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Publisher
Ben Allen
Editor
Pete Henshaw – 020 7501 6771
pete.henshaw@markallengroup.
Black teens
com
Deputy editor
David Taylor – 020 7501 6772
david.taylor@markallengroup.com Elly Hobson, widening partici- The event will include work-
Chief reporter
by Dorothy Lepkowska
pation and community engagement shops, which will provide young
Chris Parr – 020 7501 6750
manager at the London School of people with an opportunity to dis-
Illustrator
Black teenagers, their parents Economics, which is hosting the cuss what success means to them
Christos Mais
and teachers are being invited to event, said: “The problem of under- and how they might set goals for
a conference, aimed at raising achievement by this ethnic group is themselves that will help them ful-
Editorial advisory panel
aspirations and encouraging young a complex issue. These pupils are fill their potential.
Paul Ainsworth, Deputy
Black people to stay on at school. more likely to have a statement of There will also be advice avail-
headteacher, Belvoir High School,
The conference, called Black special needs and less likely to be able for parents on issues such as
Leicestershire. Mark Blois,
to the Future, is targeting 13 to on the gifted and talented register. supporting their children through
Browne Jacobson. Leo Gilbert,
16-year-olds, who will be able to “They are also several times the educational process.
Vice principal, Harris Academy,
find out what education and careers more likely to be excluded from Ms Hobson added: “There is
south London. Hilary Moriarty,
options are available to them. school than other groups. All of this a real dichotomy between those
National director, Boarding According to a report from suggests low expectations of Black young Black people who want
Schools’ Association. Neill UCAS, pupils from disadvantaged children, a lack of cultural aware- to be lawyers and follow other
Morton, Headteacher, Portora backgrounds will already have ness by schools and a failure to professional careers, and those
Royal School, Enniskillen. Helen made decisions about their future deliver an inclusive curriculum.” who see their success in terms of Up close and personal: Children get a glimpse of the
Nurton, Assistant headteacher, at this stage in their lives, including Ms Hobson added that the con- cultural influences in the form of engine, which powers the Airbus A380, the world’s
Guildford County School, Surrey. whether or not they plan to go to ference was aimed at introducing sport and music, for example, and largest passenger aircraft
Tina Stockman, Teacher, Harlaw
university. young Black people to members who do not see education as the
Academy, Aberdeen. Ray Tarleton,
Rates of underachievement of their community who had suc- way forward.”
Headteacher, South Dartmoor
among the Black and Afro- ceeded and carved out careers in a The conference will take place
Community College, Ashburton,
Caribbean community, particularly variety of areas, to show them what on Saturday, October 10, in the
£15,000 science
Devon. Dr Bernard Trafford,
boys, continue to raise concerns. they could achieve. New Academic Building at The
Headteacher, The Royal Grammar
Figures show that they consistently They will include presenter and London School of Economics. It is
School, Newcastle upon Tyne.
underperform across all key stages, DJ, Kat B, and the motivational open to African-Caribbean students
Simon Viccars, Headteacher, Leon
though the proportion achieving speaker, “Action” Jackson Ogunyemi, from London, and their families and prize up for grabs
School and Sports College, Milton
five or more A* to C grades has both of whom will provide advice teachers.
Keynes. Alex Wood, Headteacher,
increased in recent years by almost and a personal insight into how they Visit www.black-to-the-future.
Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh.
five per cent to 54 per cent. realised their ambitions. co.uk for more information. Nine UK schools are in the At Bramhall High School in
running to win a £15,000 Stockport, students are to form a
Heads angry at budget report
cash prize for their science chemistry club, which will work
Sales director
departments. with local industry and universi-
Matt Govett – 020 7501 6735
The schools beat off competi- ties to discover how chemistry is
Business development
tion from 1,500 other entries to used outside the classroom, and
manager
Headteachers have reacted angrily being run ragged by initiatives and added: “I absolutely understand become finalists in this year’s then use this to help develop sci-
Abdul Hayee – 020 7501 6776
to a government report calling for targets and the plethora of demands how to get value for money. Rolls Royce Science Prize. The ence learning in school.
Classified sales 40,000 teaching assistants to be made of us.” “If a secretary of state ever had competition, now entering its Sir John Rose, chief executive
Rachel McElhinney – 020 7501 6728 sacked in order to make school Ray Tarleton, head at South the courage to say to heads: ‘Here’s sixth year, rewards inspirational of Rolls Royce, said: “Educating a
budget savings. Dartmoor Community College in all the money we can afford to science teaching in schools. new generation of young scientists
Subscription manager The recommendation came Devon, told us: “ (The call for a six give you to run your school, and As finalists, all nine schools is vital to the future of our coun-
Chris Hoskins
from Richard Handover, former per cent budget saving) would deci- here’s all the goals we want you to have already scooped up £6,000 try. The level of enthusiasm dem-
Circulation director
chief of WH Smith, who was asked mate staffing – certainly in already achieve; how you do it is entirely up to implement science teaching onstrated by all the finalists has
Sally Boettcher
by ministers to review financial poorly funded areas. For us it would to you’, everyone would be amazed projects, which will be unveiled been outstanding. I look forward
management in state schools. be £450,000 – or 12 to 13 teachers.” at the savings we could make.” over the coming academic year. to watching the schools’ projects
Mr Handover claimed that Heads were also quick to point A spokesman for the Department The winning project will receive progress during the coming year.”
Circulation department:
schools did not monitor their spend- out that stringent processes are in for Children, Schools and Families, the £15,000 when the winners are Fifty schools that did not
Tel: 01722 716997
ing closely enough, and argued that place to ensure schools do not waste said: “In some areas, the secretary announced in October 2010. make the finals, but submitted
Fax: 01722 716926
email: subscriptions@
school budgets could be cut by six money. of state made clear over the sum- Among the finalists, students entries of a very high calibre, will
markallengroup.com
per cent without damaging the out- Peggy Farrington, head at mer that his choice to protect the from Teesdale Secondary School be awarded £1,000 each.
comes for children. Hanham High School in Bristol, frontline meant that he did not agree in County Durham will start a The Rolls Royce Science
UK annual rates:
However, Paul Scutt, headteach- told SecEd: “Governors are ulti- with Mr Handover’s thinking. project that aims to enrich the Prize is open to all UK schools
er at Bishop Fox’s School in mately responsible for how a “For example, Ed Balls was lives of zoo animals. They intend and colleges attending courses
Personal £50
Somerset, claimed that more money school’s money is spent, and I am clear that he ... did not want to see to collaborate with Chester Zoo at one of the Science Learning
Institutional (libraries,
could be saved by trimming the quite sure that all schools have a fewer teachers or teaching assistants, in studying primate behaviour in Centres. For further information,
companies etc) £110
number of government quangos. value for money policy in place.” but rather wanted to keep the extra order to develop a device, which visit www.Rolls-Royce.com/
Europe annual rates:
He added: “There is not capac- Chris Dunne, head at Langdon 40,000 extra teachers and the extra will entertain the animals. scienceprize
Personal £92 ity in schools for savings. We are Park Community School in London, 120,000 extra teaching assistants.”
Institutional £165
Rest of world annual rates:
Personal £113
Institutional £209
Hyslop under fire
Songwriting award winners honoured
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin “I’ve been writing songs for as
Printed by
Pensord Press, Wales
over lost debate
took his first steps to fame and for- long as I can remember, but began
tune at the age of 15 when he won to take myself seriously last year.
a national songwriting competition My dream is to have a successful
Published by
for aspiring musicians. career in the music industry but I’d
Scotland’s education secretary, broken its manifesto pledge to cut Keen to encourage up and com- like to go to university first.”
Fiona Hyslop, was under increased class sizes to 18 in the first three ing talent, he now chairs the judges’ Guy Moot, head of publishing
pressure after failing to participate years of primary. panel for the Make It Break It (MIBI) at EMI and a member of the judg-
in a debate on the Scottish Earlier last week, Ms Hyslop awards for outstanding songwriters ing panel, said: “While Alex’s
St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road
government’s schools policy last said new legislation would limit aged 14 to16 and 17 to 19. lyrics may need some tightening,
Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB
Thursday (September 24), which primary classes to 25. Later this month (October 31), she has crafted a catchy cho-
www.markallengroup.com
the SNP subsequently lost. Opposition politicians say the six 2009 winners will receive On song: Alex Cheatle is rus full of harmonies which is
Ms Hyslop left it to her deputy, class sizes and teacher numbers their awards and get the chance hoping for success at the incredibly hard to get out of your
Keith Brown, to defend a drop are among broken promises that to perform their songs in front of MIBI awards head.”
in the number of class teachers. also include matching the previous top music industry executives at a The other 2009 winners are
During the debate at Holyrood, administration’s building scheme special ceremony at the Liverpool 2009, and Ali Boag, director of the Cameron Maunder from Bolton,
MA Education Ltd is an independent
she moved from the front row and “brick-for-brick”, and providing at Institute for Performing Arts. school’s Stahl Theatre, encouraged Kirsty Keatch from Fife, Joni
publishing company also responsible
left the chamber once, prompting least two hours of PE a week. One of this year’s 14 to 16 her to enter the MIBI awards. Fuller from Lytham St Annes,
for education titles Early Years
opposition claims that she was A spokesman for Mr Salmond winners is Alex Cheatle, 15, a Alex told SecEd: “Performing Polly Mackey from Wrexham,
Educator and 5to7 Educator.
running away from the issue. said Ms Hyslop was “not ducking year 11 pupil at Oundle School in live at the awards ceremony in front and Sarah Wood from Newcastle-
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Later, during First Minister’s the debate”, and that Mr Brown Northamptonshire. Her upbeat love of friends, family, music industry under-Lyme. Their prizes include a
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of MA Education
Questions, Alex Salmond was was the appropriate minister for song, People Talk About Us, was officials, Chris Martin and other five-day workshop at the Liverpool
The publisher accepts no responsibility for any views or opinions
expressed in SecEd.
asked why his government had the debate. first performed at the school’s inter- VIP guests will be the best day of Institute for Performing Arts and an
ISSN 1479-7704
house song competition in February my life. EMI recording session.
 SecEd • October 1 2009
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