Guest blog by 'Localist'
Several hundred people attended the London Education Conference at the Institute of Education on Saturday which discussed how to build on the success of the London Challenge and to further raise standards of education in London.
Those present included authors, educational psychologists, headteachers, journalists, lecturers, members of the London Assembly, school governors and teachers. Also present were councillors including Leaders of London councils and Leaders of Children’s Services in London councils.
Not present were either Muhammad Butt (Leader of Brent Council) or Michael Pavey (Lead Member for Children's Services in Brent). One possible reason for their absence was the presence at the Conference of someone whose recent principled and bold actions would have put their own feebleness to shame. For also in attendance was John White, Leader of Children's Services in Barking and Dagenham, who 3 weeks ago helped to challenge Michael Gove’s forced academisation policy in the High Court and was granted an injunction by Mr Justice Collins.
An opportunity missed for Mr Pavey and Mr Butt as John White could have given them all sorts of helpful tips on how to keep local education local rather than follow the Brent Council way which seems to be, ask people to vote for you in local elections and then, when elected, helpfully implement the policies of the party those same voters clearly rejected in the national election. Meanwhile at Copland, the IEB won’t allow a secret ballot on academisation, A level students have slipped behind because courses weren’t adequately staffed and their retired ex-teacher is not allowed on the premises to voluntarily help them catch up.