The Springfields and went on to write numerous hits in the 1960s, has died at the age of 88.
Fast trains – The Elizabeth Line, formerly Crossrail, offering fast and frequent rail services to central London and the City, will begin operating from Slough and Maidenhead stations from 6 November. There’ll be six trains an hour in peak times and four an hour non-peak.
Penn’s two remarkable doctors
PEOPLE’S Friend magazine featured a book about two of Penn’s most famous women in its summer special issue.
Endell Street, by Wendy Moore, tells the remarkable story of Dr Louisa Garrett Anderson and her partner Dr Flora Murray.
They arrived in the village in the early 1900s to live in a cottage by Long Pond in Church Road – Louisa was a surgeon in London and Flora an anaesthetist at the Chelsea Hospital for Women.
As the suffragette movement grew, so did their involvement. They both took part in marches and campaigns – Louisa was arrested a couple of times – and they medically treated suffragette hunger-strikers and those injured in protests.
Just before the First World War they moved into a cottage in Paul’s Hill, Penn and when war began they devoted all their attention to helping all sick and injured.
Within weeks Dr Garrett Anderson, who was 41 in 1914, and Dr Murray, who was 45, established the first hospital near the front line in France that was run entirely by women. They were the first women surgeons to be accepted by the British War Office.
They then established a second hospital in Claridges Hotel, Paris and then, in 1915, they took over the Endell Street Military Hospital in London, again staffed by women.
The hospital was to treat 26,000 patients before it closed four years later. In 1917 both were awarded a CBE by the King.
Both are buried alongside each other in Penn’s Holy Trinity churchyard. Dr Garrett Anderson’s tombstone reads: “We have been gloriously happy.”
You can contact this blog at peter@pennandtylersgreen.com It is due to be next updated on 1 October.