Greens make frontal assault on austerity agenda in local elections
As in all political parties in the Green Party there are different views and emphases and considerable debate, not least on issues such as the the implementation of cuts as a result of the Coalition's...
View ArticleGreen perspective on fragmentation of education through academies and free...
For the record and for the wider audience beyond Brent interested in academies and free schools here is the letter I had published in the Brent and Kilburn Times two weeks ago:Mary Arnold (Labour, lead...
View ArticleBarry Gardiner says no demand for Michaela Free School and urges residents to...
In a letter to a constituent, Barry Gardiner MP (Labour, Brent North) has said that he has seen no desire in Brent for the Michaela Free School which is run by Katharine Birbalsingh: Although there is...
View ArticleCouncillors belatedly realise they can have a role in director apppintments
Brent's Labour Councillors seem to be arising from their slumber, albeit rather late in the day. Standing in for Muhammed Butt on April 18th, Ruth Moher gave the Leaders' report. She is alleged to...
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Brent Council to provide incentive for council tenants to downsize
With the 'Bedroom Tax' leading to protests across the country and some Labour Councils joining Brighton and Hove Green Council in announcing that they will not evict tenants in arrears solely because...
View ArticleMajor concerns on academy funding and oversight raised by Public Accounts...
We are sceptical that the department has sufficient resources to properly oversee the expanding programmeThe BBC reported yesterday that the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has issued a...
View ArticleReclaim St George for multicultural Britain - Patrick Vernon
Guest blog by Patrick Vernon, first published in The Voice. Vernon is one of the contenders for Labour's parliamentary candidate for Brent Central.AS THE BNP, EDL and UKIP party activists, candidates...
View ArticleLocal authorities must be allowed to plan and build more community primary...
This was my response to Boris Johnson's call for educationalists to drop their 'ideological' opposition to free schools in order to solve the shortage of primary places crisis as reported in the...
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Chalkhill 'People's Park' may open sooner than expected after direct action
The 'People's Park' todayThe recent warm weather has resulted in children and families making use of the new Chalkhill Park despite it not yet being officially open and still surrounded by builders'...
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Kids take over Chalkhill Park
I was greeted by whoops of excitement and shouted greetings as I passed Chalkhill Park at 6.15pm this evening. As you can see the children have taken it over and made it their own. It is not yet...
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Brent Council still fails to support Gladstone Park parents
As you probably know I have had an exchange of letters with Cllr Mary Arnold (Brent Executive lead member for children and families) over education in Brent and my claim that the Labour Council is not...
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Barratt's Welsh Harp development proposals in stark illustration
The illustrations below show the present West Hendon Estate and Barratt's proposals. The new plans are much higher density and sited closer to the wildfowl reserve.#
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Bullying academy brokers spotlight falls on Jacky Griffin
Fiona Millar has written about the so-called academy brokers on the Local Schools Network site. A particular focus is Jacky Griffin, who was Director of Education for Brent before moving on to...
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Survey reveals gap between teachers' beliefs and government diktat
A newly released survey of early years and primary professionals, released at the launch summit of the Save Childhood Movement on the 27th and 28th of April and prepared in partnership with the Barrett...
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Salusbury Academy Federation split?
Unconfirmed reports are reaching me that the Park Federation Academy Trust LINK have pulled out of the federation arrangement with Salusbury Primary School.The split is alleged to have happened as a...
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Millar's withdrawal from Hampstead and Kilburn highlights Labour's failures...
The announcement yesterday that Labour education activist Fiona Millar has withdrawn from the contest to represent Hampstead and Kilburn is a clear sign of the frustration that many party members,...
View ArticleBrent Labour elections update
Islington Council leader Catherine West appears to have ditched her possible bid for the Labour Brent Central nomination following reports that she is setting her sights on the Hornsey and Wood Green...
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Call for DfE to recognise Gladstone Park's progress without forced academisation
The Parents' Action Group at Gladstone Park Primary School have issued the following encouraging statement:Despite improving children’s performance by significantly more than the national average,...
View ArticlePetition to change law on leafleting for small scale events
Guest blog from Manifesto ClubUnder the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, councils can designate areas within which people must buy a licence to hand out leaflets. Nearly a third of...
View ArticleMichaela Free School bid foundering?
Last week Brent officials met with proponents of the Michaela Free School about their bid to open a four form entry secondary school at Arena House, the old College of North West London building...
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