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‘Betrayed’ school to close
AFTER YEARS of argument a formal decision has been made to close Galleywall Primary School in south Bermondsey.
The Gallywall Road primary school’s organisation committee took the decision last week in the face of opposition from many parents, who felt they had been serially betrayed by the local education authority and school management.
The school will close at the end of the year on the recommendations of an independent commission into education in the area.
There will be no new intake in September, with pupils predominantly being transferred to nearby Southwark Park School and Eveline Lowe. Last year, Council Leader Nick Stanton pledged that there would be no delay between any closure and the opening of a new school.
A new school is now expected to open serving the area in 2008 as pupil numbers rise. A spokeswoman commented: “Ultimately this decision is about raising educational standards in our schools to give every pupil the education they deserve and it has been made in the context of a wider plan to create more primary places in the borough in the long-term.” (Southwark News 28.7.05)
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A message to the PM
ALL STUDENTS and staff at Bermondsey’s St Saviour’s and St Olave’s School took part in the Make Poverty History campaign by wearing white and forming a human band around the school.
Headmistress Dr Irene Bishop suspended the last lesson of the day at the start of July so the human spiral could be organised in the playground, which would then be turned into a band around the school.
The spiral was created to send ‘a striking visual message’ of support. The school’s Samba band struck up a few notes as staff and students gathered in the playground, and as the photographer was about to take the picture from the top of the building everyone chanted ‘Make poverty history!’ Dr Bishop said afterwards: “Our girls were great. They really care about this issue, and it proved to be a wonderful end to the school day.” Pictures and a petition have since been sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The event took place just days after a visit to the school by Bishop Sebastian Bakare from Manicaland in Zimbabwe. The Bishop toured the school before celebrating the Eucharist in the school’s chapel. The school community has raised over £500 for a girls’ school in Bishop Sebastian’s home diocese. (Southwark News 21.7.05)
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Elephant academy announces sponsor
ELEPHANT AND Castle technology college Geoffrey Chaucer’s bid for academy status is being sponsored by education charity ARK Education.
Absolute Return for Kids are a charity set up and run by leading city financiers to improve educational prospects in deprived areas.
ARK Education and Southwark are presently on plans to replace Geoffrey Chaucer and nearby Joseph Lancaster Primary School with a new City Academy. ARK would co-fund the project with central government. If agreed the new academy would open in September 2008.
Alywin Girls School is also consulting on re-opening as a City Academy sponsored by carpet billionaire Lord Harris. Bermondsey’s City Academy is due to open on its new purpose built site n September.
There will be three more public meetings consulting on the future of Geoffrey Chaucer.
Thursday, June 30, 7pm, Keyworth Primary, Faunce St; Saturday, July 2, 10am, GCTC; Monday, July 4, 7pm, Michael Faraday Primary, Villa St. (Southwark News 30.6.05)
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Award winning student an ‘employee’s dream’
A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD pupil at a Bermondsey secondary could be an employee’s dream: in five years he has not taken a single day off.
Alex Heggie, who travels to St Michael’s School from Bow East London, last week picked up an award for his 100 per cent attendance record over the last half-decade of his school career.
Asked what lay behind his remarkable consistency, he shrugged. “His mum doesn’t let him have time off,” said mother, Marina Heggie.
Was he perhaps suffering from a never-ending bout of good health? Did the secret lie in his diet?
“I don’t have a particularly good diet,” said Alex. “Burgers and chips.” He admitted, cautiously, that he enjoys being at school. “I have only been late when the trains were delayed.”
His favourite subject is “probably maths”. “I want to go to college and then university,” he said, adding that he would like to be a barrister, if his passion for burgers and chips did not lead him to become floor manager at his local MacDonald’s.
Adrian Dixon, assistant head at the school, told the ‘News’: “Alex is in the army cadets. He qualified as a first aider. He’s a good all round pupil and gives his time generously. Last year he won a Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award for services to the school community.”
Watching him receive his 100 per cent Attendance Award on Thursday evening was his sister Katie Heggie. Asked whether she regarded her brother as a role model, she declined to comment. (Southwark New 30.6.05)
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Borough best for food
NUTRITIONALISTS were impressed with school dinners at the Borough’s Charles Dickens’ primary school that they chose to launch their report into food standards over a plate of roasted chicken.
Joe Harvey, chair of the Caroline Walker Trust, is on a panel reporting back to education secretary Ruth Kelly at the end of the year. The Trust produced a set of standards along with the National Heart Forum which they want Kelly to adopt across the country.
Looking around the big dining hall full of munching school kids, Harvey said he wished more schools would follow their example. “The cook has a smile as a big as a double decker bus and this young lad has just put bowl of fruit salad away like there’s no tomorrow. People like good food.”
Asked what she liked to eat, Abigail, a delighted five-year-old, pointed to each of the items on her plate, the chicken, potato, salad and carrots, in turn: “That’s my favourite, that’s my favourite, that’s my favourite.” Many other children seemed to agree. Four in five Charles Dickens’ pupils eat school lunches – that’s twice the national average.
Head-teacher Liz Owens said that the one big step schools needed to take was to make sure food was cooked in the school kitchen rather than processed in a factory. “It’s important for schools to take the plunge. Running your own kitchen is a big step but it’s better to see it as a challenge than a chore,” she said.
Joe Harvey said that parents should be asking questions of their children’s head teachers and governors. “A dining room says a lot about what a school thinks about its children. Parents should be asking, if this school doesn’t care about the food then what else don’t they care about?” (Southwark New 30.6.05)
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Camberwell kids join ‘Cabinet’
THREE PUPILS from Archbishop Michael Ramsey Technology College became members of a ‘Youth Cabinet’ last week, taking part in a scheme to give young people a voice on politics.
The cabinet was set up by out of school club group Make Space and supported by the Nestle Trust to give young people the opportunity to make their opinions heard ahead of the Government launch of the Green Paper on Youth this summer.
Isatou Faal, 13, Harold Kensington, 15 and Keni Adeoye, 15, all from Camberwell, were among the nine young people who attended the Youth Cabinet meeting in Holborn. The youngsters joined others from around the country to talk about issues that affect them. (Southwark News 23.6.05)
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Governors celebrated
HUNDREDS OF school governors attended a reception last Wednesday, to celebrate their contribution to the community.
Governors from schools across Southwark attended the event at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, where they were commended by Council Leader Nick Stanton for their commitment to raising educational attainment in the borough.
Cllr Stanton said: “Governors play a vital role for our schools. This ceremony is to acknowledge the extent of their work, which is hugely valued by pupils, parents and staff.
“Becoming a governor is a great way to contribute to educational attainment in your area, and the good news is that anyone over 18 can apply, whatever their background. We want to encourage applications from all sections of the community.”
Anne MacNeary, Chair of Governors at Keyworth Primary School in Walworth, said: ”I became a Parent Governor because I wanted to make a contribution to my children’s education. Once they left primary school, I carried on as a Community Governor so that I could serve the community where I live. It is one of the most interesting and worthwhile things that I have ever done.”
The celebration coincided with a governor recruitment drive by he council. A spokeswoman said: “Southwark is looking for new governors from all sectors of the community to play a vital role in the management of Southwark schools, from appointing headteachers and allocating school budgets to contributing to school policies.”
Anyone who is interested in becoming a governor can visit www.southwark.gov.uk. (Southwark News 23.6.05)
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Bermondsey school teacher up for award
A BERMONDSEY teaching assistant has made it to the final of the teaching awards. Marilyne Guillaumont of Spa School on Monnow Road is a finalist for Teaching Assistant of the Year. A winner will be chosen at the Guildhall on Tuesday, July 5. (Southwark News 23.6.05)
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Summer fair
IVYDALE SCHOOL in Nunhead’s summer fair is on Saturday, with bug mask making, a disco, bouncy castle, crazy bikes and traditional games.
The school on Ivydale Road went from failing eight years ago to a glowing Ofsted report this year under the leadership of head Karen McBride, who will be at the fair along with her successor Ray O’Neil, who takes over in September.
Entry on June 25 from 2-5pm is free for children and 50p for adults. Children can parade their bug masks before the disco and play hoopla and bat the rat while adults can peruse the jumble, buy cakes and plants and enjoy the barbecue and bar. (Southwark News 23.6.05)
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Lions’ poster girl
ELEVEN YEAR old Stevie McEvoy designed a poster for Southern Trains services to Millwall Football Club and won. The Eveline Lowe school girl’s poster will be displayed at South Bermondsey Station, London Bridge and the Den after being picked as the best design by an under eleven.
Stevie and other Eveline Lowe pupils were given a guided tour of the Den by Millwall press officer Deano Stanning, with Stevie and Vince Lucas Southern’s commercial director.
Fifteen-year old Caprice Green, from Sutton, won the 11-16 year old competition.
Both girls have been given Eurostar tickets to treat their families to a break on the continent. (Southwark News 23.6.05)
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Government decides council again ‘capable’ of managing education
Education in Southwark is to come back under council control from August after the Government decided the administration was capable of managing it alone.
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) announced on Tuesday that the education department under Cambridge Education Associates (CEA) had demonstrated ongoing improvement. It said ministerial intervention would end with CEA’s contract on July 31.
Southwark’s executive member for education, Cllr Caroline Pidgeon, said: “Today’s announcement is an expression of confidence in Southwark Council, which continues to go from strength to strength. There is still a way to go, but the signs are that we are moving in the right direction. We’re determined to make sure that this trend continues, to give every child in Southwark the education they deserve.”
As well as the independent review it commissioned, the DfES noted the Audit Commission’s rating for the council as a whole, which improved from weak in December 2002 to good in December last year.
The government intervened under Southwark’s Labour administration in 1999, following a damning Ofsted report that highlighted falling results, failing schools and parents sending their children outside the borough.
Outrage followed as the council appointed technical consultants. W.S. Atkins, who admitted that their only educational experience was of running a school bus service, to manage their education department. Atkins were paid £28 million in a Public Private Partnership that an alliance of angry parents and teachers called privatisation.
Atkins pulled out the contract in April 2003, following headteachers’ vote of no confidence and a budget cock-up. The council chose education consultants Cambridge Education to replace them.
CEA’s (now CE), chair Derek Foreman said this week: “Cambridge Education’s role has essentially been to provide leadership and management and I have been delighted with the quality of the support provided by our senior team of education professionals. However, throughout our tenure, decisions on policy have been taken by the council.” The council has already begun developing a strategy for the arts in education and is in the process of appointing an arts adviser and a consultant each for drama, dance, music and visual arts.
It will also benefit from this week’s announcement that the Government is to invest £2.7 million in Southwark over the next three years so that schools can stay “open all hours”.
Labour’s spokesperson for children, Cllr Fiona Colley, said she was pleased the needs of busy families were being recognised, with homework clubs, sporting, musical and cultural activities and breakfast clubs all planned. Labour education spokeman Cllr Andy Simmons was unavailable for comment. (Southwark News 16.6.05)
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Lyndhurst Primary mosaic
MORE THAN 200 Camberwell pupils have created a mosaic to celebrate the school’s centenary this year.
Lyndhurst Primary School in Grove Lane has been celebrating its 100th year with a number of events in recent months, and youngsters worked together to mark the occasion with a commemorative mosaic last week.
Each child made an individual flower or leaf motif, or worked on the lettering with parents Sharon Sweeny-Lynch. In one of the designs hides a 1905 penny.
The school will be holding a Summer Fair Extravaganza on July 2, with pupils parading through Camberwell in period costume.
Lyndhurst will also be hosting a Centenary Reunion for former staff and pupils on July 8. If you would like an invitation, please contact the office on 020 7703 3046. (Southwark News 2.6.05)
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Kids give council green advice
SOUTHWARK SCHOOL Kids put a panel of council officers in the hot seat during a green debate at the Town Hall on Wednesday, May 25.
As part of the junior street leaders scheme, pupils from Peckham Academy, Waverley and Archbishop Michael Ramsey school prepared a series of tough questions on important environmental issues.
The panel, chaired by council leader Cllr Nick Stanton, were put to the test on a range of topics including higher fines for littering and the need for more lighting in parks.
Cllr Nick Stanton said: “Since the launch of this scheme we’ve been getting some excellent advice from these young people on how to create a cleaner, greener and safer environment and we do take their suggestions on board.”
“If we don’t get input from young people now then we can’t expect them to engage on the environment in the future. This scheme is all about getting young people to take ownership of these issues and to realise that they can really make a difference.”
Launched in May 2004 on the back of the council’s adult street leader scheme, the junior version aims to help 6 to 16 year olds take action on the environmental problems that they come across in their neighbourhoods.
Young participants are given disposable cameras and asked to identify ‘enviro-crimes’ like flytipping, graffiti or litter. They are then encouraged to report these to the council via 24 hour Environment Call Centre number and examine the results once the council have sent a team out to clear up. (Southwark New 2.6.05)
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