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School firm under scrutiny as primary gets ‘weak’ grading
By Chris Mullany
Labour education spokesman Cllr Andy Simmons has voiced his concern about Southwark’s private education partner, CEA, after a Camberwell primary went on to serious weaknesses.
Cobourg Primary was inspected by Ofsted last November, which found unsatisfactory standards, achievement and behaviour, but an overall acceptable standard of education. The school’s head has said Cobourg has produced an action plan to address the weaknesses, and increase the number of permanent staff.
But Cllr Simmons told the ‘News’ that officers from CEA, who run the borough’s key education services, had spoken to him in November and told him they “were confident no schools were going into special measures or serious weaknesses.” With Peckham Rye primary about to hear back from Ofsted, and Cllr Simmons fearing the worst after a turbulent period, he said the education company’s assessment of schools, when it took over the services last August, should be closely looked at.
“If CEA are applying their help, on the basis of their assessments, then they have to be sure that the assessments are correct,” said Cllr Simmons.
A council spokeswoman said the result of the Peckham Rye inspection was not yet known, while Simon Jenkin, Director of Schools Services at CEA, said: “Where it is found that schools are not providing an acceptable level of education we must all show a commitment to improving the situation. From the outset CEA@Southwark have had a clear focus and commitment to improving the standard of education in Southwark’s schools.” He said it would be ‘improper and impossible’ to predict Ofsted inspections before they were published. (Southwark News 26/2/04)
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Mums Measuring metres to academy
By Kevin Quinn
Disgruntled mums have been taking to the streets with measuring wheels in a bid to get a place at Bermondsey’s newest secondary.
The City of London Academy (Southwark) will be opening up in Bermondsey next September. And although the permanent buildings won’t be completed until at least a year later, the school has been inundated with applications. The academy has received 793 applications for the 180 places it has to offer this September. Currently under construction at Paterson Park off St James’s Road, the academy was won for the area after a long-fought battle by campaigning parents who in recent years found themselves without places for their children.
Now, some of these very same parents argue they are being denied a place at the popular school because measurements taken determining those closest to the academy are wrong. The admission criteria for the academy state that if there are more applicants than places, then places will be awarded to those who live nearest to the school, measured by the shortest safe walking distance once statement children, those who entered via the academy business enterprise specialism, and City children, have come in. However some of the 613 applicants that have been turned down say they are being told that they are further away from the school then they actually are, as the definition of ‘safe walking distance’ refuses to take in short-cuts, parks, pathways and roads to estates.
Sara McManara, whose son Charlie has been told he has not been given a place, lives very near the site for the academy, in Masters Drive. Mrs McManara told the ‘News’ that she was told she was 1,280 metres away and had just missed out on a place. However she believes that the actual route Charlie would take to school would be much nearer. “I’m going to borrow a trundle wheel and measure the route myself because I think it’s well under 1,000 metres. I’m still trying to find out what route they have taken but I reckon they have gone a long way around.”
She says that she would walk to the end of her drive, go over the Rotherhithe New Road pedestrian crossing, over Catlin Street which has a road island into St Stevenson’s Crescent and to site of St Augustine’s Church at the back of the academy, then up to where the academy’s gates will be on the junction of Lynton Road and St James’s Road. However, she suspects that the route that was actually taken would either see her son going along Rotherhithe News Road and over the hill on St James’s Road in one direction or along Ilderton, Galleywall and Lynton roads in the other direction.
Debra Burgess, Resources Manager at the academy, told the ‘News’ that the distances were not conducted by the academy but independently by the council, to ensure fairness, and added that she believed that they would follow main highways. She told the ‘News’: “We welcome anyone who feels the distances to be incorrectly measured to make this the basis of their argument at appeal hearings, which will be heard by an independent adjudicator.”
Lesley Davis, whose son Chas was also turned down from a place at the academy, says she has already measured the route her son would take each morning from the family home, in Gomm Road, Rotherhithe. With the help of a friend, using a trundle wheel, she says her route would be some 625 metres shorter than the distance quoted to her by the academy. “I live just on the other side of Southwark Park, on a road that leads into the park. It is the route that Chas already takes as he makes his way to Southwark Park Primary School and it is the obvious route to take. Yet, I’m being told that the safe route would see him going along Lower Road, all the way around Jamaica Road, into Southwark Park Road and up St James’s Road. No-one would use that route if they lived where we do.”
Both mums are busy now preparing their cases for the academy’s appeal hearings. The places have proved so tight at the academy that even if Mrs Davis wins her argument her son Chas would still not be guaranteed a place at the school, although her chances would be greatly increased.
Of the 180 on offer, seven places were given to those with statements of educational need naming the academy. Eighteen places were given to those who after taking the specialism exam were in the top ten per cent. A further thirteen places were taken by children living within the corporation’s boundaries. The remaining 142 places, split into five bands have, the academy said, been specifically given to those nearest the academy. The deadline for those willing to accept a place had now passed and the academy told the ‘News’ that those on waiting list would soon hear if they have been successful in getting in on the second round.
MP Simon Hughes, who helped campaign for the school, agreed that the issue of distances should be investigated. “From what the Southwark News tells me about people who have raised issues with them, there seems to be a very reasonable cause for concern” he said.
“No system pleases everybody and it may be difficult now to unscramble the omelette. But I will investigate immediately and if certain distances have been unfairly calculated then that will have to be put right. I shall take up this issue with the City of London and the Council immediately.” (Southwark News 26/2/04)
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Friars show they’re not run of the mill!
By Euan Denholm
Borough schoolchildren have built their own wind turbines with a helping hand from local MP Simon Hughes and Shell.
Pupils from Friar’s Primary School spent a morning last week making mini-turbines, understanding how they worked and why, mirroring the massive wind turbine installed on the Southbank, powering the “Electric Storm” art installation near Shell’s headquarters.
“We are investigating how to harness the power of wind and so we have installed the 43 metre high turbine on the Southbank which produces 800 kilowatts of electricity for the National Grid. The London Eye needs 500 Kw,” said Andrew Eddy, Director of Shell’s London office.
“This workshop complements that and encourages local children to think about these important issues. There is so much energy in the room. If this is school I’d like some more of it.”
Friary’s children certainly agreed, wide-eyed Jasmine said that she had a lot of fun lining the models up and learning what made the turbines tick. “We learned that if we had enough turbines we could create power for the whole of Britain, really helping the environment,” the nine year old said.
Local MP Simon Hughes, also dropped by, helping the children understand the importance of energy issues. “They were enjoying themselves learning things and understanding what we need to do to save the planet all at the same time,” he said.
Janet Simmons, Friars Head teacher, said that the workshops brought science to life for the children, “these big ideas are linked to something real which the kids can relate to.”
The workshop was one of several run by Shell at Southwark’s schools; St George’s, Johanna and Charles Dickens will also be taking part.
The school had also celebrated the start of the year, with assistant Diane Couch receiving a New Year’s Honour.
The 70-year-old gran received her MBE from the Queen, awarded for 40 years of service as an assistant at Friars Primary School in Borough.
Mrs Couch, her children and grandchildren have been part of the Friars community for over three generations,” Simon Hughes said. “Diane Couch is just the sort of person who should be honoured for her unstinting service to the community.” (Southwark News 19/2/04)
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Fear for pre-school services
By Megan Welford
Fifty six Southwark pre-schools could lose vital services such as special needs provision and development workers due to the council’s Best Value Review of Education, a Labour councillor has claimed.
Speaking at a Full Council Assembly last month, Nunhead ward councillor Alun Hayes drew attention to the issues faced by St Mary’s pre-school in his Nunhead ward.
His concern stems from changes to the council’s system of funding which, over the next three years, will ask organisations to bid for contracts rather than giving them a grant. The changes could affect, not just St Mary’s but fifty six pre-schools around the borough.
The schools affected are supported by the Pre-School Learning Alliance (PSLA), an education charity who advise and provide information to 16,000 pre-schools across the country. PSLA development workers help schools with funding applications, family learning and training courses. They also hold funds allocated for special needs, and currently ensure that all children at St Mary’s are provided for.
Kristen Allen, parent and St Mary’s committee member, said: “We have been told we will lose our special needs provision. We will no longer be able to work one-to-one with children, and this could lead to their exclusion later on.”
The PSLA say they are “concerned,” and are still negotiating about the services the council will ask them to bid for.
David Wallis, Children and Services Manager at the council’s Education department, told the ‘News’: “There will be reductions from previous grant aid, but special needs will be retained.” He added: “We still value PSLA as a valuable contributor to education in the borough.”
“There may also be a way to keep the development workers employed by the PSLA but under the jurisdiction of Southwark Council,” he continued. “They would work towards the ‘Southwark Kitemark’ – quality standards in pre-schools.”
But Cllr Hayes maintained: “With the extra investment from the government in early years provision I am disappointed that the council is suggesting funding cuts. They will have a detrimental effect on the services St Mary’s provides to kids.”
Bob Skelly, Executive Member for Education countered: “Government directives mean we have had to divert money into child protection. We are trying as much as we can to protect a sector we consider extremely important.” (Southwark News 19/2/2004)
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Walworth School Concert
Families, friends, teachers and the Mayor of Southwark were treated to a spectacular fusion of musical styles at Walworth School’s 2004 music concert last Thursday.
The evening began with a military march to greet the Mayor, who ended the evening by taking the microphone and belting out the chorus to the Beatles’ classic ‘Obladi Oblada’!
The evening swung from Beethoven to Beyonce, by way of the Blues Band, the Beatles and La Bamba, showing the sheer range of musical talent at the school.
The audience was asked to dig deep and raised over £600 to provide more music lessons and instruments. (Southwark News – 12/2/2004)
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Working together at English Martyrs
English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary School lies within heart of Walworth and is home to almost 450 children, most of the pupils come from the local community. Anne Boyd has served in a number of positions at the school and has been Headteacher for the last nine years.
“I am particularly proud of how well the children support each other,” said Anne. “As a school we ensure that our children have access to great teachers and the best resources available and in return we ask that they give of their best at all times – in their behaviour, their attitude to work and to each other. With hard work and commitment everyone can be whatever they want to be.”
Certainly there are a number of success stories among the school’s previous pupils. One ex-pupil has finished her studies at Oxford, and another lectures in Maths at Cambridge University.
The resources at the school are impressive. Most of the classrooms are double-sized, with enough space for quiet areas for reading and access to classroom PC’s. There are two ITC suites, and all PC’s are centrally networked. A new school website has also just been designed.
The school works very closely with the transition to secondary schools, using year 6 “taster days” and joint project work to ensure that their pupils make the best possible start when they move from primary to secondary school.
Last month the school opened the doors on its new Nursery, for the first time providing 26 places for the local community. Because the school buildings are listed, the new Nursery is built in the style of the existing school sites, including specially designed windows that are identical to their neighbouring buildings.
The Nursery is built as an extension to the previous premises officer’s house, and features high wooden beamed ceilings and spacious and colourful classrooms. For Anne Boyd, the new Nursery, which she describes as her “pride and joy,” represents the conclusion of a seven-year ambition.
Music is a strength at the school. There is an orchestra and school choir that regularly perform. All children at key stage 1 are given recorder lessons, and at year 4 children can choose to learn additional instruments including violin, cello, guitar and trumpet.
The school also has long standing links with the Royal Ballet. Pupils have been involved in the “Chance to Dance” scheme that provides weekly professional dance coaching to children who show a talent for ballet. There have also been a number of performances at the Peckham Pulse, which parents have attended. Due to such links, a boy from the school had gone on to attend a secondary dance & performance school in Chiswick.
When walking around the school it is clear that the children are well behaved and treat their teachers and each other with respect. At lunchtime tables are set out so that children from all years sit with each other. All year 6 pupils act as prefects and each year group is twinned with another year to encourage such activities as reading, and learning how to play games together.
Pupil energy wardens look at ways in which the school can save energy and improve the environment, this includes plans to contribute kitchen waste to a new recycling and Environmental Education Centre to be built at Chumley Gardens. Tree wardens will have responsibility for looking after the new orchard that will be planted in the school garden in March.
There is a strong students’ council that has recently been involved in the design of the new playground athletics track and lunchtime games markings. A “Place to be” co-ordinator and team of 4 counsellors provide 1-2-1 pupil counselling, and there are plans to extend this to include parent counselling too.
The involvement of parents is important to the success of the school. The recent parents evening saw a 90% attendance rate and those unable to attend on the evening are being followed up. There have also been a number of courses for parents, which introduce them to the curriculum so that they can support their children at home. Examples have included ICT taster sessions, and a family literacy project, which encouraged parents and children to work together. (Southwark News – 12/2/2004)
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A Community of Learning
The Ann Bernadt Early Years Centre and Nursery School in Peckham was opened in December 1997 and is named after Ann Bernadt, the local councillor and school governor who died earlier that year.
The centre provides a range of services for young children and their families including the nursery school, holiday play schemes and services to support parents and the community developed by the community worker, Doreen Burridge. The centre is open 50 weeks a year and is managed by Roxy Brew. Georgie McCall is the Headteacher of the Nursery.
For many people, their first experience of the centre is the parent/carer & toddler group, which runs for three mornings a week. The group gives local people a chance to meet staff at the centre, see what else is available and crucially, an opportunity to meet with other people from the local community.
Doreen Burridge has worked in childcare in Southwark for over 18 years and for the past two years has been the community worker at the centre. “I came here 2 years ago to create a community provision and the experience has been a wonderful challenge,” said Doreen.
“I enjoy being able to help the community, as well as helping individuals with their queries and concerns, whether that be in housing, health, education, employment or immigration. Much of my role is advocacy - speaking up for people, and helping them solve their problems. The nature of my job means that I have to keep my own knowledge of such issues as education, social services, immigration and housing up to date. Often it requires me to carry out additional research in my own time, but this also allows me to increase my own professional development.”
Doreen runs a number of groups and workshops for local people, often working in partnership with others such as Leighann Kemp, the Health Visitor from West Peckham Sure Start. The current workshops include baby massage and aromatherapy, crafts, cake decorating, candle making and sewing lessons.
In the sewing class there are parents with children at the centre and those whose children have been at the centre in the past.
One parent has had 2 children at the centre that have since moved on to a local primary school. She has been encouraged to develop her skills, such as cake decorating and bookkeeping and is hoping to bring these together and eventually start her own business. She said, “Coming here gave me encouragement, which was really good for me.”
Another parent is May. She is learning to make trousers, and also appreciates the opportunity to attend the centre, “I enjoy meeting people and having a chat. The centre also gives you the chance to share your experiences and talents, and to help others too.”
Involving in the community and celebrating its diversity is a key aspect of the centre’s work. The Nursery recently celebrated the Chinese New Year. Children made Chinese dragons, fans and created calligraphy displays. Chinese food was cooked at the school and staff and children dressed in the colour red and took part in a musical procession in the school hall.
Another community programme is Step into Learning, which helps parents gain access to college courses. Doreen keeps up to date on new courses and often speaks with course administrators and tutors. She helps parents with applications and has even accompanied them to interviews or visits to the college.
Among the recent successes of Step into Learning is the mother who has started a decorating and plumbing course at Southwark College and two parents have begun training to become teaching assistants.
“As well as the specific problems or concerns that I deal with, isolation and loneliness are big issues in the community and it’s great to be able to bring the community together,” said Doreen.
Next month a family maths workshop will start. The workshop will introduce families to fun ways to explore and understand maths and will allow parents to continue helping their children with maths questions homework. (Southwark News – 12/2/2004)
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Education library service saved again
A decision last week from Southwark Council’s Executive Committee fends off a threat to the borough’s Education Library Service from Southwark’s education partner Cambridge Education Associates (CEA), who took over the running of the council’s school services from WS Atkins in September 2003.
The ELS is a central resource for schools of nearly 90,000 loan items including books, artefacts, costumes and musical instruments. Its budget is devolved, which means that it is allocated a small part of every school’s budget. CEA proposed to delegate that budget, which would mean that schools would be free to spend the money elsewhere if they chose to do so.
Southwark’s Head of Libraries and Lifelong Learning, Adrian Olsen, protested that the delegation had been implemented under WS Atkins, and had almost killed the ELS. In his report to the Executive Committee he stated: “The ELS is not like other traded services where there is a wide range of suppliers and a choice can be made by schools. Buying some extra books for the school library cannot possibly replicate the rich range of resources available on a shared basis from ELS.”
The ELS also provides a Library Advisory Service to school libraries and is developing links with the nursery sector. Olson added: “The lack of a stable budget would affect the ability of the service not just to survive but also change, improve and develop.”
Mike Smith, Head of Strategy and Resources for CEA said: “We put forward the proposal to delegate based on the views of headteachers and the majority of schools. The council decided otherwise and that’s their decision.” The CEA surveyed 97 schools and had 24 responses.
The decision to keep the devolved budget was welcomed by UNISON branch secretary John Mulrenan: “I’m extremely pleased that councillors listened to the rational arguments put forward in the defence of the ELS, and very pleased at the outcome.”
Education Executive Member Cllr Bob Skelly was equally pleased. “Delegation would mean the end of the service. As a former school librarian I am committed to keeping the ELS intact.” (Southwark News – 12/2/2004)
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Waverley to be sports college
Waverley Girl’s School will become a specialist sports college, it was announced this week.
The East Dulwich School is the latest school to be awarded specialist status by the government. It will become a specialist sports college from September 2004, receiving additional funds to build a state of the art fitness centre. This will supplement the already new sports complex at the school. Head of Waverley, Lesley Day, was delighted. “This is wonderful news for the school. It is the key part of our vision to become even better than we are already and is recognition of many months of hard work by staff.” It was equally good news for Stephanie Newman, Head of PE. “My team are thrilled and so are the girls. We know that healthy minds and healthy bodies will mean our students doing better in all aspects of their school life,” she said.
For their specialist status, Waverley had to raise £50,000 from the private sector, with sponsors including Surrey County Cricket Club and a scuba diving company, UrbanFish. They also had to draw up a four-year school and community development plan, which has lead to partnerships with local schools, Southbank University and Westminster House Youth Club. Eight Southwark schools now have specialist status. (Southwark News – 5/2/04)
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Spa leads the way
Spa School in Bermondsey was the venue for the opening of a school grounds award scheme last week.
The 2004 EDF Energy School Grounds Awards, run by the national school grounds charity, Learning Through Landscapes, gives 100 London schools the opportunity to win thousands of pounds to improve their school grounds, with prizes including £5,000 for the overall winner and £6,000 for the overall Sustainability Award.
Projects can be as diverse and as individual as the school themselves. Past entries include an outdoor amphitheatre, story telling chair and willow dome, outdoor base for eco club, wind powered water feature, woodland trim trail, murals, mosaics and musical garden.
Spa Special School won the top award of £2,000 in 2002. The school has used the award to develop their garden into an active educational resource providing a range of horticultural experiences and a place of relaxation and sanctuary. Schools wishing to enter the awards should submit an outline application by Monday 1st march. Email www.ltl.org.uk for an application form. (Southwark News – 5/2/04)
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Moving forward at St. Mary Magdalene’s
Pupils, parents and staff at Peckham’s St. Mary Magdalene Church of England Primary School have been celebrating following a recent successful Ofsted report, which has led to the school coming out of special measures.
The school had been placed on special measures, following an Ofsted inspection in May 2001, which criticised the standard of education provided to the children. Since then staff, governors, pupils and parents have set about improving the school from within and since September 2002, this commitment to improve has been led by the current Headteacher, Mary Keeble.
“From the outset I have been encouraged and supported by a great team of staff and pupils. Staff have given up much of their own time, often working late into the evenings and at weekends to raise the standards in the quality of education we are able to offer the children.” Mary added, “It has been really hard work, but to see the sense of pride the pupils now have in themselves and the school has made all the hard work worthwhile.”
Teamwork has been the key to success at the school. An active group of governors, strong link with parents, the school’s LEA link advisor, the church and the wider community have all helped towards the successful turnaround at the school.
One of the key remarks in the Ofsted report was the standard of teaching at the school. The inspectors stated that the quality of the teaching was a strength and that much of this was due to the wide array of expertise and experiences that the teachers brought to their positions. As a result, teaching has improved significantly and this has contributed to the accelerated rise in the pupils’ progress.
The involvement of pupils in extra curriculum activities has also encouraged a sense of community within the school, building strong relationships between pupils and with staff. The school now has a breakfast computer club, lunchtime chess club, keyboard training, gym club, a “good news” club, and a music & drama club. Programmes such as the clubs and the mutual respect between staff and pupils has seen a clear improvement in behaviour throughout the school, pupils see the link between how well they behave and how much they are able to achieve.
Levels of achievement have also improved at the school. At key stage 1 there have been significant improvements, especially in writing where the standards achieved are now similar to the figures nationally. At key stage 2, the number of pupils achieving the expected level 4 is higher than at similar schools and at the number of pupils reaching level 5 for Maths and English is well above the average for similar schools.
The quality of leadership at the school was also commended in the report, which noted that the headteacher and deputy head work closely with the governors to provide a clear vision for the school, including a strong emphasis on raising standards and improving the pupils’ drive to succeed.
Although Mary Keeble is delighted with the clean bill of health, she is clear that the school must not become complacent. There is a lot of good work to continue and to build upon and she is confident in her team to keep the school moving in the right direction. “I feel privileged to have such a hard working team of staff, governors, parents and carers, who are committed to working together to provide the best for the children in the school.” (Southwark News – 5/2/04)
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Sisters are doing it for themselves!
Waverley School was alive with the sound of music last week, when girls from Year 9 completed a successful 2-day run of their musical Sister Act. The concert was adapted and directed by teacher Jenny Benthall, with musical direction from Jane Harris, and is based on the popular film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith.
Sister Act tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier (played by Lauren Lee), a lounge singer who is forced into hiding after she witnesses her gangster boyfriend Vincent (Joy Bonfield-Columbara) killing a fellow gangster. As part of her witness protection scheme, she is forced to pretend she is a nun and hides in a San Francisco convent, much to the annoyance of the stern Mother Superior (played by Aisha Naeem).
After overcoming the culture shock of her new surroundings, Sister Mary Clarence - as she is now known – uses her talents and outgoing personality to inspire the nuns in the convent choir to improve their self confidence and their singing too. The Sisters then take their talents out into the community, teaching music to a group of disaffected girls from the local High School. Slowly, they build up enthusiasm for singing and encourage them to enter a national competition in Hollywood, which they go on to win!
The girls from Year 9 at Waverley School spent a number of months rehearsing their roles and the audience of parents, teachers, and fellow students, who applauded their energetic and professional performances, certainly appreciated their efforts. “I am really proud of the girls,” said Director, Jenny Benthall. “Lots of them have never performed before and they have responded really well to the challenge. I am particularly pleased with how they have supported each other and worked together as a team.”
The musical gave the performers an opportunity to showcase an array of talents including drama, gospel, rap, dance, as well as behind the scenes skills in set-design, sound effects and lighting. Over 50 pupils from Year 9 and members of staff took part in the musical. As well as two evening performances, three local primary schools were invited to see the musical in special daytime showings.
Headteacher, Lesley Day also praised the performance: “What strikes me is that all this great work has come from a single year group. The quality of the performance displays the huge range and depths of their talent. It has been a powerful experience that has bonded the girls as a group of students. It also lifts their sense of confidence and self-esteem and I expect that their attainment as a whole will improve as a result of this experience.”
The school has particular strengths in the arts. Pupils from the school were involved in designing silkscreen panels for a production of Richard III at the Globe Theatre. The school has an onsite open air theatre, which is used for drama and music performances. Ongoing links with the Dulwich Picture Gallery also emphasise the strengths in arts within the school and pupils regularly perform above the national average in their expressive arts GCSEs. (Southwark News – 5/2/04)
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Primaries are sew imaginative
Southwark Primary schools have worked together to design and create a mythical creatures patchwork quilt, which will be auctioned off for charity later this year.
The project, part of the Excellence in Cities (EiC) Gifted and Talented initiative, brought together thirteen schools in the borough to produce the 5ftx6ft quilt. Children from each school designed and stitched their own patchwork square, and quilter Wendy Parke put together all 30 squares to make the final product.
The quilt went on display at the Livesey Museum this week, before going on loan to each of the schools involved in the project. Pauline Hinchliffe, Southwark EiC Gifted and Talented co-ordinator, said: “This is one of the many projects run for primary and secondary pupils as part of the Gifted and Talented initiative in Southwark. Although I have been working with able pupils for a number of years, I never cease to be amazed by the high standards of work they produce when they are given a sufficient level of challenge. This project is an excellent example of this in practice and the children should be very proud of the work they have produced.” (Southwark News – 5/2/04)
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Walworth School reading week
Another successful Reading Week at Walworth School ended with a new venture this year when both pupils and teachers showcased their own poetry and stories in a special evening of readings and recitals at the school.
Southwark Schools’ chief English advisor, Sharon Whyatt, hailed it as a groundbreaking event. I’ve seen nothing as cultured and pleasurable as this in Southwark schools for a long while.”
Walworth’s annual celebration of books and reading included visits from those culture vultures from Millwall FC, performance poets and storytellers.
Pupils also collected hundreds of pounds in the annual Readathon in aid of the Roald Dahl Charity for children with cancer. Walworth School has now collected around two thousand pounds to help children stricken with cancer, leukaemia, epilepsy and Hodgkin’s disease. (Southwark News – 5/2/04)
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James Allen’s Girls’ mark Holocaust Day
Pupils of all ages at James Allen’s Girls’ School in Dulwich marked Holocaust Memorial day on January 27 by planting 500 snowdrops in the school garden to commemorate the victims.
Sixth Formers Kate Collins from Camberwell and Cate Macrae from Herne Hill were inspired by a recent visit to Auschwitz with the Holocaust education trust to mark the deaths of the 1.5 million children who perished in the death camps. “We wanted something at JAGS to remind us and future generations of the huge numbers of children who died in the Holocaust. Only 11% of Jewish children alive in 1933 survived to 1945,” they explained. “Each snowdrop we planted represents 3,000 children. We hope that every year when they blossom, JAGS girls will remember those children who didn’t live to finish their schooling.”
The school had a week of events linked to the memorial day, including an assembly given by a campaigner for the trail of war crimes perpetrators and one given by sixth Formers on the Holocaust itself. (Southwark News – 5/2/04)
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Southwark heads fight controversial education changes
Southwark’s headteachers are at loggerheads with the council over controversial changes to the education system, that include removing the Director of Education, and effectively replacing him with the director of the private contractor Cambridge Education Services, (CEA).
The transfer of the borough’s top education post to CEA, for a limited period, was one of a raft of changes agreed by the council’s Executive on Tuesday. The Executive was deciding on the direction of Southwark’s troubled education department, following the early withdrawal of private education partner WS Atkins last year. Atkins were succeeded by CEA, for an interim period, while recommendations on a way forward were drawn up by the Office for Public Management (OPM).
The OPM report, published in November last year, made a series of recommendations, including that CEA be given a one year extension to its contract, while an ‘Improvement Project Board’ will be established, made up of independent members, the Chief Executive, Director of Social Services, headteachers and governors. The board, Council leader Nick Stanton told the ‘News’, would oversee the transition back from CEA to the council in 2005.
In addition, CEA’s Director, Simon Jenkin, will become the council’s principal policy advisor on education – in effect taking on the role of the current Education Director, Dr Roger Smith. The council’s Chief Executive, Bob Coomber, will take over the title, although Cllr Stanton said that was for statutory reasons, so that the council could continue to hold a monitoring role in regard to CEA staff. The change, Cllr Stanton said, was so as to end the confusion among teachers over who was in charge of the education department. At the end of CEA’s contract, he said, a new director would be employed by the council. “It’s right that we should have one director of education,” he said. “Given the scenario that we find ourselves in, that person should be a CEA person.” The Executive also agreed to set up a ‘Strategic Education Alliance’, which would be made up of representatives from across the education spectrum, to discuss education issues.
But many of the changes have been strongly rejected by Southwark’s Headteachers’ Council, which has hit out at the council, and the DfES, for ‘failing to take on board its recommendations’. Following the publication of the OPM report, the Headteachers’ Council published a number of criticisms, which included strongly disagreeing with the proposal to extend CEA’s contract for a further year. A spokesman told the ‘News’ that six months should be the maximum, talking them up to this December. He also made clear that headteachers across the borough had not been asked how they rated CEA. “The views of headteachers have not been seriously considered. No-one has asked how we feel CEA are doing,” he said. The National Association of Headteachers, he added, had recently sent a latter to both Southwark’s Chief Executive, and the government, expressing no confidence in CEA. In addition, headteachers have argued that a strategy board should be established, to whom an Education Director and education department could be accountable. This board, along the lines of an education trust, was considered by the council and the DfES, but was not pursued.
The proposal, effectively to hand over part of the education department’s remit to a new ‘Children’s Services’ department, in line with government proposals, was also criticised, although this has now been put on the backburner, until legislation has been drawn up.
Labour education spokesperson Cllr Andy Simmons added his voice to the criticisms, saying: “I think creating an extension to the CEA contract, in the way they have done it, is not the right move. It’s saying to a contractor that they can have an extension now, without looking at their performance to date. Two directors of education was confusing, but there is now a lack of education experience on the council side.”
Public sector union Unison’s branch secretary, John Mulrenan said the newly agreed system contained too many ‘partners’. “Elected councillors must be recognised as having ultimate responsibility for the education service, with parents given a real voice in how they are developed.” (Southwark News – 5/2/04) |
