All change at Ashfield primary school and driver rammed police car
This week's round-up of Ashfield News
Good morning and welcome to this week’s Ashfield News round-up.
This week Ofsted has confirmed a change at one of our primary schools and a fundraiser has been set up for flood victims across Nottinghamshire.
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Primary school becomes academy
A Kirkby-in-Ashfield school rated ‘Good’ in its most recent Ofsted inspection has become an academy.
The move means Kingsway Primary School, in Kingsway, has effectively closed and a new school is in place.
The centre is now being run by the Minster Trust for Education, which already runs a number of school in the area, including the National C of E Academy in Hucknall.
The change officially occurred on New Year’s Eve, Ofsted documents show.
In its conversion letter, Ofsted stated: “It is important to note that, as the academy converter is a new school, which may not yet have been inspected, the inspection judgements of the predecessor school and any associated Ofsted logos are not those of the new academy.
“However, Ofsted takes into account the most recent inspection judgements of the predecessor school for the purpose of scheduling the first inspection of the new academy converter.”
The Minster Trust was set up in Southwell and has gone on to take over the running of a number of schools.
The trust says it “has at its core a collaborative model of leadership and a belief in sharing expertise while unerringly pursuing the best education for pupils in its schools.”
Driver rammed police car in escape bid
A driver who rammed a police car in a desperate bid to escape has been jailed.
Andrew James, 47, was driving a stolen Ford Fiesta in Mansfield when he was intercepted by roads policing officers on the evening of Friday, October 27, last year.
The vehicle, taken from South Yorkshire the previous month, was travelling on false plates as officers began to follow it.
In a desperate bid to escape, James drove the car along Southwell Road West, before turning left along a narrow section of the Old Newark Road – now a dirt track popular with dog walkers.
After bouncing along the track at high speed, James deliberately reversed into the pursuing vehicle, causing the driver to hit his head.
As he drove in the direction of the Bellamy Road estate, James lost control and crashed into a tree.
Footage from a police aircraft called to assist proved that James was alone in the car at the time.
James, of Cross Row, Sutton-in-Ashfield, later pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, he was jailed for 20 months.
Sergeant Karam Kaur, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an appalling display of driving that could easily have led to a serious injury.
“James showed absolutely no regard for either the police officers following him, or the members of the public who may have been on this track as he drove along it.
“I am pleased he has now been jailed and hope this case sends out a clear message to others about the consequences of this kind of behaviour.”
Offices to be converted into flats
Planners have approved a proposal to convert a set of offices on a main Kirkby road into flats.
The application for 42-44 Lowmoor Road was to create two one-bedroom flats and also to make alterations to the shopfront of the building for access to the homes.
The roller shutters at the ground floor level, which was a commercial shop, would also be removed in order for an access door to be created.
Support for flooding victims
A fundraising campaign has been launched to support communities across Nottinghamshire affected by flooding.
Storm Henk caused devastation across the county, including many areas of Ashfield.
The campaign, launched by Nottinghamshire Live, is aiming to raise £5,000, which will then be distributed by Nottinghamshire County Council.
It states: “With the support of Nottinghamshire County Council, we are setting up this fundraiser. The money raised will go to parish councils in affected areas who will be able to distribute it where it is most needed.”
Former police officer conducted ‘inappropriate’ investigation
A former Nottinghamshire police officer was found to have conducted an ‘inappropriate’ investigation into a driving offence, a misconduct hearing heard.
The former police constable was involved in a driving incident in May 2022, while off duty.
The officer commenced an investigation into a driving offence when he returned to duty but “he ought to have known it was inappropriate for him to do so due to a very clear conflict of interest”.
The hearing also heard the officer, who was not named by Nottinghamshire Police, was “dishonest and misleading to the other parties involved as to the availability of CCTV footage of the incident”.
The officer breached the force’s standards of professional behaviour of honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.
An outcome of gross misconduct was found and the force confirmed the officer would have been dismissed if he was still employed.
Life-saving equipment installed
Three new life-saving defibrillators have been installed at locations in Ashfield.
The equipment has been installed at Cowpasture Lane and the Woodlands Medical Practice, both in Sutton, and at the Wild Rabbit Cafe in Portland Park, Kirkby.
These new defibrillators join the ones recently installed at:
• Kings Mill Reservoir, Sutton
• Nabbs Lane changing rooms, Hucknall
• Mayfield Street changing rooms, Kirkby
• Titchfield Park, Kirkby
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