Education News March 2010
Truly outstanding
A Hackney school has received an ‘outstanding’ rating by Ofsted.
Following an inspection by the Government’s education regulator in January, Mossbourne Community Academy in E5 was praised for providing ‘high-quality classroom teaching and learning’.
Principal Sir Michael Wilshaw said Ofsted’s new way of assessing schools was more rigorous, with inspectors spending more time in lessons. He added:
“Inspectors made judgments on our performance based on what they saw and heard rather than placing too great an emphasis simply on data and previous reports.”
In the latest round of inspections, 10 other schools in the borough were assessed. Berger Primary in E9 got a ‘good’ rating and was commended for its ‘extremely stimulating’ environment with inclusive activities to help develop ‘well-rounded individuals’.
Head teacher Karen Coulthard said:
“Ofsted was impressed with the way creativity was used in the curriculum, and our environments outside school hours, such as computer clubs for girls to help increase ICT take up.”
Primaries Grazebrook, in N16, and St Monica’s, in N1, also received ‘good’ ratings. Both were praised for significant improvements since their last inspections.
Six schools received ‘satisfactory’ ratings; Bridge Academy, E2; Hackney Free and Parochial, E9; St Paul’s with St Michael’s, E8; Lubavitch, N16; Daubeney, E5; and Whitmore, N1, and one received ‘inadequate’, Millfields Community School, E5.
Under Ofsted’s new framework, inspectors observe twice as many lessons, often with head teachers accompanying them.
More information
For a full list of schools inspected by Ofsted, visit: www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications
22 March 2010
Orchard to get £6m revamp
Orchard Primary School is to undergo a £6million extension and refurbishment in line with learning and sustainability goals, following planning approval from Hackney Council last month.
The project, designed by architects Rivington Street Studios, will increase the size of the South Hackney school’s premises and remodel the 1920s building. In addition to a new entrance and additional space for extended nursery accommodation, the refurbishment will combine library, ICT and resource functions.
Its green credentials – which will include solar thermal technology and a ‘living roof’ – have been praised by BREEAM, the environmental assessment method.
Work is due to begin this summer.
22 March 2010
Maths at their fingertips
Cameras were rolling at Millfields Community School on 12 March, as the BBC filmed an innovative approach to maths.
Pupils from Afro-Caribbean backgrounds are being loaned a Nintendo DS and brain training games to buoy their skills, as part of a pilot scheme by The Learning Trust. It runs until the end of the school year, and is part of a nationwide drive to improve the performance of Black Caribbean students.
So far, 12 Hackney schools are involved: St Matthias, Grazebrook, Tyssen, and Northwold in N16; Baden Powell, St Scholastica’s, Millfields, Rushmore and Daubeney in E5; Gainsborough and Morningside in E9; and Brook in E8.
Most of the schools will also be supported by a maths club and parent and pupil workshops.
Mike Vance, from The Learning Trust, said: “This is about helping black Caribbean pupils to rehearse and practise their mathematical skills when they’re not in school, but it’s also about changing perceptions. We want all our pupils to say: I love maths, it’s a cool subject.”
22 March 2010
Making a drama about finance
Pupils at Southwold primary, E5, have used newfound economic skills to produce an original play about the benefits of financial literacy.
Youngsters received classes from creative arts charity Create for the project – A Wealth of Stages – designed to improve financial awareness among London schoolchildren aged nine to 11. Children visited the Bank of England Museum and attended workshops about saving, budgeting, and inflation.
The two-week programme, which ended on 5 March, finished with the pupils writing, budgeting for and performing a play examining what had been learnt.
22 March 2010
Well versed?
Pupils who enter a poetry competition could be in with a chance of winning a range of prizes to help hone their talents.
The Poetry Society’s Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is open to individuals and classes aged 11 to 17. Poems can be on any theme, and all lengths and styles are acceptable. As well as a week’s intensive residential course where winners can develop their creative writing skills, prizes include a short school residency with a leading poet; and a year’s youth membership to the Poetry Society. The three schools that submit the most entries will receive a selection of books from Faber & Faber, Bloodaxe Books and Salt Publishing for their libraries. Entries close on 31 July.
For more information visit: www.foyleyoungpoets.org
22 March 2010
A remarkable success story
Teaching professionals who have helped make Hackney’s schools the most improved in the country were celebrated at The Learning Trust Educators’ Awards 2010.
Teachers, support staff, governors and childcare workers were recognised at the biennial event on 1 March.
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Stormont House’s Deputy Headteacher, Beryl Grosvenor, who received a lifetime achievement award was commended as ‘exceptional’ by judges. Praising the team at the E5 school, she said: “They are so intuitive, so committed and they work tirelessly for the promotion of children. I couldn’t do anything without them.” |
Clapton Girls’ Technology College’s Cheryl Day – the longest serving secondary headteacher in Hackney – won a leadership accolade.
She said: “The secret of a successful school is to have the right combination of wonderful students and committed staff.”
Jessika Chaplain, also from Clapton Girls’, was named outstanding new teacher. She said: “The stereotype of Hackney is that this is a really difficult borough, but when I looked at the schools, I saw they were doing really well.”
Primary leadership winner, Randal Cremer’s Valerie Serette-Figaro, said.
“At first I thought, why would they nominate me? But now I look at what we’ve achieved and I can understand it. Without my team, this definitely wouldn’t have happened.”
The event was hosted by BBC London News arts correspondent Brenda Emmanus at Tower Hotel, E1. Those handing out awards included Schools Minister Iain Wright.
Cllr Rita Krishna, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:“These awards are an excellent tribute to the dedication and hard work of teaching staff throughout the borough. It is their commitment and expertise that has helped Hackney achieve record breaking results this year and I’d like to thank them all.”
The Learning Trust Educator Awards 2010
- Outstanding new teacher (primary): Bonnie Jackson, Queensbridge Primary, E8
- Outstanding new teacher (secondary/special): Jessika Chaplain, Clapton Girls’ Technology College, E5
- Teaching assistant of the year: Roselyn Codadeen, Woodberry Down Community Primary, N4
- ICT creativity: Breffini Winwood, Clapton Girls’ Technology College, E5
- Sustainable school: Tyssen Community School, N16
- Teacher of the year (primary): Karen Stevenson, Tyssen Community School, N1
- Teacher of the year (secondary/special): Katerina Jedlickova, Horizon School, N16
- School leadership (primary): Valerie Serette-Figaro, Randal Cremer, E2
- School leadership (secondary/special): Cheryl Day, Clapton Girls’ Technology College, E5
- Governor of the year: Bernard Hawes, Stormont House, E5
- Lifetime achievement: Beryl Grosvenor, Stormont House, E5
- Inclusive school: Lauriston Primary, E9
- Extended school: Hackney Free and Parochial CE Secondary, E9
- Childcare worker of the year: Angela How, Landfield Community Hall, E5
- Learning mentor of the year: Maria Ingram, Parkwood Primary, N4
- Outstanding support staff contribution: Robert Thompson
- The Learning Trust individual of the year: Elizabeth Yauner
- The Learning Trust team of the year: finance
- Community organisation: Immediate Theatre, N1
- Business partnership: William Lea Monitoring Team
8 March 2010
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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