NEWS


PM warned by unions after attack on ‘coasting’ schools


by Daniel White


Education unions this week issued a warning to prime minister David Cameron after he launched an attack on “coasting schools” and suggested cutting benefits for parents of persistent truants. Mr Cameron, speaking in


Norwich at the opening of one of the first free schools, said he wanted schools to have “choice, competi- tion and freedom” to drive up stand- ards in state education. He slammed schools that per-


form at one level without improv- ing – even if they achieve higher standards than the national average. In his speech, he cited state


schools in Oxfordshire and Surrey which he says perform worse than two state inner-London academies. He said: “It is not just fail-


ing schools we need to tackle. It is coasting schools, too: the ones whose results have either flat-lined, or where they haven’t improved as much as they could have done. “More than four out of five state


schools in Surrey and Oxfordshire are doing worse than two state


President slams policy driven by political dogma


The government this week stood accused of making decisions based on “political dogma” rather than what is best for students. The new president of the


Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), Alice Robinson, made the claims during an aggressive address at a reception in London. Her speech was delivered to


teachers and other educationalists and in it she slammed the coali- tion government for what she said was its attack on state education. She cited the introduction


of free schools and the expan- sion of academies. She told the audience: “These threats to state education can be clearly seen in the government putting political dogma above universal access to the highest quality educational provision based on the needs of students, instead of on the edu- cational establishment that their parents can afford. “The threats to state education


can also be seen in the dual standard of funding for schools and academies, with academies and free schools getting a higher rate of funding directly from central government, often at the expense of money top- sliced from local authorities. Free schools have seen a huge financial investment in them at a time when the budgets in many local authority schools are shrinking.” Ms Robinson also blasted the


decision to raise tuition fees and cut the Education Maintenance Allowance. She continued: “Many students are having their


Attack: Alice Robinson


dreams and aspirations to higher education crushed as they see the cost spiralling out of their grasp. Ending the Education Maintenance Allowance makes taking even the first tentative steps towards higher education that much more difficult for many students.” Ms Robinson has been a teacher


since 1974, joining the Lancashire Branch Committee of ATL in 1989. She is currently assistant headteacher at a comprehensive school in Lancashire, teaching history. The event was notable for its


lack of a ministerial presence, which insiders say is due to the ATL’s involvement in this sum- mer’s strike action over the issue of pensions, an issue Ms Robinson also touched on in her speech. “This government claims that


we are all in this together, but if that is the case why has it not acted with integrity and led by example to introduce changes to the MPs’ pension scheme before introduc- ing unfair and unjust changes on those paid so much less.”


schools in relatively deprived parts of inner London. That must be a wake-up call: a wake-up call to parents, to teachers, that there is a huge opportunity, not just to raise standards in our inner cities, which we are doing and is absolutely vital for social mobility, but an opportu- nity to raise standards right across our country.” However, Brian Lightman, gen-


eral secretary, of the Association of School and College Leaders, lambasted Mr Cameron’s use of the word “failing”. He told SecEd: “I’m very


concerned about the message the government is trying to put across around ‘failing schools’ when schools are doing a good job and doing everything they can to improve further. Schools know there is much to do but the govern- ment should not constantly deni- grate them.” Elsewhere, the prime minister


said schools need to crackdown on discipline and suggested that par- ents whose children are constantly playing truant and misbehaving must face “real consequences”. He added: “Restoring discipline


is also about what parents do. We need parents to have a real stake in the discipline of their children and to face real consequences if their children continually misbehave. “That’s why I have asked our


social policy review to look into whether we should cut the benefits of those parents whose children consistently and constantly play tru- ant. I know this would be a tough measure, but we urgently need to restore order and respect in the classroom and I don’t want ideas like this to be left off the table.” However, Martin Johnson,


deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said that adequate resourcing for all schools, properly qualified and reflective teachers, and continuing funding for family and youth services was what is need to improve pupil attainment. He added: “Alienating the par-


ents of persistent truants is not likely to help – these are the parents who need the most support with their children to get them to partici- pate in education and training.” To read Mr Cameron’s speech, visit www.number10.gov.uk


Josef jets off to teach in China


A 17-year-old has become the first ever British student to gain an undergraduate scholarship to study and teach in China. Josef Roberts jetted off to his


new school – Shijiiazhuang Foreign Language School – this week after learning Mandarin in extra-curricu- lar classes at Eirias High School in North Wales. It all came about after teachers


from China came over to Wales as part of a linking programme. They were so impressed by Josef’s atti- tude and understanding that he was


offered a scholarship to attend the school in China. The 17-year-old is set to help


teach in China and Eirias High is now looking to add Mandarin to its full-time curriculum at GCSE and A level after Josef’s success has led to huge interest in the subject from other students. Glyn Edwards, a teacher at


Eirias High, told SecEd that the school is now looking to form an even closer link with Shijiiazhuang Foreign Language School with the hope that future


students might gain experience teaching over there before coming back to apply to teaching courses in the UK. He explained: “We’re in part-


nership with the school in China, and at the moment there is a lot of staff turnover in schools so we’re looking for students who want to become teachers and gain experi- ence abroad. We are also look- ing at setting up a link with local universities such as Edgehill and Bangor which are looking for stu- dents wanting to teach.”


Adventure: Josef Roberts For more on the programme,


contact Mr Edwards via email at ges@eirias.conwy.sch.uk and to read Josef’s blog, visit http:// zhayashetou.spruz.com/blog.htm


Festival: Emmanuel School students recreate the flag of Tanzania after being inspired by the work of READ International Pupils bring Africa to Nottingham


African life has helped inspire students in Nottingham to host a festival of music, food and education. Students at Emmanuel School in


Nottingham helped bring a flavour of Tanzania to the school through activities such as carrying water to


school, lessons in history and look- ing at what a day at school in rural Africa is really like. It follows a visit to the school


from some READ International volunteers who talked to 6th- formers about their summer spent in rural Tanzania distribut-


Lesson videos could win £150,000


Eleven teachers have the chance to win a share of £80,000 after uploading videos of their lessons to the web. A competition run by mobile


phone company O2 as part of its O2 Learn website has been encouraging teachers to upload their best lesson ideas. O2 Learn was launched around a year ago and is aimed at students


4


aged 13 to 18. Since the launch, thousands of teachers have been uploading videos of their lessons with regular prizes being given to the most popular ones. Now, the eight best videos have


been chosen and the 11 teachers who created them have been shortlisted for the first ever O2 Learn Award. The winning videos will be


chosen jointly by a panel of judges and a public vote and will be announced on October 14. Three winning teachers will


take home £50,000, £20,000 and £10,000 respectively. Their schools will also win £100,000, £40,000 and £20,000. Mike Baker, education


journalist and an O2 judge, said: “This competition rewards


teachers who harness the latest technology to devise new ways of learning which, using their own professional judgement, work best with their students’ learning styles.” The shortlist was unveiled


yesterday (Wednesday, September 14) and the public vote will close at midnight on September 28. To vote, go to www.o2learn.co.uk


ing books. The 6th-formers then arranged an off-timetable day to try and collect 5,000 books and raise £2,000 to send to schools in East Africa. An African football festival


was organised with seven pri- mary schools as well as lessons


in Tanzanian history and East African music. READ International is currently


recruiting schools to take part in projects from October until Easter 2012. Visit www.readinternational. org.uk/schools/young_leaders_pro- gramme


O2 Learn Awards: The Finalists


• John Cordeaux and John Allerhand, Sprowston Community High School, Norwich (nominated twice for two videos)


• Patrick Jordan and Matthew Fodor, Bede Sixth Form, Stockton College, Stockton-on-Tees


• John Hudson, Burnham Grammar School, Slough • Esther Bradbury and KerylWoodward, Upton by Chester High School, Chester


• RichardWorthington, Burnham Grammar School, Slough • Claire Corrigan and Salim Ramen, Oldham Sixth Form College • Sharmila Hanson, BishopWand Church of England High School, Sunbury on Thames.


SecEd • September 15 2011


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