News
Council denies giving parents
green light for legal action
by Sam Phipps
refused entry on the grounds that to council reorganisation several for other parents to challenge us. Meadow could be lost if judged because admissions pressures were
his home lies outside the catchment years ago allows pupils from neigh- We believe we have a watertight to be outside the catchment area, growing all the time.
area, but the council relented last bouring Glasgow-run primaries to case and will fight any other legal according to estate agents’ esti- Eric Scott, of Campbell Smith,
Scotland’s top-performing week before it came to the Court of attend St Ninian’s. actions all the way. mates. which represents the Hume fam-
education authority denies it has Session. It is the second such case East Renfrewshire argues the “There is a perfectly good sec- The Hume case is not the ily, said other families were likely
encouraged parents to mount legal in recent weeks. condition only covers specific ondary on the Glasgow side, St first. Danny Stuart, 40, from to examine the matter themselves
challenges by granting a boy a St Ninian’s catchment in the streets, with pupils in new develop- Paul’s,” he added, denying a report the same estate, said that days and might be tempted to take legal
place at one of its schools, having south of Glasgow is disputed, as ments having no automatic right to in the Herald that the Council had after he threatened to take East action.
initially refused to do so. it lies within two local authori- enter St Ninian’s. “backed down”. Renfrewshire to court for denying Michael McGrath, of the Scottish
East Renfrewshire Council has ties, and 600 new homes have A Council spokesman told Last year, 47 per cent of the his daughter Chloe, 13, a place, Catholic Education Service, said:
allowed a 12-year-old boy a place been built there over the last few SecEd: “We let the boy in because school’s pupils got at least three it changed tack and granted her “We are looking to try to find a just
at St Ninian’s High in Eastwood, years. we thought it was the best out- Highers at A to C grades, compared one. solution that will answer the needs
where children achieve the best Glasgow City Council says that come for him and we had a few with a Scottish average of 22 per East Renfrewshire Council of parents and give them clarity in
exam results of any state school in although the Parklands Meadow places that weren’t taken up at the cent. said it would set up a consulta- what they are entitled to.”
Scotland. estate near Darnley is inside its start of this year. As much as 10 per cent of the tion involving parents, the Catholic Glasgow City Council declined
Rhys Hume was originally boundaries, a condition dating back “In no way is this a green light value of homes on the Parklands Church and interested bodies to comment.
Summer University picks up
prestigious Lottery award
Tower Hamlets Summer University Boy in da Corner, saying: “Special brilliant projects, and to have the
picked up a top education prize thanx to Mr Smith, da best music chance to find out more about them.
in a star-studded National Lottery teacher, I’ll never forget da way you They really are wonderful examples
Awards ceremony, held earlier this kept faith in me, even when things of how Lottery spending has made
month. looked grim.” a difference to local communities.”
The awards recognised the The University will also receive Runners-up, the Kids’ Cookery
University for having the most a £2,000 cash prize to spend on the School, was nominated for its role
impressive Lottery-funded initiative project. in providing cookery workshops for
in the category of Best Education Sarah Davies, executive direc- children, aged eight to 14 with SEN.
Project. tor of Tower Hamlets Summer The London-based cookery school
The University provides a year- University, said: “Our Lottery fund- offers 12 cookery workshops to 98
round programme of free education- ing has enabled us to make a real children and young people.
al and vocational courses to young difference to the young people who Professional chefs are invited
people in London, aged 11 to 25. come through our doors to learn in to help teach small groups of
Young people have been given new skills. students how to cook healthy, nutri-
the opportunity to participate in a “Being part of this year’s awards tious meals. The scheme aims to
variety of activities, including IT, has enabled our project to be recog- encourage the children to become
magazine and film production, and nised on a national level, which we independent and overcome their
sport. Notable alumni of the course hope will boost our plans to expand disabilities.
include the rapper, Dizzee Rascal, across the country.” For further information on Tower
who is now a patron of the charity. Singer, Gareth Gates, present- Hamlets Summer University, visit
The rapper received music ing the award, said: “It has been www.summeruni.org. For more on
lessons at the University, and he an honour to meet all the fantastic the Kids’ Cookery School, visit
credited his teacher on his album, staff and volunteers who run these www.thekidscookeryschool.co.uk Helping out: Some of the volunteers, who assist staff at Tower Hamlets Summer University
Parents confront minister over academy
Time is running out
A group of concerned parents from Teachers at five of the area’s
Staffordshire have confronted the secondary schools – Belgrave
schools minister, Vernon Coaker, School, Queen Elizabeth’s
to nominate your
over plans to create an academy and Mercian School (QEMS), Rawlett
centralise 6th form provision in the School, Wilnecote School, and
Tamworth area. Woodhouse School – have taken
PA for top award
Four parents joined representa- strike action against the plans on
tives of the NASUWT union in a number of occasions in the last
London last Thursday (September six months. There are just two weeks left to
How to enter
24), where they grilled the minister Brian Morris, who has two chil- nominate your PA for the 2009
over council proposals to close four dren at Wilnecote School – which SecEd Headteachers’ PA of the The awards are open to every
Save our schools: (From left) Brian Cookson, NASUWT treasurer, sixth forms, and open one academy will lose its 6th form under the Year Awards. UK secondary school, state or
parents Brian Morris, Corrine Sharpe, Julie Morgan, and that would cater for all post-16 plans, said he was “incensed” by It takes only five minutes independent.
Carolyn Lang, and Richard Sidley, NAUWT executive member students. the proposals. to put your PA forward, and all All you need to do is write a
He told us: “From my point of nominees receive a certificate of testimonial of between 500 and
Welsh results show ‘healthy increase’
view, the whole proposition – par- nomination. 700 words explaining to us why
ticularly the loss of the 6th forms Around 30 will also be invited your PA is vital to your school
– is of huge concern. The proposals to attend the grand final at the and its community – it really is as
Wales’s education minister has There was a similar success some trends remain the same, with basically mean there will be four prestigious Landmark Hotel in simple as that.
praised pupils and teachers for story in English, maths, Welsh and girls continuing to do better than 11 to 16 schools, and one 11 to 18 London on November 20, and Our judging panel always
ensuring a steady rise in national science. The improvements in the boys in non-core subjects. school split over two sites. treated to a gala dinner, before the looks for evidence of a PA’s dedi-
curriculum assessments. percentage of students gaining the And a higher percentage of girls “We are incensed at being 2009 winner is announced. cation and loyalty to their role,
Jane Hutt welcomed the publi- expected level in the core subjects than boys achieved level 5 or above forced to send our children to a Entries for this year’s compe- as well as evidence of the impact
cation of teacher assessment of all ranged from one per cent in maths in all subjects apart from PE, where particular 6th form. And what hap- tition have been coming in thick that they have on the school’s
subjects at key stage 3 in Wales in to 2.8 per cent in Welsh. boys outperformed girls. pens if they don’t get the grades and fast – the latest arrivng from a systems and operations. We look
2009, and said the “healthy increas- Ms Hutt said: “We are starting The gap between boys and girls to get on to the course of their head in Essex, who told us his PA for the impact PAs have with
es” should be celebrated. to reap the rewards of our child- was greatest in Welsh as a second choice? They’ll be forced to travel was the “first point of call for any the teaching and support staff in
The most recent figures for non- centred policies, teachers are gain- language. to an entirely different area. It’s a queries from 120 staff members”. the school, as well as with the
core subjects showed that, since ing confidence in their assessment The percentage of pupils achiev- disgrace.” He added: “She knows all the students.
2001, there has been an increase abilities and in the use of assess- ing the expected level 5 or above Julie Morgan, whose daughter staff and their idiosyncrasies and The deadline for nominations is
of at least seven percentage points ment for learning. varied from 77.5 per cent in IT to is currently in year 13 at QEMS, has a detailed understanding of all Thursday, October 15, although we
for each subject. Since 2008, there “The proportion of our 11 and 56 per cent in Welsh as a second added: “My daughter left school the school’s systems.” advise you to get them in as soon
has been an increase in the per- 14-year-olds achieving the expect- language. to attend a local college and do a However, by far and away the as you can. For more guidance or
centage of pupils achieving level ed levels or higher in each core sub- Performance varied consider- BTEC, but she found that it didn’t most common phrase in nomina- to submit nominations, email pete.
5 or above in all subjects apart ject has seen healthy increases. We ably between local authorities. suit her. tions is “unsung hero”. h@markallengroup.com
from geography, which stayed the should celebrate the achievements Welsh as a second language had “She decided to go back to SecEd’s PA of the Year Award You can also send your nomi-
same, and PE, which decreased by of children across Wales.” the greatest range of results at QEMS, and is now much happier. gives you the chance to recognise nations to SecEd PA of the Year,
0.1 per cent. The greatest increase However, the figures, which 27.6 per cent (68.3 per cent in But with a single 6th form, there the work that your PA does, and St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road,
was in modern foreign languages, have been published by Wales’s Powys compared to 40.7 per cent would have been no option for her say a massive thank you. Herne Hill, London, SE24 0PB.
which rose by 2.1 per cent. Statistical Directorate, show that in Torfaen). to return.”
 SecEd • October 1 2009
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