A union is calling for sweeping changes to the way teachers appeal against being sacked.
Currently, the school's head carries out an investigation into complaints about teachers and then holds an inquiry with School governors.
Teachers can appeal but the same head and governors can sit in judgement.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) in Lancashire wants independent school governors to decide on appeals.
Secretary of the union in Lancashire Ken Cridland: "What could solve this is if the final appeal panel was a group of School governors from another school"
"School Governors would understand the problems of running a school but wouldn't be tainted by being directly connected with the school in question".
Lancashire County Council said they advise schools to keep the majority of school governors separate from any investigations that take place so they have independent governors for inquiries.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Monday, 22 November 2010
Parent power stops Primary School from becoming an Academy
PARENT power has spoken at Kenmont Primary School after they won their battle to stop it being turned into an academy.
The school, in London has been without a permanent headteacher for five months and has struggled to hit its targets in recent years with their latest Ofsted report, in March 2008, rating it as 'satisfactory'.
This led to school governors seriously considering applying to convert the 260-pupil strong school into an academy which would be managed and run by the education charity ARK.
But the plans were met with fury by parents who vigorously campaigned to stop the project.
Six non-selective, state-funded ARK Academies in London have been introduced in London since the charity formed in 2004.
Burlington Danes Academy, in Shepherd's Bush, was the first to open in 2006 followed by King Solomon Academy, in Westminster, in 2007.
After the fierce opposition to the academy plans, governors at Kenmont have decided to back down and have outlined a new strategy plan for the school to aid improvements.
They include recruiting parents onto the board of governors and advertising for new headteacher.
Charlotte Johnson, chair of governors, said: "While recognising the hard work of pupils, staff and parents being committed to the shared aim for Kenmont to be an outstanding school, there is recognition that the school has some way to go to achieve this.
"Governors recognise that this is an extremely sensitive period for everyone involved with Kenmont. We would like to work with the school community to do all we can to ensure the school succeeds.
Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2010/11/22/parents-win-battle-against-kenmont-primary-school-academy-plans-82029-27693616/#ixzz161r5CgLI
The school, in London has been without a permanent headteacher for five months and has struggled to hit its targets in recent years with their latest Ofsted report, in March 2008, rating it as 'satisfactory'.
This led to school governors seriously considering applying to convert the 260-pupil strong school into an academy which would be managed and run by the education charity ARK.
But the plans were met with fury by parents who vigorously campaigned to stop the project.
Six non-selective, state-funded ARK Academies in London have been introduced in London since the charity formed in 2004.
Burlington Danes Academy, in Shepherd's Bush, was the first to open in 2006 followed by King Solomon Academy, in Westminster, in 2007.
After the fierce opposition to the academy plans, governors at Kenmont have decided to back down and have outlined a new strategy plan for the school to aid improvements.
They include recruiting parents onto the board of governors and advertising for new headteacher.
Charlotte Johnson, chair of governors, said: "While recognising the hard work of pupils, staff and parents being committed to the shared aim for Kenmont to be an outstanding school, there is recognition that the school has some way to go to achieve this.
"Governors recognise that this is an extremely sensitive period for everyone involved with Kenmont. We would like to work with the school community to do all we can to ensure the school succeeds.
Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2010/11/22/parents-win-battle-against-kenmont-primary-school-academy-plans-82029-27693616/#ixzz161r5CgLI
Sunday, 21 November 2010
What will be in the Education White Paper published next week
An education White Paper to be published this coming week will herald a switch from the dedicated schools grant to a national funding formula for all state schools, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph and Financial Times.
The Daily Telegraph predict that the White Paper will see:
Proposals to allow the best performing schools to take on more pupils – while unpopular schools may see numbers dwindle.
A new review on the curriculum is to be launched in December this year and be introduced from September 2013.
Changes to planning laws to allow schools greater flexibility to increase classroom space, and
the creation of a new quango to control education finances for five to 18-year-olds.
The funding shake-up will mean schools receiving roughly the same amount for each pupil “in a move that will reduce the amount of power wielded by local authorities over education budgets”.
Schools with large numbers of children from deprived areas will win more money in line with coalition plans for a "pupil premium".
Pupils will be marked down for poor grammar, spelling and punctuation in exams.
A reading test will be introduced for all six-year-olds.
The highest-performing schools will be spared any visits by Ofsted inspectors unless parents or staff trigger a "warning signal".
Instead of being assessed by Ofsted in 18 different criteria, schools will be rated in just four categories – teaching, leadership, behaviour and attainment.
The current ban on same-day detentions will be removed, with schools no longer required to give parents 24 hours' notice.
Teachers will be given more powers to search pupils. Currently pupils can only be searched without consent if suspected of carrying knives or other weapons, but this list will be extended to include a variety of items including alcohol, mobile phones, pornography, and fireworks.
Every primary teacher will be trained in phonics.
National pay bargaining will be scrapped by 2012, with the best teachers able to earn far more than the current average teacher's salary of £29,240 a year
Telegraph Story Links
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8147987/Education-White-Paper-key-points-explained.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8148105/Education-White-Paper-frees-heads-to-monitor-staff.html
The Daily Telegraph predict that the White Paper will see:
Proposals to allow the best performing schools to take on more pupils – while unpopular schools may see numbers dwindle.
A new review on the curriculum is to be launched in December this year and be introduced from September 2013.
Changes to planning laws to allow schools greater flexibility to increase classroom space, and
the creation of a new quango to control education finances for five to 18-year-olds.
The funding shake-up will mean schools receiving roughly the same amount for each pupil “in a move that will reduce the amount of power wielded by local authorities over education budgets”.
Schools with large numbers of children from deprived areas will win more money in line with coalition plans for a "pupil premium".
Pupils will be marked down for poor grammar, spelling and punctuation in exams.
A reading test will be introduced for all six-year-olds.
The highest-performing schools will be spared any visits by Ofsted inspectors unless parents or staff trigger a "warning signal".
Instead of being assessed by Ofsted in 18 different criteria, schools will be rated in just four categories – teaching, leadership, behaviour and attainment.
The current ban on same-day detentions will be removed, with schools no longer required to give parents 24 hours' notice.
Teachers will be given more powers to search pupils. Currently pupils can only be searched without consent if suspected of carrying knives or other weapons, but this list will be extended to include a variety of items including alcohol, mobile phones, pornography, and fireworks.
Every primary teacher will be trained in phonics.
National pay bargaining will be scrapped by 2012, with the best teachers able to earn far more than the current average teacher's salary of £29,240 a year
Telegraph Story Links
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8147987/Education-White-Paper-key-points-explained.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8148105/Education-White-Paper-frees-heads-to-monitor-staff.html
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