NEWS
Call for risk
assessment for
violent pupils
by Sam Phipps
by the local authority. It’s not good 2007. Physical assaults on teachers
enough.” and pupils were up by 2.2 per cent
Ann Ballinger, general secre- between 2005/06 and 2006/07.
Teachers should be told if a new tary-elect of the SSTA, said the Earlier this month the Scottish
pupil has a history of violence demand had arisen after a pupil was parliament heard that teachers were
so that a proper risk assessment excluded for violence and returned “in despair” over the rising levels
can be carried out, according to the very same day. of classroom violence. Liz Smith, Grand designs: The Fourth Plinth design team from Robert Clack School was among the
the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ “The message this sent out to the Conservative education spokes- award winners. The overall winning team from Fortismere School is also pictured
Association (SSTA). pupils and teachers was that you are woman, advocated “second chance
Delegates at the union’s not safe,” she said. “This is not about learning units” which disruptive
annual conference overwhelm- punishment, this is about managing youngsters would attend until they
ingly backed a motion calling for the situation appropriately.” were deemed no longer a threat.
London students rise to
pupils who are excluded for physi- Ms Ballinger said delegates The risk assessment would be
cally aggressive behaviour to be were referring to serious violence, done at the second-chance units,
assessed by an educational psy- not “somebody pushing somebody she said, giving the teachers the
chologist before they can return to else in the corridor”. security they wanted. A scheme run
any classroom. Although the limited number on similar lines by Glasgow council
Fourth Plinth challenge
Graham Robertson, of the of educational psychologists might was found to have cut exclusions
SSTA’s East Dunbartonshire prevent children attending school as by 25 per cent, according to figures Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth, tor of policy for arts, culture and London and a series of new tempo-
branch, said: “The main risk to us, they awaited assessment, delegates released in January. and what goes on it, has been a the creative industries, and sculptor rary commissions was launched.
as teachers today, is from pupils ruled that this issue was for employ- Teachers also called for col- talking point for years. Antony Gormley. The Schools Award runs along-
– not all – but a very specific group. ers to resolve. leagues accused of child abuse or So it is not surprising that sec- The fourth plinth was origi- side the Fourth Plinth programme
We risk assess so much now – why Attacks on staff and pupils in misconduct to be granted anonym- ondary students from across London nally designed by Sir Charles itself, which commissions new tem-
is our biggest risk not also being schools are on the increase, accord- ity. Delegates voted for a motion jumped at the chance to create their Barry and built in 1841 to dis- porary artworks by high profile,
properly assessed? ing to data published last October. demanding UK legislation to ensure own designs for the empty plinth in play an equestrian statue. But due international artists for the site.
“Permanent exclusions are very Total recorded incidents, including a right to privacy when teachers are the north-west corner of Trafalgar to insufficient funds, it was left The next installation will be
rare and have even been overturned verbal abuse, rose by 4.3 per cent in accused of such crimes. Square. empty until 1998 when the Royal Antony Gormley’s One & Other
The Fourth Plinth Secondary Society for the Encouragement of living monument, which will be
Extended projects get backing
Schools Award challenged pupils Arts, Manufactures and Commerce unveiled on July 6 and will involve
aged 11 to 14 to create a design, (RSA) commissioned a series of 2,400 people from across the UK
model or artwork inspired either by temporary works to be displayed. standing on the plinth for an hour
the fourth plinth or another public In 1999 responsibility for Trafalgar each. For more information, visit
All schools should offer pupils Extended projects involve uni- dents, regardless of whether they space in London. Square transferred to the mayor of www.london.gov.uk/fourthplinth
extended projects to give 6th- versity-style dissertations and are intended to go on to university, As well as inspiring youngsters’
formers the opportunity to develop worth half an A level. They can be while David MacKay, programme interest in the visual arts and urban
skills that will better equip them for taken alongside A levels but are also leader at the Qualifications and design, the competition also aimed
Top five winners (all group entries unless stated)
university-style study, according to a compulsory part of the Advanced Curriculum Authority, said the gov- to engage them in a debate about
1 Fortismere School, Haringey, for Aliens – We are all foreign somewhere
Cambridge University’s admissions Diploma. ernment was considering whether citizenship and responsibility for
2 Albany school, Enfield, for Our hands. Our Future
director. Around 4,000 6th-formers will to make the extended project an public spaces.
Dr Geoff Parks claims that be awarded the extended project entitlement for all students at key The winners were announced at
3 Kingsbury High School (class 4), Brent, for Cultural Planet
the potential benefits of extended this summer. stage 5. an awards ceremony at London’s
4 Barnhill Community High, Hillingdon, for Bright Faces
projects are “enormous”, and that Patrick Derham, headteacher He explained: “At the moment, City Hall on Friday (May 15), with 5 Robert Clack School, Dagenham, for London Tree (Connie Collins)
they give students the chance to of Rugby School, where 100 stu- the qualification is available to all Fortismere School in Haringey
get deeply involved in a subject dents are taking extended projects schools, but the question is wheth- scooping first prize for their alien-
Other winners
that interests them, and develop this year, also wants to see the er to make it compulsory. Part of inspired entry. Albany School in
Ursuline High School, Merton, for Equality
research and critical thinking qualification made more widely that process would involve rais- Enfield was second while Kingsbury
The Latymer School, Enfield, for It’s in our hands (Achilles Malcomson)
skills. available. ing awareness of what the projects High in Brent was placed third.
Speaking at a joint exam board He said: “Taught properly, we entail on the part of schools and Aydin Önaç, Fortismere’s
Kingsbury High School (class 5), Brent, for Achievers
conference on extended projects, have found the extended project teachers. headteacher, said: “I am absolutely
Waldegrave School for Girls, Richmond, for Mind your Ps and Qs
hosted by Rugby School last week, is genuinely ground-breaking and It’s also important to say that the thrilled that, for the second year run- (Grace Farrington)
he said: “Cambridge is one of many transformational for both pupils and extended project is not just some- ning, Fortismere students, led by an
Willowfield School, Waltham Forest, for Untitled (Mobina Meshkati)
universities which support extended teachers.” thing that can benefit the academi- inspirational team of art staff, have
Heston Community School, Hounslow, for LONDON (Carli Dejesus)
projects as good preparation for Also speaking at the event, Dr cally elite. Many schools see it as won this prestigious, high-profile
degree-level study, but any stronger Michael Creswell, director general a way to engage students who are award.”
Darrick Wood Secondary School, Bromley, for George and Dragon
endorsement is prevented because for the exam board AQA, said that not taking academic courses, but The winning students were pre-
(William Carter)
they are not made available to all he wanted the extended project to who want to study one specific area sented with their awards by Munira Hendon School, Barnet, for Table Tennis Bat (Wen Ting Wei)
students.” be an option for all 6th form stu- in detail.” Mirza, the mayor of London’s direc-
Liam wins Latin prize
Students win dream trip to Beijing
A 6th-former from West Sussex has in Worcestershire, said: “We are
become the first state school student delighted it has gone to a school After winning a prestigious pupil should have access to a school
to lift the UK CICERO Cup, which in the state sector. The competitors Mandarin competition for the where they can learn Mandarin.
recognises skill in Latin translation. have to sit two very difficult exams second time in four years, students In 2001, Kingsford, a mixed
Liam Erskine, who is in the upper over a weekend, and the standard is from an east London school have comprehensive for pupils aged 11
6th at Hazelwick School, fought far higher than what they will face been enjoying their prize – an to 16, became the first school in
off competition from students at at A level. This year the passage eight-day all-expenses-paid trip the UK to put Mandarin on the cur-
14 other schools – a record three of for translation focused on world to Beijing. riculum. Since then it has worked
which were from the state sector. citizenship, so there were plenty of The six pupils from Kingsford closely with the Specialist Schools
To claim the prize, Liam had to difficult concepts to compete with. Community School in Beckton and Academies Trust (SSAT), the
translate a passage of philosophical Liam has done incredibly well.” beat more than 40 other schools Chinese Embassy, and Hanban (the
Latin text into English, with marks Imogen Goodier, Liam’s Latin to be crowned champions in National Office for Teaching Chinese
awarded for accuracy. teacher, said she was “over the the national Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language) to develop
He told SecEd: “I’m absolutely moon”. Speaking Competition earlier this its own Chinese programme.
overwhelmed. I never expected that “He was really pleased to have year. The competition is support- The winning pupils, from years
I would actually win. I only hope the chance to mix with other Latin ed by HSBC’s Global Education 7, 8 and 11, were thrilled to get the
I can go on and do as well in my and classics students, from all edu- Programme and organised by the chance to visit Beijing.
A levels next month.” cation sectors, because he is going British Council to support and “They absolutely loved it,” said
The competition was set up on to study the subjects at univer- promote the teaching of Chinese Alex Ferraby, the school’s head of
to bring together classicists from sity. His victory really shows that in UK schools. Mandarin. “It was a fantastic oppor-
across the UK, and was started two the subject is still relevant, and that The youngsters’ victory came tunity, particularly for the younger
years ago by two classics teachers. it is not just something to be studied just a week after schools minister students who had never been to China
Anne Dicks, co-founder and by the elite.” Jim Knight declared that every before, and they all learned a lot.” Postcard: The Kingsford students and teachers in Beijing
teacher at Malvern St James School Visit www.ciceroeuropa.eu
4 SecEd • May 21 2009
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