This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
NEWS
White Paper rounds off
busy year for education
by Chris Parr
that they are up-to-date with the “If a teacher is not up to the should already be getting the sup- Mr Balls said he felt the new formance. We know that schools
latest teaching practices every five mark, there are already procedures port they need to develop.” report cards “should contain a sin- are not just about exam results and,
years, in order to “renew” their for dealing with it via competency The White Paper also includes gle overall grade for schools”. in so far as the report card seeks to
Teachers have hit out at the licence. and capability routes. Is the licence legislation for the new US-style Dr John Dunford, general sec- give credit to schools for fulfilling
government’s latest White Paper, Mike Griffiths, headteacher at just another unnecessary burden?” school report cards, which are set retary of the Association of School their wider aims, it is a welcome
which was unveiled by education Northampton School for Boys, said Rachel Pattisson, a teacher in to replace school league tables, and College Leaders, said he was development.”
secretary, Ed Balls, last week. he could see the rationale behind Northumberland, said the licence and would see schools judged on against a single grade, but added: Mr Griffiths told SecEd: “Single
Entitled Your child, Your the licence, but questioned whether made sense, as no school would a range of issues such as pupil “The card signals an important grade? No! The scorecard should
Schools, Our Future: Building a it was really necessary. want to employ a teacher that had progress, student wellbeing, and move away from inappropriately be more sophisticated. A single
21st Century Schools System, the He told SecEd: “I suppose we become “stagnant”. attendance rates. narrow measures of school per- grade sounds like a single Ofsted
White Paper contains the blueprint expect our doctor to be up-to-date, However, she added: “It’s judgement of outstanding, or good.
for future education laws, and out- so maybe it’s not a bad idea. The only through peer support, train- Schools are hugely complex places
lines the government’s vision for key thing will be the bureaucracy ing, help and experience that we
Key points of the new White Paper
which should not be reduced to a
developing the education system in involved. What happens if some- become good teachers. A weak
• All heads and teachers will be required to hold a “licence to teach”,
single meaningless grade.”
the coming months. one ‘fails’ (the renewal)? Support teacher shouldn’t be ‘weeded out’,
obtained by demonstrating knowledge of recent best practice and
The White Paper also detailed
The biggest headline-grabber structures? Appeals? Ombudsman? they should be given support to
was the introduction of a “licence Court cases – all wanting ‘proof’ improve. If senior managers are
up-to-date CPD. It must be renewed very five years.
plans that would require “good”
schools to work with less high-
to teach”, which will require all that the teacher has become ‘inad- effective, there should be no need
• School report cards to rate schools on areas such as student
ly rated ones, as part of school
teachers in state schools to prove equate’? for an ‘MOT’ every five years. Staff wellbeing and pupil progress. Could include single overall grade for “chains” that would operate under
schools.
a single headteacher, and a single
The SecEd year that was
• “Chain schools” to be established, where institutions with good
identity.
Ofsted ratings merge with those rated less highly. They will operate
It also listed a range of pupil
“guarantees”, which means schools
under an executive head, and under a shared “brand” identity.
are obliged to offer their students
• Legal guarantees to parents and pupils, including catch-up lessons for five hours of sport a week, and
The government’s latest The head wrote: “A is not acceptable. It is one standard
those struggling in English and maths, and five hours of sport a week.
catch-up tuition on a one-to-one or
education White Paper
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full page colour picture for the Palace of Westminster and
• Stronger home-school agreements, with heads able to apply for
small group basis for those falling
has rounded off a busy The ONLY weekly voice for secondary
education Issue 213 • May 14 2009 Price £1.00
www.sec-ed.com of the school appeared another for the rest of us. They are
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Sign up to DNA
victory give
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in the local press under sitting on a policy that would be an
parenting orders against non-complying parents, who could be fined
behind.
SecEddigital
for free For more information on the
With the launch of SecEddigital, thousands of
teachers are now reading would have got through it. It put an the newspaper electronically enormous amount of stress on my
education system, which
every Thursday. You can sign up by sending us your email DON'T ABUSE marriage.”Had Mr Wren failed in his
address. It is completely free and we will not pass on your MY NAMEcampaign action against the police, then the national database of DNA would
have contained his details alongside parties. Just a case of alleged assault against a
email editor@sec-ed.co.uk by Chris Parr child. In addition, his union would have been faced with legal costs of the headline ‘Threatened ideal model for tackling the issue in
up to £1,000.details to third
announcements, visit the “In the
around £20,000.In March last year, history teacher Mark Blois, SecEd’s legal
Matthew Wren was unlawfully expert, and partner at education law arrested after being accused of firm Browne Jacobson, said: “The
assault by one of his students. law is clear that unless an arrest His case never went to trial.
has seen some of the most
can be said to be ‘necessary’, it will There was no evidence against him. be deemed unlawful. Teachers and
And now the high court has ruled their unions are going to be encour-that all police records of his DNA
Photos aged by the outcome in this case and fingerprints – taken on the day and will probably bring more legal
Charitable debate of his arrest – must be destroyed. challenges seeking to protect the The ruling represents a signifi- Newcastle integrity of teachers.”cant victory in the fight to ensure / Mr Wren said he was “disap-
Fee-charging schools with with closure’. Many schools.” news” section at www.dcsf.gov.ukfair treatment for teachers accused pointed” to have left teaching, but charitable status have to meet
of wrongdoing, and could lead to a considered himself lucky to have new requirements from the wave of legal action from others in NCJMEDIA / walked into another job – allowing
Charity Commission. Head similar situations. him to move on.Marion Gibbs explains It also came in the week when “In many ways, I think that
Pages 8 and 9 the government unveiled plans that Commins my case was an accident waiting
radical changes of recent
will leave DNA profiles of innocent to happen. In 15 years of teaching people on the national database for Andy students – many with behavioural
up to 12 years. conditions – I have seen verbal and Mr Wren, 37, told SecEd that the Photo: physical assaults swept under the
last year had been a “nightmare”, carpet.and that the events had forced him
Vindicated: Matthew Wren’s DNA records will be destroyed after his high court vict
ory “I hope my case helps out teach-
to quit the job he loved – after 15 r, and is critical of the support ers who find themselves in a similar years teaching at the same school. of false accusations against teachers office position. I am sure there will be staff chose to apply for Throughout the last year, SecEd
He said: “It was me that initially DNA swabs and fingerprints, even for the last four years. he received from both his school more cases, but at least on this occa-went to the police, to report a boy though my solicitor informed them Ms Keates told us: “There is and the local authority in the wake sion justice prevailed.”
in my class for an assault against that the arrest itself was unlawful.”The legal action taken by Mr something wrong with law enforce- of the allegations. A spokesman for Northumbria me. The police didn’t seem to take He said: “I think both schools’ ment when a teacher, himself a Police told SecEd that it now
any action, but when the boy made Wren was supported by his union, victim of assault, reports this to the and local authorities’ duty of care accepted that the arrest had been
times.
Hitting the targets a counter-claim – alleging that I the NASUWT. Gener
al secre- police only to be arrested as a result to teachers needs to be seriously unlawful, and had agreed to the
had assaulted him – I was asked to tary, Chris Keates, told SecEd that of a counter-claim by the pupil. In looked at, because I received very deletion of the photographic, DNA,
Is performance management come down to the station, where I the ruling represented a critically Mr Wren’s case, the assault on him little support other than a token let- and fingerprint records, and the on your mind? Deputy head was arrested straight away. It was important development in the cam- was never investigated. ter – which came from the school. amendment of the police national
very embarrassing, since another paign to ensure that teachers who “The outcome of this case will The local authority acted as if it computer.Jo Smith says you should be student of mine saw me in the face allegations from pupils are significantly change the way teach- couldn’t care less. Sunderland City Council, the
looking back at your targets station. treated fairly. “I went to bed thinking about ers who are accused of assault are local authority in which Mr Wren’s for the year, but also looking “I was told very little. The police The union has already pledged dealt with by the police.” the allegations, and woke up think- school is located, said it was unable
and secure jobs else- has also continued its Don’t Abuse to the future completely ignored my story about its support to SecEd’s Don’t Abuse Mr Wren now works for Durham ing about them, and without the support of my wife I don’t think I to comment.
Page 13 what had happened, and after about My Name campaign, which has ssue University as an accommodation seven hours in the station they took been raising awareness of the i
In October, with teach-
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UK news n Moral support n NQT diary n Managing ICT
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S
12/5/09 12:47:21
started the year without been raising awareness of false
Sharp rise in teachers
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Issue 214 • May 21 2009 Price £1.00
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that many had campaigned
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d to hu eb sle u bss t also detailed how accused of assaulting a pupil at his t aa nn cd ea .rds in the ongoing H Mou r Bse ro of w C n to om :mons with the ones needed to be addressed.deba Dte r o Mv ae rr y a Bsb oe us st to es d , m ge
a nn ea rg ae l m see cn ret - th •at C I ose me m in i sm sio os nt sc ah o co ol ms. pH ro ehw ee nv se ir v, e “In the past, the government in ta s rc yh oo fo l ts h. e Association of Teachers an I am a uv de ir ty oen f co thu er ag ee xd te b ny t, th te y pre ec e an nt d has said that it is managing the
C d a Lm ecp tua ri eg rn s,e r ws a s there.v Sis hi et in tog ld resp co on ns de i f tir oo nm o g f o av se br en sm toe sn it n.” schools, problem, and that it is doing what W Se es ct Em di :n s “t Ter h ela s Ht ow ue see k o w f e C
re o mgi mve on ns C ana dm mpa ai ng an ge er m ent standards. needs to be done –a anp dre s the en t Hat oio un s eo on f h L o o M sow rd ic m st h eh a a the r e e l ind r ge id L tad d hl l e ay e e t d s, • Carry out an assessment of the I
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reported in the wake of the
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tary question, tabled battle, the high court ordered the teachers seeking financial support,
announcement, with many by Liberal Democrat police to destroy all records of his SecEd can reveal.
The ONLY weekly voice for secondary
education Issue 203 • February 12 2009 Price £1.00
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With the launch of
ment for finally reducing
SecEddigital, thousands of teachers are now reading
the newspaper electronically SecEd exclusive report sparks p
arliamentary question
every Thursday. You can sign up by sending us your email designed to help so-called “failing” long-term difference, particularly if very difficult to make any long-
address. It is completely free schools to improve results, it may the threat of closure means they are term plans.by Chris Parr “For example, we can’t and we will not pass on your be doing more harm than good. already losing staff and students.” David Laws. Mr Wren told us: “In 15 years
He told SecEd: “I can fully Dr Rowena Blencowe is employ another member of
staff S
SIDES INJOB
ecEd Network (TSN), seen exclusively details to third parties. Just Funding received by schools on headteacher at Stafford Sports if the funding is not sustainable. The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Issue 197 • December 11 2008 Price £1.00www.sec-ed.com
email editor@sec-ed.co.uk the government’s controversial understand the need to focus on College – a National Challenge They seem to be making up the IInssiide tthiiss iissssueSecEddigitalNational Challenge programme is schools with poorer results, but the school that received around £70,000 rules as they go along.” SecEd’s new virtual The shame of edition launches on
January 15 at the not enough to have any significant crudity of the way this programme She added: “We are repairing in funding earlier this month. BETT Show. Come and celebrate with us! See page 4 a government
impact on the running of a school, was announced, and Gordon She told SecEd that the cash will the damage ourselves. Results are In June, 638 schools were “named and shamed” by the government under its National Challenge and threatened with closure.
the testing burden, while
it has been claimed. Brown’s use of the word ‘failing’, “do nothing to repair the damage up – we are now above the 30 per The only measure used in judging these schools so harshly was whether they were achieving 30 per cent five A* to C GCSEs including English and maths.However, the impact of this very public announcement has been devastating for many schools It comes after it was revealed has made it very difficult for some done in terms of how the school is cent benchmark for GCSE results – negative press coverage, low morale among staff and students, dramatically reduced year SecEd competitions 7 intakes as pupils go elsewhere, and staff looking for jobs elsewhere. Some of the schools have been plagued with rumours of closure within their local communities.
and discount offers The scheme has been criticised heavily for completely failing to recognise that many of this week that around 50 schools on schools to improve. There is still time to enter our exclusive competition to win these schools are working in the toughest of circumstances and are, in fact, achieving great “In fact, in some cases, the dam- perceived in the community”. – and this has been achieved not £5,000 worth of content for things. Indeed, a good number of the schools are considered “outstanding” or “good” by
the programme have yet to receive She said: “When we were put on because of National Challenge, any money at all. age inflicted on schools has left National Challenge, the local paper but because of the work we had received more than three times the
National Challenge, which was them with a lot of work to do to had a front page announcing that already started doing.” amount that his school had.introduced last summer, targets all restore their reputations.” However, another head, speak-
Mr Laws also has reservations the school would close, and that’s a “Maybe they have a more dis-schools where fewer than 30 per ing anonymously, told us that the advantaged cohort, or perhaps they This revealed that, by of teaching students – many with by this newspaper, show that in
A teenager’s view cent of students achieve five A* to C about the amount of money schools very difficult thing to batt
le.“The additional funding is of money he received had allowed
had lower results than us, but it is GCSEs including English and maths, are receiving, after his question him to hire two temporary members very interesting that they came out
Everyone is talking about giving extra support and funding. revealed that one school got just course welcome, and does go some s making up for the of staff to help reduce class sizes. of the scheme with so much more knife crime, but what do our However, many schools have £5,000, while 40 received less than way toward He said: “The bad publicity was than we did,” he said.
teenagers think? We talk to highlighted the negative impact that £16,000 – a figure that he says will money we lost
when students were Initially, 638 schools were put
one 14-year-old student in being named on the list has had, have little impact on the running of pu
lled out of the school in light of never an issue for us, and the extra the press reports, but money has given us the opportunity on National Challenge. However,
others criticised the lack of
London about his experiences including one London school that a school. because we don’t to target English and maths by b
ring-
He continued: “The fact is that after last summer’s exam results, was featured in SecEd in December know if we’ll ing in a couple of extra staff, so we’re Pages 8 and 9 the number of schools below the 30
(see right) after it saw a large drop in out of more than 600 schools placed get the same quite happy with the situation.” was, however, intrigued per cent benchmark fell to around student applications because of neg- on the Challenge, only around 200 amount next He 638 schools
ative publicity in the local press. got more than £100,000. Any year, it is to hear that another National 400, although all theIt was this report that sparked less than this amount is Challenge school in the area had will remain on the programme.A Department for Children,
the Liberal Democrat’s schools not going to make Schools and Families spokesman spokesman, David Laws, to sub- very much said: “This is simply initial funding February – eight months behavioural conditions – I have seen England, there has been an increase
mit a parliamentary question ask- and in most cases, more will follow. ing for details on funding There are also non-cash ben-
progress. efits such as support from Mr Laws says National Challenge
that although the advisors.”
notice given.
CPD: Do you know programme was
where you stand?
For those of you wondering what the next step should
be with your CPD, our fortnightly CPD page after the programme verbal and physical assaults swept of more than 40 per cent in the
suggests the key questions you should be asking
yourself, and othersPage 13
Peggy Farrington,
Assistant Headteachers are eligible for full membe
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h no increase until January 2010.Join now fo
E
r less than £15 per month wit was unveiled – around under the carpet. I hope my case number of teachers contacting the
headteacher at Hanham
S
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50 schools were yet to helps out teachers who find them- charity to enquire about grants and
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01-frontpage.indd 1
High School in Bristol, told
The ONLY weekly voice for secondary
education Issue 197 • December 11 2008 Price £1.00
receive their National selves in a similar position. I am sure loans.
I si t wwwInsid is iss .sec-ed.come this issue
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January 15 at the
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The only measure used in judging these schools Mr Laws told us: on this occasion justice prevailed.” 240 loan enquiries, a figure that
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the chance to get discounted Up until recently, many headm se m wb ee rr esh c
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all our readers! L ea rs et sw tie lle ik n, tw hee dre ap rko .r ted on comments from schoh oa lsv
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for 2008. W H tho ew ee nv de r, o t fh te h esa yd e atr r.uth is that whenever this programme was heralded some landmarks develop- this year.e want to take the funthis oppor
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schools this year. We return f ee w sc hy oe oa lr s h, ab su bt eth ei ns ih me pa rd o m vina gin rt aa pin ids lt yh oa vt eit r w thi ell lt ao a sn k t eJanuar
y 8. Until then, we d to wn oe yb ey a t rh s e t oN ra et vio eho n rsp a ee l y C tho h eu a “ h lla e irv n ree g pa e a w . rable” damage o
nderful Christmas and a v Wery h h aa t p sp hy e had to say was nothing short of sho
ck(and relaxing) new year! r ie nm g a ain n da , n uo nn sy um rpo riu ss in. R gle ya , sd h h e
e hr aa sc c ao su ken dt o to n page 2. announced, and Gordon ments for SecEd, with the newspa- When figures from Scotland and
Assistant Headteachers are eligible for full m
embership of NAHT
new copies of Romeo and
Join now for less than £15 per month with no increase
until JanuaE rs yta b 2lis 0h 1ed 0 i .n 1897, NAHT
is an independE en ng tl a trn ad d, eW ua nle ios n a an nd d N po rort fh ee sr sn io
I nre ala l an sd s. o M ciaa tn ioy n m ree pm reb se ers n th ino gld 2 l 8e ,a 0d 0e 0r s mh eip m p bo es ri sti o in ns in secondary schools and sixth form
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To request an application form call the Brown’s use of the word per unveiling its new digital edition, Wales are taken into account, there Meo mn
b0 e8 r0 s0 h i0 p2 R6 e 2 c4 ru1 i0 tm (q eu no t t Tin eg a m SecEd), emailS joe ic nE u
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At the chalkface
01-frontpage.indd 1
‘failing’, has made it which is now being sent for free has been a rise of just over 13 per 9/12/08 11:23:10
recompense? I doubt it.” very difficult for some via email to thousands of teachers cent, suggesting that concerns are
Some of the most fierce criti- schools to improve.” across the UK each Thursday. greater in England than in the rest
cism of the year was directed at Meanwhile, SecEd continued We also published our 200th of the UK.
another major government policy its campaign to raise awareness of ever edition, in January, and had the Julian Stanley, chief executive
– National Challenge. The pro- asbestos in schools, with a series pleasure of unveiling Pam Waters, of the charity, said: “The reces-
gramme has seen more than 600 of reports. from Forest Gate Community sion continues to cause problems
schools threatened with closure or In May this year, we revealed School in east London, as our 2009 for many teachers. Figures show
government intervention if they fail the shocking differences between Headteacher’s PA of the Year. a significant increase in contact
to improve GCSE results. asbestos management in schools SecEd returns on Thursday, with those enquiring about grants
In December, SecEd car- and in the Houses of Parliament, a August 27 with our all-Scottish in comparison to last year, and the
ried a testimony from an anony- story that was picked up nationally. edition, before our first UK-wide knock-on effects of financial hard- The UK figures show that the working conditions increased from
mous headteacher who had seen Campaigner Michael Lees, edition of the new term comes out ship are also creating a large rise in number of calls from teachers with 265 to 295.
her school suffer enormous dif- whose wife – a teacher – died on Thursday, September 3. In the contact with teachers experiencing personal concerns rose from 216 in For more information on the
ficulty after being placed on the from mesothelioma, caused by meantime, you can keep yourselves ‘personal’ problems, in areas such June 2008 to 339 in June this year, support available, visit www.
Challenge. exposure to asbestos, told us: “It updated at www.sec-ed.co.uk as family relationships.” while the number of calls about teachersupport.info
Welsh stars back plan to get boys reading
A drive to get Welsh boys reading as Tom Shanklin, Cardiff City footballer The celebrities presented spe- right across the UK for some time. to opening so many doors in their with this and praised when they
well as girls was backed by leading Joe Ledley, and former Stereophonics cially designed certificates to boys It is worrying and it’s vital we ignite future, to education, employment, make progress.”
stars from rugby, football, music, drummer Stuart Cable. attending the event who were boys’ interest and start to make that and even different worlds through a The Basic Skills Cymru ‘Read
and television at the Millennium The event, called Reading Better, deemed to have worked partic- gap disappear. good book.” a Million Words Together in Wales’
Stadium in Cardiff last Thursday was part of the Welsh Assembly ularly hard to raise their read- “Today, however, is most impor- Rugby star Ryan Jones added: campaign is aimed at improving
(July 2). government’s Basic Skills Cymru, ing attainment over the past few tantly a celebration of the signifi- “There is a perception among some boys’ literacy in the age group nine
Boys from across Wales, who which provides teachers from months. cant efforts that boys all over the boys that reading isn’t cool and to 14-years-old, as it is at this stage
have worked hard to boost their read- across the country with a range of Speaking at the event, Wales’s country have been putting into we want to change that by get- that many boys’ start to fall behind
ing and writing skills, were rewarded classroom resources, posters, train- deputy minister for skills, John improving their reading and writing ting involved in the campaign. It’s their female counterparts.
with a day of celebration attended by ing workshops and advice to help Griffiths, said: “The literacy gap skills. The benefit of these skills is important that boys who fall behind For more on the campaign, visit:
rugby internationals Ryan Jones and engage boys with reading. between boys and girls has existed immeasurable; they will be the key with their reading are helped out www.boyliteracywales.co.uk
4 SecEd • July 9 2009
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