News
Scotland ‘being left
Public
school
behind’, minister says
turns back
the clock
Prince Charles viewed his time
by Sam Phipps
Mr Brown, who replaced the two years since it has been in “Education secretary Fiona Hyslop courses and teacher numbers, Fiona there as “absolute Hell”, but last
Maureen Watt in February, rebuffed power, Mr Brown said international will have been left reeling from Hyslop has been a disaster.” week pupils at his old school,
the charges, citing an increase of reports showed the country had this attack from her own junior Mr Brown said the new cur- Gordonstoun in Scotland, got a
The SNP government in Scotland more than £188 million in council “not made the progress we might minister. riculum – due to be rolled out in taste of the Spartan regime, cold
was forced to defend its education spending and historic lows in aver- expect”, particularly compared with “However, it’s about time some- August but facing possible delays showers and all, that used to
record after its schools minister age primary class sizes. England. one from the SNP benches realised – and agreements with Scotland’s hold sway for decades.
Keith Brown talked of the He said Scotland had rested on “We are being overtaken and the mess she is making of education 32 councils would help address Just for one day, as part of
country being “left behind” unless its laurels regarding education for unless we raise our game, we will in Scotland.” concerns. celebrations to mark the Moray
improvements were made. too long – a dig at the former be left behind,” he added. Conservative schools spokes- SNP backbencher Aileen school’s 75th anniversary, the
His admission during a debate Labour-dominated Scottish execu- Labour said his remarks amount- woman, Liz Smith, said: “From Campbell said “massive steps” had 1934 timetable was followed to
at Holyrood prompted a flurry of tive. ed to an admission that the SNP was breaking election promises on been taken to lift education since show pupils what their predeces-
accusations over “broken promises” However, in the comments that failing to make progress. student debt and class sizes, to a 2007, such as free school meals and sors put up with. “Celebrations”
on class sizes, teacher numbers, and spurred opposition politicians to Labour’s education spokes- lack of postgraduate teacher train- the abolition of graduate endow- might not have been the most
career opportunities. criticise the SNP’s performance in woman, Rhona Brankin, said: ing placements, plus cuts in Higher ment fees. popular word to describe the
pre-breakfast routine of run,
Top chef helps mark school’s achievement
cold shower at 6.45am, and first
lesson of the day.
The classes of 2009, dressed
in 1930s-style shorts and grey
shirts, later assembled on the
World famous chef Raymond Blanc Mr Blanc also spent time talking lawn for physical exercises, then
surprised students at a Somerset with a group of 6th form students more lessons and the dubious
school recently, when he showed up studying French at A level, which pleasure of lying flat on their
to hear how it had been nationally they tape-recorded for their own backs as a teacher read aloud
recognised for its outstanding learning purposes. from Shakespeare.
cooking facilities. During the visit, Mr Blanc was Gordonstoun was founded
The Blue School in Wells accompanied by year 9 student by Dr Kurt Hahn, a Jew who
became the first school in the coun- Mimi Ray and year 10 student fled Nazi Germany in 1933 and
try to be recognised by the gov- Gethin Hopkin. Mimi showed him aimed to instill in young people
ernment’s FEAST initiative, which the school’s polytunnels and gar- skill, honesty, initiative, a sense
stands for Food Excellence And dens where students grow fresh of service and, of course, physi-
Skills Training. vegetables and talked to him about cal toughness based on military-
It is intended to help ensure that the school council. style discipline.
everyone who works in schools has Mimi said: “He inspired us and Mark Pyper, principal of
the skills and knowledge to provide encouraged us to go further in terms Gordonstoun, which costs up to
good food to pupils. of experimentation and teaching £23,000 a year to attend, said:
Mr Blanc showed up to official- ourselves. The day was really fun “The school has changed tre-
ly open the school’s new catering and Raymond was very friendly mendously in the way it does
training facility, which will offer a with no airs or graces and made things, but the messages and
range of NVQ catering qualifica- everyone feel very relaxed.” principles are just the same.”
tions, including apprenticeships and School business manager Jane The cold showers were
Train to Gain programmes. Spencer, who first approached phased out in the 1960s and
Headteacher Steve Jackson said Mr Blanc, said the chef was very 1970s. “It was a conventional
he was delighted by the visit, and Special guest: Raymond Blanc sampls the wares of Gethin Hopkin, a year 10 student. complimentary about the school’s part of the regime young men
hoped it would inspire students to approach to healthy eating and its particularly went through at the
look at the range of courses on endorsed by the FEAST initiative, “Both me and the students and it was great to see him working work promoting the importance of time as part of the toughening up
offer. and it was absolutely amazing to weren’t prepared for exactly how with the kids.” a healthy diet and lifestyle. process, but it became part of the
He told SecEd: “We feel have someone of Raymond’s status much he knows about health, about As well as performing the offi- Form more on FEAST, visit notoriety of Gordonstoun.”
honoured to be the only school getting involved. cooking, and about food in general, cial opening of the FEAST kitchen, www.schoolfeast.co.uk
First Sinnott Fellows unveiled
Post-16 reform group set up in Wales
An advisory group has been set Griffiths said: “I want a highly However, shadow education
up in Wales to come up with a successful, vibrant further educa- minister, Paul Davies, does not
Fifteen secondary teachers issues, and creating out-of-school “We are also going to start tak- reform of post-16 education which tion and 6th form sector, properly believe it goes far enough.
have been unveiled as the first opportunities. ing all of our year 7s to a local will improve partnerships between placed to act collaboratively, and He told SecEd: “This state-
Sinnott Fellows, giving them the One of the new Fellows, Charlie university, in order to show them schools and colleges. fully committed to the Wales-wide ment raises serious questions about
opportunity to take time out from Hodge, from John Cabot Academy the opportunities that are open to The Welsh Assembly govern- agenda of improved skills, parity whether the Assembly government
teaching to develop school links in Bristol, said she was honoured them.” ment (WAG) is putting in place of esteem between vocational and is committed to 6th form education
with other organisations in the to be chosen, and hoped that the The Fellowship, which start- governance arrangements to build academic study, and widening par- in Wales.”
UK and further afield. Fellowship would enable the ed last week, will pay for the on collaboration between schools, ticipation to new generations of He continued: “Any changes to
The Fellowship, which was set school to kick-start a number of Fellows to be freed from their 6th forms, and further education students.” the way 6th forms and colleges
up in memory of Steve Sinnott, programmes. normal school responsibilities for institutions. Under the new plans, the WAG are run must have broad support,
the former general secretary of She told SecEd: “We have six two days a week during the sum- Announcing the review, deputy wants to consider legislation to including that of the communities
the National Union of Teachers, projects lined up, each one based on a mer and autumn terms. minister for skills, John Griffiths, alter the governance arrangements they serve.
who passed away suddenly last different theme. On parental involve- They will then relay their said more flexibility is needed to of colleges as part of its reform of “We share the desire of ministers
year, is awarded to teachers with ment we are planning cooking class- experiences to schools across the ensure wider collaboration. post-16 education in Wales in col- to develop a successful 6th form
a track record of raising young es for students and parents and we country, in the hope that exam- The new group will be made leges and schools. and further education sector which
people’s aspirations, making are hoping to regenerate an area of ples of best practice in developing up of trade unions, college princi- The advisory group will explore is properly run and delivers results.
them aware of global education east Bristol with an art project. external links will be developed pals, employers, college organisa- different working models and report This is all the more important as the
and shared. tion Fforwm, and the Welsh Local its recommendations later this year, recession deepens and we need a
Lucy Parker, chairwoman Government Association. after which a draft measure will be skilled workforce to build a strong
The Sinnott Fellows
of the Talent and Enterprise Launching the group, Mr produced. Welsh economy.”
Jackie Barnes, Morpeth School, London
Taskforce, which helped design
Joan Bloomfield, Marden High School, North Shields
the Fellowship, said: “The
Fellowship was awarded on the
Finance exams boosted by downturn
Marcia Clack, Phoenix High School, London
basis of both the work the teach-
Chris Cullingford, Stoke Newington School and 6th Form, London
ers have already done to build Concerns about personal money- alongside traditional GCSEs and A The courses aim to provide
Jane Delfino, Manchester Academy external links for their schools, management and the long-term levels. young people with the ability to
Ryan Gibson, St Joseph’s RC Comprehensive School, Tyne and Wear
and the plans they have made for effects of the recession have led The organisation is also in make informed financial decisions,
Charlie Hodge, John Cabot Academy, Bristol
their own programme of work to more than 20,000 students discussions with the Scottish and to give students the skills to
Sanjo Jeffrey, Pavilion Study Centre, London
over the coming two terms.” nationwide registering for Qualifications Authority about manage their money. At foundation
She continued: “I have already examinations in finance. offering the qualifications north level, the content includes areas
Ben Johnson, Bishop Barrington Sports College, Durham
been inspired by what I have The GCSE, AS and A level equiv- of the border, which has result- such as comparing mobile phone
Shaun McInerney, North Liverpool Academy heard from the Fellows. alents in financial capability are being ed in 200 enquiries from schools. tariffs and what to look for when
Rob Palmer, Twynham School, Dorset
“There is an important and offered by ifs School of Finance, and Schools in Northern Ireland have opening a bank account.
Tim Smith, Prudhoe Community High School, Northumberland
growing trend for schools to are being studied in more than 360 also expressed an interest. A study by Manchester
Karine Waldron, Villiers High School, London
become increasingly outward- school and colleges this year. Last The organisation developed University, which tracked 3,000
facing, linking their students year, just 12,000 candidates were qualifications for schools in students, found that they reported
Carl Ward, Sutherland Business and Enterprise College, Shropshire
to the wider world – and the registered, and only 23 students sat response to concerns about the an improved knowledge and confi-
Annette Woodrow, Kingsbury High School, London Fellows are at the forefront the exams eight years ago. growing problem of personal debt dence in financial matters after the
of it.” The qualifications count towards and poor levels of financial aware- course and long-term changes in
league tables and are usually offered ness among the general public. financial behaviour.
 SecEd • May 7 2009
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