OUTSTANDING JUDGEMEADOW UNVEILED TO THE PUBLIC

From left to right: Vernon Coaker, MP David Powell, Councillor Vi Dempster, Keith Vaz MP and Sheila Locke (Chief Executive, LCC.)

Judgemeadow Community College held its official opening ceremony on 1st March, headed by Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Schools and Learners. The Principal, David Powell, began by remarking how they had recently received an ‘outstanding' from Ofsted, a remarkable achievement.

The Ofsted report stated that ‘The College's strongly inclusive ethos is immediately evident in its friendly and welcoming atmosphere and in the students' positive attitudes and outstanding behaviour.'  Their capacity for sustaining improvement was also praised.

The original concept of the new school came to light when Mr Powell, while on holiday in France, received a message that Judgemeadow needed a vision to be presented within 24 hours. Using the inspirational words from Goethe ‘Architecture is frozen music'; his vision sought the new building to be Beethoven's 9th symphony and fulfil the intentions of it being ‘Magnificent, Inspirational and Joyous'. He feels that although buildings do not transform learning, they do help - it is the people that transform. Judgemeadow is likely to transform lives for many years to come.

Vi Dempster, Leicester Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, provided a link to ‘One Leicester' and said that ‘investing in children was our first priority'. She hailed it a ‘beautiful, beautiful school', and fully supported David Powell's sentiments, that it was not about buildings but about people. She also praised his phenomenal achievement under his 14 years of management. Vernon Coaker also said that he gave ‘14 years of inspirational leadership - the very thing that transforms schools'. He believes Judgemeadow provides an outstanding education to young people, giving the best possible start in life.

The ceremony was accompanied by the school orchestra, as well as dance and vocal acts from the students. The Judgemeadow Jazz Group opened the evening with ‘Smooth' (Santanta) followed by the speeches and the unveiling of the plaque by Vernon Coaker. The orchestra performed Beethoven's ‘Ode to Joy' plus Sam Sparrow's ‘Black and Gold'. Later, students danced to a medley of Michael Jackson's hits and student Doreen Gomez-Weaver sang George Gershwin's ‘Summertime'. The ceremony was brought to a close with all the invited guests going on a tour of the new school building'. So it's - outstanding buildings - outstanding leadership and - an outstanding Ofsted - from Judgemeadow.

Gurjeet Kaur