Michaela Free School fails to convince teachers or the local community

Apparently there were only about 40 people at the Michaela Free School meeting today and this included the Michaela representatives and parents with their children and members of a church group. Some were from outside of Brent, including Harrow and Islington.

Katharine Birbalsingh made a short presentation, comparing her school with Eton (!), and to people's then moved away without any Q&A session.

Cllr Michael Pavey, lead member for children and families on the Brent Council Executive, has expressed opposition to the Michaela Academy.

The Brent teacher unions have made  the following statement about the Michaela proposal:

As you know the education unions as a whole are against the 'free' school movement as they are designed to take money away from local schools and local authorities so leading to the break up of state education. There are clear proposals by this Government that such schools will be run for profit as the Breckland 'free' school already is.

We are also concerned that 'free' schools open the way for charitable foundations to profit by stealth through the payment of inflated salaries and bonuses to these who control those foundations.

The money already spent on Ms Birbalsingh's unsuccessful 'free' school proposals for south London are being kept from the public despite requests under FoI. Further public money is now being spent in Brent, again with no accountability. It is our understanding that in January 2012 a Freedom of Information request was made to the Department of Education about how long approval for the school was to be held open. The response was that normally, following approval, it would be expected that the school would open within a year i.e. January 2013 at the latest. So we do not understand how this new proposal can be linked to the first and question the propriety of the DfE and others in this case.

The details of the proposed school are still vague and contradictory and this makes it difficult to make specific responses. You have had a couple of years to put in the detail. In particular there is nothing in the information that gives us any reason to believe that you have in reality signed up to the partnership values of the Council despite saying that you have.

However, what we can say is that we are very concerned that another secondary school in this area will have a potentially detrimental effect on the local secondary schools, including the ARK academy which is just over the road from the proposed free school. There is currently, enough and in fact spare, secondary capacity. Your argument is that that is the only available building. This confirms that you are just aiming to set up a school wherever you can and have not taken into consideration the local needs. Not what we would call a 'community' decision.

The ethos of the 'private school' is not one of inclusion and is selective in its very nature. For the Michaela school to just concentrate on the purely academic is to narrow the education of children and means they will be learning through rote and over learning. It cannot call itself a community school when it will obviously only cater for one type of learner. One concern was that we were told that science would be taught in classrooms and no mention was made of laboratories which means scientific learning will be through books not practical and experimental.

Jenny Cooper, NUT Health and Safety Officer and a member of the Brent Health and Safety committees, has written to you about areas of concern which we are restating here. Regarding SEN, she makes the point that no that you will welcome applications from all persons regardless or background and ability. Oxford University also welcome these applications. It does not, of course, mean that these people get a place. Your response to with regards the curriculum was that it will be inclusive in order to suit children with SEN.

However, your website says, “traditional academic subjects .......Pupils will be required to study the five academic subjects that form the English Baccalaureate: English, Maths, Science, History/Geography and a foreign language.....In addition to these mandatory subjects, pupils will be able to choose from a range of options, including Art, Music and Drama......We believe knowledge is a prerequisite of skills development....Sport will be competitive and pupils will take Games for one afternoon per week”.

Jenny Cooper is an SEN specialist, and we agree with her that we cannot see how your proposed curriculum can be described as inclusive. Most teachers who have worked with SEN children (and indeed many parents) would agree that to be overloaded with academic subjects and to leave the creative subjects as non-mandatory, to focus on knowledge acquisition not skills development and to restrict physical education to solely competitive games occurring only once a week is a recipe for disaster.

Are you aware that Hirsch's theories on education, which you refer to in your curriculum information, were highly contentious in 1960s-70s America because of the very fact that they were considered non-inclusive? It was thought that he did not acknowledge differences in learning styles. And also, interestingly for the Brent community, he was criticised for not including the contributions of African Americans to society in the body of knowledge and culture that he decided should be taught. This attitude is simply not welcome in Brent. Brent teachers and parents are proud of our diverse community and we/they will not tolerate this kind of prejudiced narrow mindedness amongst us.

Regarding Health & Safety, Brent's policy on asbestos goes beyond that of the statutory requirements. All Brent schools are scheduled to have asbestos removed within the next few years on a rolling programme. It is no longer the policy simply to manage and cover up. The reason Brent have gone this step further is following poor management of asbestos which led to improvement notices being served after pupils and teachers were exposed. If this occurred in your school, you would be responsible for the insurance money available to pay compensation, as Brent are having to do for their ex-pupils. We noticed a van from an asbestos firm at the proposed site and would hope that their findings would be made known.

We all raised the question of lack of play area which was agreed to be inadequate. Children will be expected to study all day and then do sport but at the moment there is no agreed place for this to happen. Will parents be expected to pay for sports facilities at another school or sports centre? How else will the school afford this or is this in fact something that will either not happen or the parents will pay. All educationalist know that exercise is very important for children particularly in the teenage years yet there is to be one sports session a week. Playtime will also be very limited.

The emphasis on discipline – straight lines, standing up straight in assemblies – and the lack of creativity and exploration in the curriculum are all reminders of a Victorian system.

The admissions policy is all about taking tests and banding leaving admissions open to take just the most able pupils. 'Free' schools are able to do this as they face less scrutiny.

We are further concerned about the governors which we have been told have been self appointed. Parent governors will be 'recruited' rather than elected.

In conclusion

We think that the planning for school places has to be done in collaboration with the local community. Putting this school in the north of the borough of Brent will directly compete with our existing local schools and is not where the school place shortages are.

We believe that the evidence from ‘free’ schools has shown that they lead to increased social segregation, lower attainment and have been run for profit. Brent schools are in the top 10% of schools in the country so have a proven track record improving attainment for all children ensuring equal opportunities for pupils from all backgrounds.

We believe that all children need decent school buildings, investment in their schools and smaller class sizes. Free schools have been funded by cutting two desperately needed grants, including the BSF (Building Schools for the Future) money promised to our existing local schools. We know that the cuts to education and public services and the raising of tuition fees will harm our communities. The free school movement is Michael Gove's experimental pet project and is part of the plan to privatise our services and will worsen education for all.

What a creative curriculum can produce

Chalkhill School prepares to celebrate the opening of the new park

 Jean Lambert's statement that the arts, humanities, physical education and citizenship are as important as English, Maths and Science LINK in the primary curriculum made me reflect on my experience at Chalkhill Primary School in Wembley where I am Chair of Governors.

The plans to build a new park close to the school presented a great opportunity for work across the curriculum. More than three years ago children were involved in submitting  possible plans for the park with ideas for the kind of equipment that should be installed. They had to think about provision for all ages and safety issues.

The School Council got involved when plans for the park were delayed. They wrote lettes to local Brent councillors, e-mailed them and spoke to them face to face to urge action to complete the park, emphasising how important it was for children on the Chalkhill Estate to have somewhere safe to play and the importance of exercise and play in adopting a healthy lifestyle.

When  completion neared they were again involved in putting forward ideas for the opening ceremony and pupil delegates went to one meeting where activities, within budget constraints, were planned. In School Council they came up with the idea of a Junior Friends of Chalkhill Park to litter pick and take care of the equipment. Within th school there was a competition to make posters to urge the public to look after the park, pick up litter and clear up after dogs. The best of these were placed on the park notice boards.

For the opening ceremony the children and staff worked with Mahogany Arts to create carnival costumes, the staff steelband rehearsed, a pupil samba band was formed, Bollywood dances created and the school choir chose pieces to sing on the day.

Meanwhile Year 3 pupils collaborated with the Brent and Kilburn Times  to produce a page of the newspaper about the park.

The pictures below give some idea of the results of all this work.

Gilbert to hang on to Brent Chief Executive job despite second job in Haringey

 The next full meeting of Brent Council is to consider a recommendation that Chief Executive, Christine Gilbert, retain her position as interim Brent Council Chief Executive. Gilbert, whose salary arrangements have already been a source  of controversy, was last week appointed to a second job in Haringey.

The report says that the recruitment process for a new permanent  Chief Executive should be delayed because the current recruitment process for  three other CEs in London boroughs would limit the quality of candidates, to allow the restructuring of council senior management to go ahead smoothly, and  to ensure continuity and reputation management over the move to the Civic Centre and the 2014 local elections.

Jean Lambert MEP urges Gove to listen to teachers and children on primary curriculum

 LONDON MEP Jean Lambert has called for Education Secretary Michael Gove to stop the ‘surveillance’ culture in primary schools – and instead listen to teachers and children themselves about how best they should be run.

The Green MEP also called for primary schools to teach problem solving, and to recognize that the arts, humanities, physical education and citizenship are as important as maths, science and literacy.

Ms Lambert, herself a former teacher, will make her comments at the launch of the Charter for Primary Education at the University of London Union tomorrow.

Speaking alongside children’s author Michael Rosen and National Union of Teachers’ Deputy Secretary-General Kevin Courtney, she will say:

Primary schools have become obsessed with tests and surveillance of pupils’ ability to retain a number of facts and abilities in a small range of ‘core’ subjects like literacy, maths and science.

Of course eventually passing exams in these subjects is important, but the focus of primary schools should be on offering a well-rounded education, and that means regarding the arts, humanities, physical education and citizenship as just as important – and recognizing that ‘play’ can be learning.

Michael Gove wants to take our schools in exactly the wrong direction, and he really must start listening the experts: teachers and the children themselves.

 The Charter for Primary Education can be found HERE

Green activists declare support for Brighton Cityclean workers

The GMB Cityclean picket line this morning

The Green Party has rightly been subject to close scrutiny over the performance of its first Green led (though minority) council in Brighton and Hove. The party has been hampered by an unholy alliance opposition of Labour and Conservative councillors but nonetheless has been able to implement some progressive policies. Its decision to stay in office and implement Coalition cuts has been controversial to say the least and one that I do not support, but some problems have been of its own making, through inexperience or poor decision making.

This is the case with the Cityclean dispute and I support the position put below in an Open Letter by a group of Green councillors and activists in the city:

As concerned Green Party activists, Councillors and trade unionists we feel we have no option other than to write this letter. This is our response to the news that the Council’s Cityclean workforce intend to take industrial action following the collapse of negotiations relating to proposed changes to their pay and allowances.

We are appalled that the situation has escalated to the point where Council employees are forced to take strike action in order to be heard. We are concerned that as activists from a party which has spent years arguing for workers’ rights that on this occasion the argument is wrong.

We continue to oppose the imposition of pay cuts as per the decision of our Emergency General Meeting in May. Further we will show solidarity with the workers affected by this decision.

We are Green Party members because we believe in its core value of social justice. Imposing a reduction to the take home pay of some of our lowest paid workers runs completely contrary to this.

We fully support the difficult process of trying to equalise the Council’s very complex allowance system so that all staff are treated fairly. That said we deplore the fact that previous Labour and Conservative-led councils failed to fix the problem when they had the opportunity.

However, we cannot accept a situation which attempts to impose a settlement on staff without the agreement of all Unions involved. Negotiations should not pit worker against worker.

We remain concerned that as yet there appears to be no satisfactory negotiated resolution which means that balloting has happened and industrial action will occur from 6am this morning for a week.

We ask all sides to urgently find a successful resolution to avert industrial action which we believe could cause all workers, the council and the City considerable pain.

Free workshop space in Wembley - limited offer

Exciting spaces available at Cottrell House, Wembley

Hypnotick Dance, Cottrell House in Wembley

53-63 Wembley Hill Rd, HA9 8BU
Enterprise hub, incubation space, co working space, creative crib, studio, green house, agency, pop up, office. Whatever you want to call it, Cottrell House is a place to start things, make them grow and be inspired. As members of the Coming Soon Club know, Wembley is a well connected and interesting community full of enterprise and a great place to base a new business.

If you are looking for a regular base or a meeting space away from home, Cottrell House has it all. You can see details of the project here or complete a proposal form here. To arrange a time to see the space please email Jessica at jcb@meanwhilespace.com.

New residents have been moving into Cottrell House this week and we are pleased to report that Hypnotick Dance have taken on the event space as a rehearsal room for the summer. The forecourt of the building has become an impromptu stage with spontaneous performances happening at the weekends! Keep your eyes peeled for a spacial performance!

Also this week we welcomed a new resident to the studio space, textile designer Ismaa Arif.

Ball n Ball, Ismaa Arif

"As a surface designer I get excited from experimenting with different mediums mixing traditional techniques with new techniques, creating surfaces that look good. I would say my inspiration kicks off from anything-robots to snowflakes." If you would like to get in touch, please email Ismaa at- ismaaarif@gmail.com

Open: Monday - Friday, 10.00 - 17.00

For all news on how you can make the most of your Coming Soon Club membership please visit the website, http://www.comingsoonclub.co.uk/, or arrange a meeting with Jess, Jess or Desmond by popping into the HQ or emailing info@comingsoonclub.co.uk. 

Not to mention a cafe with wonderful food!

Why it’s important to save a Wembley Lion

Guest blog by local historian Philip Grant

 

Two lion head corbels, partly cut from
the Palace of Industry walls.

 The last remaining building from the 1924 British Empire Exhibition (“BEE”), the Palace of Industry in Olympic Way at Wembley Park, has now been demolished to make way for a temporary car park. Despite a campaign by heritage enthusiasts, both local and from further afield, its owners, Quintain Estates, were not willing to leave even a small section of the external walls standing. However, Quintain did go to the trouble of removing the decorative lion head corbels from this historic reinforced concrete building, so that Brent Council could keep some of them as a physical reminder of Wembley’s past.

One of the lion head corbels at the demolition site.
[Photo by David Glover, Brent Planning & Development]

 Three of the corbels are in a good enough condition to put on display, but the main problems are where they should be “re-homed” and where the money can be found to pay for this. It was hoped that one of the lion heads would go to Brent Museum, but when it was possible to assess them at ground level they were too heavy and awkward for the museum to deal with. Each one probably weighs between one and two tonnes, and they would need to be fixed and supported in a good location if the public are to be able to view them safely.

Are these ninety year-old lumps of concrete worth the effort? For me the answer is a definite “yes” – at least one of these “Wembley Lions” does need to be put on permanent public display somewhere in Wembley. The BEE in 1924/25 was the event which put Wembley “on the map”, both as a desirable place to live and with its stadium which became world-famous. The lion was the emblem for the BEE and became the symbol of Wembley itself, with the stadium’s speedway team from the late 1920’s, and the ice hockey team whose home was at the Empire Pool (now Wembley Arena) from 1934, both called the Wembley Lions. 

 

The flag pole base from the dome of one of the
old Stadium’s twin towers in Brent River Park.

A number of Brent councillors and council officers are supporting the idea of putting at least one of these lion heads on display, but most are expressing caution over the possible costs. One of the potential problems, that several council departments need to be involved, has been deal with by the appointment of a “lead officer” (Sue McKenzie, Head of Libraries, Arts and Heritage) to co-ordinate the Council’s efforts. Hopefully the costs can be shared across a number of departmental budgets, as well as funds or practical help from sources other than our Council Tax.

As far as possible locations are concerned, the ideal place for one would be at Brent’s new Civic Centre. It has been built at the southern end of the Palace of Industry site, in the heart of the area where the BEE was held. I have suggested that one lion head corbel should be landscaped into the gardens at its western side, where it could not only be seen by visitors but could easily become an interesting feature that people would like to be photographed beside after weddings or citizenship ceremonies.

The BEE drinking fountains at Barham Park
(with close-up view).

Other possibilities include the gardens at Barham Park, which are already home to two of the lion head drinking fountains from the BEE, and where some funds might be available from the Barham Park Trustees. A second strong contender is Brent River Park, on the very edge of Wembley, which has another piece of sculptural reinforced concrete, a flag pole base which was relocated after the demolition of the old Wembley Stadium (originally built as the Empire Stadium ready for the 1924 Exhibition). King Edward VII Park would also make a good home for a lion head corbel, close to the heart of Wembley.

Do you agree that at least one of these Wembley Lions should be put on public display? If so, please pass on your thoughts on where they should be located or how the costs of putting them on display should be financed, either as a comment on this blog, or by email to your local councillor or direct to the officer dealing with this: sue.mckenzie@brent.gov.uk .