Tower Hamlets

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Francis Gilbert: Petitions launched to stop my local secondary becoming an Academy…

The Bethnal Green Technology College saga continues with petitions now being launched to stop the school becoming an Academy. As I've said in a couple of posts, I'm supporting its bid for Academy status because of the financial situation it's facing and because, contrary to what is being said about it by various union officials, it is not being privatised; ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Keith Turvey: "I agree to a certain extent with you Francis in terms of looking at this case by case. I had similar feeling when a local school in Brighton became an academy under the Labour government. It channelled much needed resources ......"

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Francis Gilbert: Top education councillor will tell parents not to send their children to my local comp if it becomes an Academy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiW3ob9suck Last night, I attended a meeting convened by the National Union of Teachers about my local secondary school, Bethnal Green Technology College, becoming an Academy. The school has already had a public meeting about this – as I noted in a previous post. Alex Kenny, a prominent NUT activist in east London, Alasdair Smith of the Anti-Academies Alliance, and Oliur Rahman, ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by David: "Andy, have seen every single survey and poll?..."

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chris dunne: Local Comprehensive Schools Are Still Britain’s Best Hope For A Well -Educated Population

I am Headteacher of Langdon Park School, a Community secondary school in Tower Hamlets, London. I have worked in Comprehensive schools throughout my life.I believe that, properly funded and effectively led, they provide the best hope that this country will survive economically in a world where it is becoming increasingly essential that every citizen is educated to a high standard. In ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Tracy McDonald: "I was extremely fortunate to be taught by Chris Dunne for 7 years when he was an English Teacher in the borough of Greenwich. I read with absolute belief in what he has achieved as a Headteacher. ......"

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Francis Gilbert: Teachers go on strike to protest against hundreds of teaching jobs being cut — my vodcast

On Wednesday, because my son's school was closed due to strike-action, he and I went down to Weavers' Fields, and took some "amateur" footage of teachers protesting against the cuts to education services in Tower Hamlets. Kevin Courtney, a NUT representative, spoke particularly eloquently; I've filmed his key points here. As has been noted before, Tower Hamlets has to cut ... read more and comment →

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Francis Gilbert: Tower Hamlets’ response to union claims that 200 teachers are losing their jobs across the Borough

I have just received this statement from Tower Hamlet's council about the cuts to teaching services that are occurring across the Borough. This is their statement in full, responding to claims made by the East London Teachers' Association, ELTA, the Tower Hamlets' branch of the National Union of Teachers. Statement As a direct result of huge central government cuts to our funding, ... read more and comment →

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Francis Gilbert: Now I know why Tower Hamlets teachers are going on strike, I have more sympathy

In a previous post, I had expressed bemusement about my son's teachers going on strike on Wednesday 30th March but now I have more information, I definitely support it. The Tower Hamlet's branch of the National Union of Teachers, the East London Teacher's Association or ELTA, are taking the action because of the drastic cuts to the Local Authority teaching ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by James Messam: "It is imperitive that we show our utter disgust at the callous cuts that have been implemented by this government. It is apparent that these cuts are well calculated to have maximum impact on the most vulnerable in our society. "The ......"

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Francis Gilbert: CEO of Teach First singles out Local Authority schools for praise

The CEO of Teach First, Brett Wigdortz made an especial point of praising two schools in Tower Hamlets, Morpeth and Bethnal Green Technology College, for the way they have improved the life-chances of children from socially deprived backgrounds. He pointed out that their headteachers' relentless focus upon improving the quality of teaching in the classroom was at the root of ... read more and comment →

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Francis Gilbert: My son worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company at his local school today!

My son, who is 10 years old, came back home raving about the fantastic workshop he did with the Royal Shakespeare Company at his local state primary school in Tower Hamlets. He said the actor, Justin, was "bare nice" and taught the whole class to love Macbeth. He was a witch who had to say the lines about the "hurly ... read more and comment →

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Latest comment by Fiona Millar: "Yes but do read the comments afterwards ( if you can face the Daily Mail that is)!..."

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Francis Gilbert: Will the rural studies’ centre my son loved so much survive the cuts?

My son was away with his Year 6 class last week at the Gorsefield Rural Studies centre. He loved it and learned so much about being independent, cooking, bird-watching, making camps and camp-fires. It really brought together the pupils in his inner-city primary school in Tower Hamlets; everyone appeared to love it. There is a real diversity of children in ... read more and comment →

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Ros Coffey: We are what we are because of our LA

Smithy Street is an inner city primary school which is deemed by Ofsted to be outstanding... and yes, that is due in part to fantastic pupils, dedicated teachers, supportive parents, focused governors and all of this is underpinned by a great LA. They are there when we need the support - we did our Ofsted with an Acting HT ... read more and comment →

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