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Renaissance Education – the local teacher agency for South London
Wearing it with pride!
SOME OF Millwall’s young faithful abandoned school uniform for the blue and white of the Lions’ strip last week.
The children of Albion Primary School, Rotherhithe, had been given permission to come to class in Millwall colours in the run up to the FA Cup Final on Saturday.
At break time the young pundits gave the ‘News’ their predictions for the match. The consensus opinion was that Milllwall would win 1-0, although one optimistic youngster was predicting a 14-0 routing.
Jamie Shepherd, of year six, said: “Well done Millwall for getting to the final. Hope you do well in Europe.” (Southwark News 27.5.04)
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Pupil job advice
PECKHAM ACADEMY pupils at risk of truancy and exclusion were given practical help and advice on how to get jobs in the hotel industry as part of Marriott’s programme of support for youth charity The Prince’s Trust, last Monday.
The pupils were part of Prince’s Trust XL clubs, which are run in schools to improve attendance, confidence and motivation in pupils who have had problems at school.
The practical learning course was hosted by staff at the County Hall Marriott Hotel in central London, and was attended by ten pupils who learnt invaluable skills such as how to write a CV and approach an interview.
The course was run as part of Marriott’s Spirit to Serve Our Communities day, the company’s global day of community service. (Southwark News 20.6.04)
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Best of young Peckham artists
THE ARTISTIC work of over 900 Peckham children is due to go on display to the public when ‘The best of Peckham’s annual art exhibition ‘Taking Part’ opens on June 3.
Throughout the autumn and spring terms fifteen professional artists worked with the children in eleven participating Peckham Education Action Zone Schools. This year the exhibition is being held at Southwark’s Livesey Museum for children for the first time. (Southwark News 20.6.04)
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‘Put your litter in the bin!’ say Albion primary pupils
PUPILS FROM Albion Primary School in Rotherhithe who won a Litter Poster Competition run by Southwark Council have been treated to a trip to the Materials Gallery at the Science Museum and an IMAX film about the environment.
Albion’s science club led by Karen Defoe of the London Wildlife Trust, carried out a litter survey and then designed “put it in the bin” anti-litter posters, which were displayed for pupils, teachers and parents to see. Their work won first prize in the competition.
Southwark Council’s Executive member for Environment, Cllr Richard Thomas said: “Cleaning up litter costs Southwark £18 million a year. Educating children about litter and encouraging them to take the message home to their parents will help Southwark in its fight against litter and in becoming a cleaner, greener and safer borough.” (Southwark News 20.6.04)
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A fresh start for Peckham Rye primary?
By Eleanor Niblock
A Failing primary school in Peckham which has accumulated debts of £144,000 may be given a chance to wipe the slate clean if the council recommends a ‘Fresh Start’ for the school.
The drastic action follows a history of poor performances in Ofsted reports for Peckham Rye School. As a result of the last Ofsted inspection in February 2004 the school was placed in special measures.
It had previously been placed in special measures as a result of an Ofsted report in 1999 but had been removed in 2002.
From 2001 to 2003 the school’s results showed that its performance was significantly below the average for the area and Southwark as a whole.
The 2004 report showed that of the fourteen teaching staff only seven of those were permanent members of staff.
Four of those teachers were unqualified. Teaching and learning was found to be unsatisfactory from years one to six, but satisfactory in the foundation stage.
Other weaknesses identified in the report included lack of in class provision for the pupils with special needs and financial management.
At the end of 2002/3 the school had accumulated a deficit of £144,000. If recommendations to ‘Fresh Start’ the school in 2005 are passed then this debt would not be transferred to the new school.
After the council passes the recommendation to Fresh Start the final decision would lie with the government’s DfES who would pay any debtors off. Pupils who attend the school would be offered places at the new school. Early indications are that the government may look favourably on a Fresh Start proposal for the school.
The new school would also have a new governing body, the nucleus of which would have been formed some time before the new school opened to develop the school plans and recruit new staff.
The new school would also not be under special measures, making it a much more attractive proposition for the recruitment of new staff and management.
Lane ward councillor Andy Simmons told the ‘News’: “I’m really angry the school was allowed to get into this situation. The Lib Dems have badly let this school down. Over the last two years the school has not been given the support it needed. It previously worked hard to get itself out of special needs and then it looks like it was abandoned again, which really angers me as a ward councillor. I think now we need to look really carefully at the idea of Fresh Start. There are other issues here and I would like to hear from the teachers, new head teacher and governors as to what they think the problems are and how they can be solved. I have an open mind as far as a fresh start is concerned.”
Bob Skelly, Executive Member for Education and Culture, said: “The fresh start process is used by schools across the country to raise educational standards through radical changes. It’s a chance to create a new educational ethos and take a positive step forwards. That’s why we think it’s a good idea for Peckham Rye School, and our experiences with other schools that have undergone this process shows it leads to a significant improvement in performance. We can reassure parents and pupils that all current pupils would be offered a place in the new Fresh Start school.
“The existing deficit at a Peckham Rye School is a separate issue that will not affect the new school.” (Southwark News 13.5.04)
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We are the champs!
By Eleanor Niblock
THE PROUD winners of Southwark Community Games’ athletics competition, Gloucester Primary, were awarded their trophy at a ceremony last Wednesday night.
Harriet Harman MP and the Mayor of Southwark were at the ceremony held at Peckham Community Council meeting at the Peckham Park Road Baptist Church.
The Community Games, which were launched at an award ceremony two weeks ago, were part of Southwark’s ex-Olympian Mayor Columba Blango’s vision of giving 9-16 year olds the chance to get expert coaching in football, cricket, rugby, and athletics, as well as taking part in competitions.
The athletics finals took place at the launch of the games, which were kicked off by England international football star Rio Ferdinand who famously was born in Peckham.
Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Columba Blango, said: ‘Gloucester Primary has done brilliantly and Peckham has every right to be very proud of them’.
Harriet Harman commented: “I would like to congratulate all the children and young people who took part in the Southwark Community Games.
“It is clear that there is a lot of talent and enthusiasm for sport in Southwark, and it is great to see this harnessed in such an event.
Head teacher of Gloucester Primary Bob Worth said: “This is the first time we have entered a competition and I’m very proud of the success and attitude of the children who took part.” (Southwark News 13.5.04)
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Bright Sparks!
THE GRAND final of the British Young Physicists’ Tournament was held at Dulwich College on Thursday April 29 and was won overall by the Dulwich team, consisting of Jakub Kominiarczuk (captain). Tomasz Mloduchowski, Jakub Scholtz, Bishwesh Rajbanshi and Sakeeb Zaman, all in the current Sixth Form.
The boys met St Edward’s, Poole, in the final and with presentations entitled String telephone, Egg whites and Candle wax to name a few, beat the opposition by a clear 17 points, 48-31.
This superb achievement makes the team the best in Britain - an honour which should have taken them to Australia to represent the UK in the international finals. However, as this will be right in the middle of their A2 exams, they are unable to go.
In addition to their physics achievement, some of the boys from the team have recently been offered scholarships to American universities: Jakub Scholtz to Harvard; Jakub Kominiarczuk and Tomasz Mloduchowski to MIT.
Other Dulwich College boys who have been awarded scholarships to universities include Yi Xaio to Harvard, Dingli Zuo to Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Oskar Karcczewski to Trinity College, Cambridge. (Southwark News 13.5.04)
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Suits you!
WALWORTH PRIMARY School children donned suits on Wednesday to mix with the suits.
The innovative school-day, organised by Barclays, had valuable lessons on money management and was broken up with coffee-breaks in which to talk with the volunteers from the bank.
Local MP and mayoral candidate Simon Hughes was one of the professional guests that the children hosted for the morning. “They were keen, lively and attentive,” he said. “Youngsters need to learn about money management early on because one of the biggest problems facing young people and families in London is debt, which causes more grief than virtually anything else.”
Head teacher Susi Winsome said, “It’s all about children seeing the world of work, making them aware of its expectations but also building their confidence that it’s a world in which they too can blossom.” (Southwark News 13.5.04)
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‘Super school’ plan unveiled
By Chris Mullany
THIS IS how a cutting edge new educational facility for three schools at Tower Bridge could look, if Southwark Council is successful in its bid for the former Lambeth College building on Tooley Street.
The Hampton Gurney School, near Edgware Road, was designed by Building Design Practice, (BDP), who were charged by Southwark with drawing up a feasibility study for the Lambeth College site and adjoining Potters Field site. Last month, Southwark’s Executive voted to approve a bid for the Lambeth College site, part of which must be retained for educational purposes, as well as a vacant adjoining site. The proposal, as revealed by the ‘News’ last year, is to move two local primaries, Tower Bridge and Snowsfield, as well as Bermondsey special school, Cherry Gardens, on to the site, with the current school sites sold to pay for the new facility.
The bid has been tabled as a planning inquiry opens into developers Berkeley Homes’ plan to erect eight tower blocks on the Potters Field site. Southwark council has opposed the proposal, arguing that the land should be used for a major cultural facility, such as theatre, museum or art gallery, as well as the education facility.
But even with the inquiry put to one side, the ambitious education proposal has raised eyebrows. Conservative councillor Toby Eckersley, who has been raising concerns about the provision of school places in the south of the borough, has now asked Education Executive, Cllr Bob Skelly, to provide evidence of a shortage of primary places in the area, or to explain the benefit of such a major re-organisation of local primaries. He has also queried whether the plan has been considered or approved by the School Organisation Committee. (Southwark News - 6/5/04)
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Thierry Henry visits Southwark College
By Euan Denholm
THIERRY HENRY crossed the river and paid a visit to Southwark College last Thursday, meeting students and handing out footballs.
A visit from Henry and a lorry of red footballs were won by Bermondsey resident Lesley Leclerc, who donated her prize to Southwark College where her daughter Leanne Millar studies.
Thierry congratulated the College football captain Jerone Steele and coach Simon Thorpe on their recent league and cup double.
Sarah Finn, a Bermondsey PE student, played ball with Thierry and grinned from ear to ear after meeting her hero.
“I did some keep-me-ups,” she said. “and I flirted. I’m not going to get any sleep tonight.”
Bodyguards then cleared students out of the way whilst the French magician deftly skipped on to the next photocall. (Southwark News 6/5/04)
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Mayor presents Chaucer pupils with certificates
Year Nine pupils from Geoffrey Chaucer Technical College at Elephant & Castle received certificates in “The architecture of the emotions” from the mayor Ken Livingstone last Friday.
Student Janet told the ‘News’: “We went to lots of different types of buildings - the GLA, the Tower, the Tate Modern. There are lots of different types of architecture in Southwark.” Fellow student Rachel said: “Different buildings bring out different emotions. The GLA makes you feel young.” Artists, architects and a director from the play His Dark Materials also took part in the tour, encouraging the students to express their feelings about buildings in performance art. (Southwark News 6/5/04)
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Bermondsey teacher on award shortlist
By Will Pavia
A BERMONDSEY teaching assistant has been selected for the London finals of one of the biggest awards in the teaching profession.
Anke Buckland is one of four short-listed for the category Teaching Assistant of the year, for her work with autistic pupils at Spa School in Bermondsey.
If her name is pulled out of the envelope on July 28 at the Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s park, she will qualify for the national finals in November, hosted by a major player in education or politics, and broadcast on BBC2.
“If I get that far I think I’m going to lose four stone,” she said, have a face lift and ….well actually I’m not paid enough for that.”
Mrs Buckland was nominated for the awards at the end of last year by Judy Regan, head teacher at Spa School. “Autistic children are very challenging and she is wonderful with them,” she said. “They need structure, and they need it all the time. Anke is brilliant at providing that. She always finds a way to get through to a youngster.”
A parent of a student from a mainstream school also praised Mrs Buckland, after she had worked with her son. The boy had been on the brink of being expelled, but his mother credited Anke’s one-on-one sessions with the pupil for helping him stay in school and improve again.
Two assessors arrived at the school in the spring to assess Anke’s teaching. Assessors for the prize are experienced teaching professionals and often former winners of the award themselves. They spent a day at the school, and spoke to colleagues, students and parents.
“Our kids are never reliable,” said head teacher Mrs Regan. “You can’t put them on show. And it you bring a stranger into the room they often react badly, but the inspectors were very impressed.”
Mrs Buckland said she was “very surprised,” at her success in the competition, that received over three and a quarter thousand applicants across England and Wales this year. I’m not sure if I win, whether I’ll have to do a speech, but it should be alright as I always talk too much anyway.”
However, she was informed by one of her pupils that her sudden rise was entirely down to him.
“One of my students was interviewed by the assessors,” said Mrs Buckland. “He said: ‘Yes it’s all because of me’. He told the assessors I was a very nice teacher but bad at jokes.”
Anke Buckland is originally from Holland, and when she arrived in Southwark 1972 she taught at a nursery in Peckham Park Road. She now regards herself as a “Peckham girl” and has taught at Spa School for the past six years, teaching a class of six pupils in a team of five staff.
“Teaching is a lot of paperwork these days,” she said. “When Ofsted come round the paper work is ridiculous. The head is brilliant and believes in getting the most out of our pupils but we are always forced to stick to the curriculum. I don’t know if we should be teaching children about Brazil if they can’t find their local shop in Bermondsey.”
Describing herself as “fifty two (and I look it!), “ Mrs Buckland said she was still very much in love with her job. “I think I’m just going to have a fun day in June,“ she said.
Lord Puttnam, a former film magnate who produced Chariots of Fire and was the first European to head a Hollywood studio (Columbia), founded the Teaching Awards charity in 1998. They are described in the industry as ‘the Oscars of teaching’- “it’s about celebrating excellence in education,” said Stuart Pearson from the charity.
If you are a teacher, pupil, parent or governor and wish to nominate a teacher at your school for 2005, go to http://www.teachingawards.com/ or call 020 7776 2340 for an application form. (Southwark News 6/5/04)
Our teachers are regularly asked back by satisfied schools
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