At the chalkface The window cleaner


THERE ARE some things you don’t need in your classroom – like psychotic parents, perky consultants, interactive whiteboards, inactive televisions, false fire alarms, rodents, wasps, bees, or my 8th year. Or window cleaners. I’m with the 9th year way up


on the third floor. We’re reading Holes by Louis Sacher. Most follow, some fake it and some snooze. I settle for that on this lovely spring day. I gaze down on blossoms and bluebells. Bunnies gambol in the park and villains gamble in the playground. All is calm. Then a ladder clatters against our wall. Then a head pops up. A rather porcine, English head with the stubble – it looks like Eric Pickles about to cut a library. It is attached to a rather large, muscled body, whose tattooed arms wave sponges. It is cleaning windows. “Ere sir,” says Dervish, “Oos


he then? Spiderman?” Indeed. Or an undercover


Ofsted inspector? Or a French mime artiste? This is not happening. I plough on. The dread visage now glares though soapy bubbles. It is given higher definition with each sweep of a wiper. I recognise it. “Go on my son!” yells Shaka. I


plough on. But most pupils aren’t listening. They are mesmerised by the figure, which now fills the window. Some boys mime its every move. This prompts much mirth. Then Spiderman descends


– and disappears. Good riddance. I proceed. Then he pops up again at the next window. Then Dervish stands on the windowsill and presses his arms against those of the Spiderman. The mirth is now convulsive. Spiderman has had enough. He opens the window and wrenches his fulsome girth into our classroom. He’s beside himself. Then he’s beside me. “Right! Hold up!


Shut it!” he roars. They do. He glares. “Do you know why


I’m cleaning bleedin’


windows?’ Homicidal glare. “Cos Wigwam was


once my teacher and I


never listened to him!” True. It is Sidney Growler


from 10 years back. He didn’t. Ever. He warms to his theme. “I was a pillock – and pillocks end up cleaning windows! Know what I’m


sayin’!” Pause. Terrific menace. “He may look like a melon, but


he’s got exams!” It sounds like a skin disease. I try to look less like a melon. “So why’s he a teacher then?” offers the infinitely stupid Cruddles. Spiderman eyeballs the clot very closely. “He’s read things you can’t even


lift!” Cruddles crushed. Have I? “You will give ‘im respect – or


I will return!” bellows my savage alumnus. He winks at me and goes back to his windows. I smile wanly. A rather traumatised calm reigns. Maybe we should swap places for the day.


• Ian Whitwham is a former secondary school teacher.


RECRUITMENT Mathematics


AST/SLT scale: £38,722 - £55,466 Teacher Scale: £23,024 - £33,489


We are looking for an ambitious Maths Teacher. You may be in the early stages of your career, or you may be an experienced established Maths Teacher looking to join us as either an aspirant AST or in a SLT development position. You will have high expectations and a commitment to getting the best out of your pupils. We will be ambitious for you and provide you with the professional development which will enable you to achieve the next stage in your career. For further information and an application form:


Visit www.basildonacademies.org.uk Telephone Nannette Windsor on 01268 498687 or email recruitment@basildonacademies.org.uk


Closing Date: Tuesday 17th May 2011 at Noon Interviews: Friday 20th May 2011


The Basildon Academies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to CRB and health checks.


The Basildon Academies, Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, Basildon, Essex SS13 3HL English


AST/SLT scale: £38,722 - £55,466 Teacher Scale: £23,024 - £33,489


We are looking for an ambitious English Teacher. You may be in the early stages of your career, or you may be an experienced established English Teacher looking to join us as either an aspirant AST or in a SLT development position. You will have high expectations and a commitment to getting the best out of your pupils. We will be ambitious for you and provide you with the professional development which will enable you to achieve the next stage in your career. For further information and an application form:


Visitwww.basildonacademies.org.uk, Telephone Nannette Windsor on 01268 498687, or email recruitment@basildonacademies.org.uk Closing Date: Tuesday 17th May 2011 at Noon. Interviews: Monday 23rd May 2011


The Basildon Academies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to CRB and health checks.


The Basildon Academies, Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, Basildon, Essex SS13 3HL


Grand designs: Maia Decamillo-Philips’ abstract Tube map design (far right), Denish Kalamegam’s winning entry (above), while he is congratulated by current Fourth Plinth artist Yinka Shonibare (right)


Trees, Tubes and a warrior queen by Sophie McGown


The warrior queen Boudicca, London’s parks and the city’s Underground system have all inspired the winning entries in this year’s Fourth Plinth Schools Award. The competition saw a record


number of 500 submissions this year from children across London. The award is inspired by the


Fourth Plinth Commission which fills the empty plinth in the north west corner of Trafalgar Square with a piece of contemporary art each year.


The winning designs, inspired


by the statues for the Commission, will be shown in an exhibition in City Hall until the end of April, alongside the winning entries from students in each London borough. The huge number of entries


reveals the “fervent imagination and creativity of our children” according to Mayor Boris Johnson, who was delighted by the strong focus on London’s Parks and herit- age among the entries. First prize went to Dinesh


Kalamegam, a year 8 stu- dent, from Langdon School in Newham, for his work entitled


Eco London, which celebrates London’s parks and shows the value of these spaces as London becomes greener. As part of the prize, Dinesh will


visit the studio of the current plinth artist and competition judge, Yinka Shonibare, who said that his design was “beautiful and dynamic”, evok- ing movement while alerting us to our “joint responsibility” of the environment. A statue of Boudicca by Niamh


Long and Danniella Davidson, year 6 students from Heathbrook Primary School in Lambeth, won second prize. Maia Decamillo-Philips, a


year 9 student from Sydenham High School in Lewisham, won third prize with a 3D statue of the London Underground called You Are Here, which despite being abstracted can be “used for sign posting the area” according to its creator. The Fourth Plinth Schools


Award is sponsored by the Nigerian Guaranty Trust Bank Plc who sup- port creative initiatives around the world. The Fourth Plinth Schools


competition will open again in September. For more details, visit www.london.gov.uk/fourthplinth


News


Science


AST/SLT scale: £38,722 - £55,466 Teacher Scale: £23,024 - £33,489


We are looking for an ambitious Science Teacher. You may be in the early stages of your career, or you may be an experienced established Science Teacher looking to join us as either an aspirant AST or in a SLT development position. You will have high expectations and a commitment to getting the best out of your pupils. We will be ambitious for you and provide you with the professional development which will enable you to achieve the next stage in your career. For further information and an application form:


Visit www.basildonacademies.org.uk Telephone Nannette Windsor on 01268 498687 or email recruitment@basildonacademies.org.uk


Closing Date: Tuesday 17th May 2011 at Noon Interviews: Tuesday 24th May 2011


The Basildon Academies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to CRB and health checks.


The Basildon Academies, Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, Basildon, Essex SS13 3HL


11–19 Mixed Comprehensive Technology College. N.O.R: 1300 (including 260 in the Sixth Form)


Teacher of Science Salary: Inner London Pay Scale;


“The school has made good progress in the last couple of years and is well placed Weto continue this improvement...many areas have improved rapidly.”


want an insprational coll ague to take up this key leadership position at our progressive and dynamic Technology College. The ability to teach ICT would be an advantage. We need you to be:


Teacher of Science


• Committed to inspiring and motivating our students • A team player with proven leadership skills and excellent subject knowledge • An excellent communicator wanting the best for each student • Enthusiastic and optimistic in your approach to your subject and the school


Inner London pay scale Retention payment of £1,000 after 1 year’s service September 2009


In 2010 Hampstead School recorded it’s best ever examination results for the second year in succession, again beating all statutory targets. An HMI inspection of Technology in February 2010 recognised it as “Good” with “a strongly improving trend in standards”. You will build on the “clear vision…and good leadership” and take it further.


We are looking for an inspirational Science teacher to join our progressive and dynamic school.


We need you to be:


• Committed to inspiring and motivating our students


For details and an application form, please see the school website, or contact us by telephone or email.


• A team player and strong communicator


• Enthusiastic and optimistic in wanting the best for each student


T: 020 7794 8133 Fax: 020 7435 8260 E: vacancies@hampsteadschool.org.uk


N.O.R: 1300 (including 260 in the Sixth Form) www.hampsteadschool.org.uk


Closing date for applications: Midday on Thursday 28 April 2011 Interviews: Friday 6 May 2011


“The school has made good progress in the last couple of years and is well placed to continue this improvement...many areas have improved rapidly.”


The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The sucTeacher of Science Inner London pay scal


OFSTED October 2008


cessful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced CRB check. Checks will be made with previous employers. 11 – 19 Mixed Comprehensive N.O.R: 1300 Westbere Road, London, NW2 3RT - Head:p Jacques Szemalikowski T l: 020 7794 8133 Fax: 020 7435 8260 Email: vacancies@hampsteadschool.org.uk Website: wwSeptember 2009


For details and an application form,


Retention payment of £1,000 after 1 year’s service


w.hampsteadschool.org.uk


11 – 19 Mixed Comprehensive N.O.R: 1300 Weprogressive and dynamic school. We need you to be:


We are looking for an inspirational Science teacher to join our


• Committed to inspiring and motivating our students


If you have questions about this role, please contact: Margaret Johnson, Business Manager, Tel: 020 7794 8133, Fax: 020 7435 8260, Email: m.johnson@hampsteadschool.org.uk


• A team player and strong communicator


• Enthusiastic and optimistic in wanting the best for each student


www.hampsteadschool.org.uk


lease see the school website, or contact us by telephone or email specifying which post you are interested in.


stbe Road, London, NW2 3RT - Head: Jacques Szemalikowski Tel: 020 7794 8133 Fax: 020 7435 8260 Email: vacancies@hampsteadschool.org.uk Website: www.hampsteadschool.org.uk


Closing date for return of application form: Midday on Friday 30 January 2009


Westbere Road, London NW2 3RT Head: Jacques Szemalikowski


T: 020 7794 8133 Fax: 020 7435 8260 E: vacancies@hampsteadschool.org.uk


Closing date for return of application form: Midday on Friday 30 January 2009


Westbere Road, London NW2 3RT Head: Jacques Szemalikowski


For details and an application form, please see the school website, or contact us by telephone or email specifying which post you are interested in.


OFSTED October 2008


16


SecEd • April 14 2011


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