Review of the Year Review of Parliament

Home , Justine Greening, Nicky Morgan, The Parliamentary Review, Toby Perkins

2015 / 2016 PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

A YEAR IN PERSPECTIVE

FOREWORDS Th e Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP Th e Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP

NORTH OF ENGLAND REPRESENTATIVES

Bell Lane Academy Kings Oak Primary Broad Oak Primary School Learning Centre Central Walker CE Primary School Robert Ferguson Primary School Cheadle Primary School St Edward’s RC Primary School Hendal Primary School Stanley Grove Primary Academy Hunslet Moor Primary School

FEATURES Review of the Year Review of Parliament

Th e Rt Hon Philip Hammond Chancellor of the Exchequer

This Government is clear that a strong economy is arrangements with our European neighbours, we must the essential prerequisite to delivering prosperity and also redouble our efforts to promote trade with the improved life chances for all, building a Britain that truly rest of the world. Since the referendum we have seen a works for everyone, not a few. number of countries indicating their wish to agree trade deals with the UK, and I’m certain the list will continue Since 2010, we have made significant progress. to grow. Britain has been one of the fastest growing advanced economies in the world over the last few years; our People can be assured that we are prepared to take the employment rate has reached record highs as living necessary steps to safeguard the economy in the short standards rose to the highest level ever last year. At the term and to take advantage of the opportunities that same time, the deficit as a share of GDP has been cut by arise in the longer term as we forge a new relationship almost two-thirds from its post-war peak in 2009–10. with the European Union.

While the decision to leave the European Union marks The message we take to the world is this: we are the the beginning of a new chapter for our country and our same outward-looking, globally-minded, big-thinking economy, we start from a position of strength and our country we have always been – and we remain very economy is well-placed to confront the challenges ahead. firmly open for business.

Britain will, in due course, begin negotiations to leave the European Union. We recognise there may be some uncertainty as we negotiate and then a period of adjustment as the economy transitions to the post-EU reality. As we go forward, we are determined As we go forward, we are to build on our strengths as an open, dynamic, trading nation to forge a new global role for Britain. determined to build on our We are determined to make a success of Brexit and have“ strengths as an“ open, seen some positive developments with large companies such as Siemens and Lockheed Martin confirming that dynamic, trading nation the UK remains an attractive place for them to invest. to forge a new global role This is all good to see but we cannot be complacent. for Britain At the same time as we seek the best possible trade

FOREWORD | 1 Foreword

Th e Rt Hon Philip Hammond Chancellor of the Exchequer

FOREWORD | 1 Foreword Review of the Year

The rebellion that sunk the flagship policy Th e Rt Hon to make all schools academies the Prime Minister, David Cameron, Stephen Timms MP that there was a desire to end schools being run by local authorities. Education Select Committee That had seemed like a forecast of the general direction of travel – with most secondary schools As Schools Minister in 2001–2, I introduced TeachFirst. A few Trusts have troubling links with companies already having become academies Last February I joined the Education Select Committee. with which they do business. The former Education – rather than an impending and Some things have changed dramatically in the past Secretary suggested that Trusts with no track record of compulsory requirement. fifteen years – and some haven’t. improving their schools shouldn’t be allowed to expand and that disgruntled parents might petition for their The announcement by Mr Osborne Local Education Authorities I dealt with are being local academy to leave its current Trust and transfer to would have meant the remaining local replaced by Multi-Academy Trusts. We didn’t have another, giving parents a backstop power. I hope her authority secondary schools having to Schools Commissioners in the past. Sir David Carter, successor, Justine Greening, will pursue these ideas. the National Schools Commissioner, told the Select change status but the biggest upheaval Committee in June 2016 that ‘we are trying to Large scale conversion of schools to academies won’t Former Chancellor would be in the primary sector. George Osborne, academise the system’. solve the school standards challenge. Just as fifteen announced all state On Budget Day Chancellors like to pull Four out of five primary schools have years ago, we have a teacher recruitment crisis. At that schools would have to a rabbit out of the hat, but this year’s remained as part of local authority Tory opposition scuppered the plan announced by become academies by time, TeachFirst was key to the successful response. surprise package wasn’t about tax or the Chancellor, George Osborne, to academise the 2020 networks and there were immediate finances but about the future shape of entire system by 2022 but the Government’s goal I hope ministers will respond successfully this time round questions about the practicality of remains unchanged. Evidence increasingly suggests and that schools will be enabled to equip the next the state school system in England. thousands of, quite possibly reluctant, primary schools having to be turned that academisation is not the solution for raising school generation to build the kind of society and economy of In March, George Osborne announced into free-standing academies or standards. Academisation before 2010 – applied to which we all want to be part. that all state schools would have to failing schools – did deliver improvement. matched with academy trusts. become academies, with a deadline Among the much wider range of schools converting set for 2020 for the conversion to have A fact that made this an even more since 2010, outstanding schools becoming academies been completed or there to be plans in difficult proposition was that many have become better still. However, standards in other place for academy status by 2022. of these primary schools were already

schools becoming academies since 2010 have not rated good or outstanding, raising the This sweeping announcement was improved. Some Multi-Academy Trusts are doing question as to the purpose of creating

Schools will be enabled to delivered in conjunction with the brilliantly but others have expanded much too fast. so much disruption for schools that Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, We are starting to see in some the kind of stifling already seemed to be successful. equip the next generation“ and would have been the biggest bureaucratic control which gave LEAs a bad name. policy announcement of the year What really made this such a politically Schools’ local accountability is being lost and the “to build the kind of society for schools; in the end it turned into controversial issue was that much requirement for Parent Governors abolished. Many and economy of which we the most high-profile reversal and of the scepticism came from the academies don’t have Governors any more. Instead by the time this story had run its full Government’s own benches. power is centralised in the hands of Trustees and local all want to be a part course, both Chancellor and Education interests sit only on a talking shop. Secretary had lost their jobs. Teachers’ unions had voiced their anger at the proposals to force all The Chancellor’s announcement wasn’t schools to change status. They accused entirely without prior warning. There the Government of trying to push had been signals, including some from through an expensive reorganisation

2 | FOREWORD Foreword Review of the Year

2 | FOREWORD REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 3 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

wasn’t really to do with how they the Education Secretary announced a were labelled. There were clearer climb down. Good schools might be signs of improvement for ‘sponsored’ encouraged to become academies but academies, which had often previously it would no longer be compulsory. had weaker results. It was a major U-turn. It also proved to Even if this strengthened the be something of a last stand for Nicky argument for academy status for Morgan as Education Secretary. The underperforming schools, it did not advance the case for excellent schools decision over whether she would press to be required to change against their on with the rest of her school reform will. It was this element of compulsion plans was put to one side during the that proved the sticking point. EU referendum campaign.

It had become apparent that even if It was a question she would never there was ‘no reverse gear’ for the answer because, when the political forced academy plan, it would certainly fall-out had finished, the new Prime need a good set of brakes. Minister, Theresa May, replaced Less than two months after the Nicky Morgan with a new Education Concerns about academy deadline had been proposed, Secretary, Justine Greening. the impact of without any evidence that it would about a policy which seemed to impose academisation, raise standards. The Labour Party also a lack of choice without any proof specifically on smaller and rural schools, have challenged the academy plans, arguing of necessity. been raised it would remove local democratic There were particular concerns about accountability and that such structural Political upheavals that overturned what this might mean for small rural changes failed to address the practical schools and unease at the idea of issues facing schools, such as the the landscape for education popular, successful local primary struggle to recruit teachers but the schools being taken over by academy This year’s political earthquake was the produced some unexpected twists and biggest blow came from a sizeable referendum on whether the UK should chains that might be based in another turns for the leading political figures number of Conservative backbenchers leave the European Union – and the part of the country. Lucy Powell replaced in education. who remained unconvinced about the Tristram Hunt as shockwaves from that seismic event compulsory academy plans. Labour’s Education In what might now seem like another With the task of defending plans Spokesperson, before against cross-party criticism, political era, the Education Secretary, An Opposition Day debate in the House resigning in June 2016 Mrs Morgan told the NASUWT’s Nicky Morgan, began the academic of Commons on the Government’s teachers’ conference that there was ‘no year facing her new opposite White Paper proposals was dominated reverse gear’ but the opponents in her number, Shadow Education Secretary, by criticism from Conservative MPs. own party showed no sign of retreat – Lucy Powell. ‘Call me old fashioned, but I hold and they made it clear that they would Ms Powell had taken over as Labour’s the view that if you’ve got a well- stop the proposals as they stood. Education Spokeswoman in September governed, well-run school that’s As well as a broad swathe of 2015, replacing Tristram Hunt, as part performing well, just leave it alone backbench MPs, there were prominent of an opposition team put together by and let it do its job,’ said Will Quince, grassroots Conservative voices in the party’s newly-elected leader, Jeremy reflecting the comments of many of his local government who spoke out Corbyn but she resigned in June 2016. Conservative colleagues. publicly against their own party policy. After their general election mauling, The evidence on whether academy MPs with high-achieving local authority the Liberal Democrats began to rebuild status would improve results was also schools in their constituencies saw little their education profile with John Pugh merit in such a compulsory upheaval ambiguous. Most academies are so- as their spokesman. when it seemed to be without any called ‘converter’ academies which had real support from either headteachers already been high performing schools, Mrs Morgan, having been re-appointed or parents. There was sharp criticism so their continuing achievement after last year’s general election,

4 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

Political upheavals that overturned the landscape for education

This year’s political earthquake was the produced some unexpected twists and referendum on whether the UK should turns for the leading political figures Lucy Powell replaced leave the European Union – and the in education. Tristram Hunt as shockwaves from that seismic event Labour’s Education In what might now seem like another Spokesperson, before political era, the Education Secretary, resigning in June 2016 Nicky Morgan, began the academic year facing her new opposite number, Shadow Education Secretary, Lucy Powell.

Ms Powell had taken over as Labour’s Education Spokeswoman in September 2015, replacing Tristram Hunt, as part of an opposition team put together by the party’s newly-elected leader, Jeremy Corbyn but she resigned in June 2016.

After their general election mauling, the Liberal Democrats began to rebuild their education profile with John Pugh as their spokesman.

Mrs Morgan, having been re-appointed after last year’s general election,

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 5 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

was seen as having a key role in triumph for the opposition and promotion, she had spent less than a delivering David Cameron’s plans to Ms Powell had pushed hard on week as Shadow Minister for Women improve underachieving state schools issues such as teacher shortages and Equalities. and to encourage more schools to and weaknesses with some become academies. academy chains. It meant that Labour – once the party of ‘education, education, education’ The Education Secretary announced Instead the recriminations within – had had three Shadow Education plans to tackle ‘coasting schools’ which the Labour Party following the EU Secretaries in the space of a week. were not doing enough to make sure referendum saw her walking out of the pupils reached their full potential. Shadow Cabinet, along with many of If the reverberations of the EU This included plans for schools which her colleagues, who wanted Jeremy referendum caused huge and were underachieving to be turned Corbyn to step down as leader. unresolved changes within the Labour into academies. Party, there was also a massive upheaval She had only been Shadow Education within the Conservative Government. The Education Department was also Secretary for nine months when she keen to promote another of Downing resigned in June. What should have David Cameron stepped down as Prime Street’s favourite projects, the target Justine Greening, been a successful debut became a Minister and his successor, Theresa Secretary of State for May, announced a far-reaching to create 500 free schools within the over primary school tests with leaked Education hurried departure. reshuffle in July that removed Nicky lifetime of the Parliament. papers, problems with reliability Her successor, Pat Glass, proved Morgan from office. and then claims of sabotage all Political lifetimes can be unexpectedly an even shorter-lived education making headlines. The collective truncated and a chain of events saw spokeswoman for Labour. With a Justine Greening, formerly in charge of impression was not what she would all such confident, long-term planning, longstanding career in education international development and the first have intended. for government and opposition, swept and having served on the House of openly gay female Cabinet Minister, was announced as the next Education away by unforeseen storms. In addition, her challenges with Commons education select committee, she described her appointment as Secretary, with an expanded remit to Barely had the ink dried on her changes to primary tests continued her ‘dream job’. Two days later, with include universities. She will now have legislation to improve ‘coasting’ when she had to issue a warning that Labour’s leadership turmoil continuing, to put forward a new set of ideas for schools, when Mrs Morgan faced changes to SATs tests, making them she resigned saying that her position education in the autumn, from a party her first unanticipated thundercloud. more difficult, meant that results was no longer tenable. It raised under new leadership. The Chancellor, George Osborne, could no longer be compared with questions about whether this was the in his Budget speech, threw her the previous years. When Nicky Morgan and Lucy Powell shortest ever time in post by a Shadow challenge of forcing every state school began the year, arguing across the If these had proved rocky months for Education Secretary. in England to become an academy. the Education Secretary, it was all chamber of the House of Commons, Mr Corbyn replaced her with Angela they could have had little expectation The rejection from MPs within her overshadowed by the impact of the Rayner, a 36-year-old who had entered that both of them would be own party was almost immediate EU referendum. the House of Commons in 2015 as returning to the backbenches by the – and with the Government only Mrs Morgan had campaigned, with MP for Ashton-under-Lyne. Before her summer break. having a slim House of Commons her long-time ally David Cameron, majority of 12, it became apparent in defence of remaining in the EU. that she faced an uphill and ultimately She had issued a strong warning insurmountable struggle. Instead of saying that the adverse economic being a Secretary of State serenely consequences of leaving would be laying out her own plans for the most harshly felt by the young. Ofsted’s fiercest watchdog, school system, she became locked in a losing and bruising battle with her Both the Education Secretary and her Sir Michael Wilshaw, steps down own backbench colleagues. It meant Shadow, Lucy Powell, were to lose their Sir Michael Wilshaw, the outspoken This brought attention to what has that she faced weeks of attempted posts in the aftermath of Brexit. head of Ofsted, has been one of the made Sir Michael such a dominant negotiations before having to publicly most influential figures in education in character in debates about education. concede defeat. Ms Powell must have thought her first year as her party’s Education recent years but he is stepping down at An unusual row about Ms Spielman’s If politics requires luck Mrs Morgan Spokeswoman had been very the end of the year and the Education appointment raised questions about might have felt unfortunate in a successful. The U-turn over academies Secretary has named his successor as whether the education watchdog would series of embarrassing difficulties would have counted as a major Amanda Spielman. be different under new management.

6 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION triumph for the opposition and promotion, she had spent less than a Ms Powell had pushed hard on week as Shadow Minister for Women issues such as teacher shortages and Equalities. and weaknesses with some academy chains. It meant that Labour – once the party of ‘education, education, education’ Instead the recriminations within – had had three Shadow Education the Labour Party following the EU Secretaries in the space of a week. referendum saw her walking out of the Shadow Cabinet, along with many of If the reverberations of the EU her colleagues, who wanted Jeremy referendum caused huge and Corbyn to step down as leader. unresolved changes within the Labour Party, there was also a massive upheaval She had only been Shadow Education within the Conservative Government. Secretary for nine months when she resigned in June. What should have David Cameron stepped down as Prime been a successful debut became a Minister and his successor, Theresa hurried departure. May, announced a far-reaching reshuffle in July that removed Nicky Her successor, Pat Glass, proved Morgan from office. an even shorter-lived education spokeswoman for Labour. With a Justine Greening, formerly in charge of longstanding career in education international development and the first and having served on the House of openly gay female Cabinet Minister, Commons education select committee, was announced as the next Education she described her appointment as Secretary, with an expanded remit to her ‘dream job’. Two days later, with include universities. She will now have Labour’s leadership turmoil continuing, to put forward a new set of ideas for she resigned saying that her position education in the autumn, from a party was no longer tenable. It raised under new leadership. questions about whether this was the When Nicky Morgan and Lucy Powell shortest ever time in post by a Shadow began the year, arguing across the Education Secretary. chamber of the House of Commons, Mr Corbyn replaced her with Angela they could have had little expectation Rayner, a 36-year-old who had entered that both of them would be the House of Commons in 2015 as returning to the backbenches by the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne. Before her summer break.

Ofsted’s fiercest watchdog, Sir Michael Wilshaw, steps down

Sir Michael Wilshaw, the outspoken This brought attention to what has head of Ofsted, has been one of the made Sir Michael such a dominant most influential figures in education in character in debates about education. recent years but he is stepping down at An unusual row about Ms Spielman’s the end of the year and the Education appointment raised questions about Secretary has named his successor as whether the education watchdog would Amanda Spielman. be different under new management.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 7 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

in England. She was also one of the team that founded the Ark chain of academies, which is seen as one of the success stories of the academy movement.

What should have been a straightforward appointment has, however, proved to be an unexpected power struggle.

Ms Spielman had to appear before the House of Commons Education Select Committee, in what would have been expected to be a rubber-stamping of the Education Secretary’s endorsed candidate. The MPs, showing their own streak of independence, decided that her answers were so lack lustre that they told Nicky Morgan that she should not proceed with the appointment. The cross-party committee of MPs said they Free school meals are Nicky Morgan, former had ‘significant concerns’ about her still needed in deprived Secretary of State for suitability to be the new head of Ofsted. When Sir Michael became Chief His outspoken approach also made him areas Education, was advised that it needed much more than Inspector for England’s schools he unpopular with the teachers’ unions by MPs not to appoint the ‘magic of the market’ or some This was a substantial snub but the Amanda Spielman as was seen as working in step with the who criticised Ofsted for putting the new Head of Ofsted ‘hastily rebranded schools’ to make select committee does not have a right Education Secretary, Michael Gove; so unfair pressure on teachers. They improvements that would last. of veto, which meant that Mrs Morgan much so that they were known as ‘the saw his approach as bruising rather could, and did, decide to overrule the two Michaels’. than inspiring. As the Chief Inspector prepared to step MPs and pressed ahead with putting down, he said the biggest unresolved Ms Spielman into the post. However Sir Michael proved to be Sir Michael had made his name problem was the ‘continuing failure an independent-minded and fearless as a no-nonsense inner London as a nation to improve the lives of our Teachers’ unions said that the MPs’ figure who was ready to challenge headteacher, who had turned around poorest children’. concerns followed their own criticism ministers and highlight weaknesses in struggling schools. He had worked as that Ms Spielman was being appointed government policy. a teacher, often in deprived areas, for ‘The lot of disadvantaged children as Chief Inspector of Schools, even more than forty years and he had a in primary schools has improved – a though she had never had experience This became most apparent this distrust of ideological distractions. bit. But in secondary schools, the as a teacher. year in the arguments over whether attainment gap between children on all schools should be forced to He warned that it was often pupils free school meals and their better-off Under Sir Michael, Ofsted was a become academies. Sir Michael from the poorest families who were peers has refused to budge in a decade. watchdog that wasn’t afraid to bark. made a high-profile intervention ‘caught in the crossfire’ in the political His argument was that the Chief that many academy chains were battles in education. ‘Despite all the good intentions, the Inspector’s job was to maintain underperforming and that their top fine words and some imaginative standards in schools, even if that managers were overpaid. As a former In a speech in June, looking back on initiatives, we are not making a real meant crossing swords with politicians academy head, he made it clear that his long career in schools, Sir Michael difference. The needle has barely or teachers’ leaders. switching to academy status was no said that schools in the 1970s and moved,’ he commented. guarantee of improvement. 1980s had suffered from left-wing Ms Spielman, having survived attempts ideologies which promoted ‘anti- The next Chief Inspector of Education to block her, will have to put her own Such directness did not make him academic nonsense’ and which had will be Amanda Spielman, whose stamp and style of leadership on Ofsted. popular with ministers but he saw ‘undermined the authority and respect experience includes being the chair She might not have been particularly it as his responsibility to present the of school leaders’. of another education watchdog, outspoken in her previous jobs but as evidence found by his inspectors, Ofqual, the body responsible for Chief Inspector she will be taking on a even if the conclusions were politically He also attacked the influence of ‘free regulating exams and qualifications role that is never far from controversy. inconvenient. marketeers’ on the right, warning

8 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

in England. She was also one of the team that founded the Ark chain of academies, which is seen as one of the success stories of the academy movement.

What should have been a straightforward appointment has, however, proved to be an unexpected power struggle.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 9 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

impact on funding than the levels of deprivation?

The long road to finding a fairer way to Such a formula, applied to all schools, will mean winners and losers. If there fund schools are unsustainably big cuts for some Amid all the political earthquakes this schools it raises the question of what year, there was another more practical, transitional support could be offered. long-running debate that is likely School leaders waited to find out to have far-reaching consequences. what the funding changes would How should schools be funded? How mean. They wanted clarity so they much money should each school could plan ahead. It would have be allocated? implications for their staffing which For many years there have been calls for represents the biggest slice of a more consistent and fairer approach their budgets. to how much public money is given Realistically, such an announcement, to state schools. The amount schools with bad news and good news for receive per pupil can vary widely local schools, had to wait for a break depending on factors such as where Department in the political weather. It was unlikely the school is located and the particular for Education, to appear before local elections had needs of the intake; extra funding is Sanctuary Buildings, Mrs Morgan’s timetable promised been completed, or during the EU Westminster given to schools in deprived areas. a national funding formula to be referendum campaign. When that introduced in stages from 2017. was followed by the resignation of There has been a long-running Nicky Morgan called current funding David Cameron and a Conservative campaign saying that the spread arrangements There was also a political dimension nettle – and the Chancellor, George leadership election, headteachers’ of money has become much too ‘outdated, inefficient Osborne, signalled a move towards to the changes, with funding to go leaders began to be concerned that uneven and that there needed to be a and unfair’ regarding such a national funding formula in deprived areas directly to schools or to academy once again a standardised funding fundamental overhaul. Campaigners his spending review statement in chains, cutting out the role currently formula could slip away. for a new national funding formula November 2015. played by local authorities. have said that some schools receive Justine Greening had barely got £6,300 per pupil per year, while others ‘We will phase out the arbitrary and The proposals would mean that all through the door of the Department might only receive £4,200. unfair school funding system that has schools would receive a nationally- for Education, when the headteachers’ systematically underfunded schools in agreed basic level of support for each unions were asking for answers on Of course, making funding ‘fairer’ whole swathes of the country. pupil. This would then be topped up what was happening and whether the by increasing support for schools in on the basis of three other criteria: plans were still going ahead. one part of the country might seem ‘Under the current arrangements, a additional pupil needs, such as very unfair to schools who end up child from a disadvantaged background They received part of the answer deprivation; extra school costs, such as receiving less. in one school can receive half as on the final day before Parliament those serving sparsely-populated rural much funding as a child in identical finished for its summer break. The new Inner city schools, particularly in areas; and ‘geographic costs’, such as circumstances in another school,’ said Education Secretary said that she was London, are thought to be vulnerable Mr Osborne. higher costs in London. still committed to a national funding to such a change and any cutting formula but that its introduction was of individual school budgets would In March, the Education Secretary, Having put forward the big picture going to be delayed by another year. be politically sensitive. This delicate Nicky Morgan, set out plans to tackle there remained the important question It would not be implemented until political balancing act has meant that uneven levels of funding, saying of detail. How much of the budget 2018–19. for many years there has been support that the current arrangements were would be a core amount – and how ‘outdated, inefficient and unfair’. As in principle for a ‘national funding much would be for additional needs? ‘This is a once in a generation an example of the current funding formula’ but this has remained a thorny How would these additional needs be opportunity for an historic change and anomalies, she said that schools with challenge to put into practice. weighted? Would the location, rural, we must get our approach right,’ said similar levels of challenges in Plymouth urban or suburban, make a bigger Ms Greening. Last year’s Conservative election received £500 less per pupil than a manifesto promised to grasp this school in Rotherham.

10 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

impact on funding than the levels of deprivation?

Such a formula, applied to all schools, will mean winners and losers. If there are unsustainably big cuts for some schools it raises the question of what transitional support could be offered.

School leaders waited to find out what the funding changes would mean. They wanted clarity so they could plan ahead. It would have implications for their staffing which represents the biggest slice of their budgets.

Realistically, such an announcement, with bad news and good news for local schools, had to wait for a break Department in the political weather. It was unlikely for Education, to appear before local elections had Sanctuary Buildings, Mrs Morgan’s timetable promised been completed, or during the EU Westminster a national funding formula to be referendum campaign. When that introduced in stages from 2017. was followed by the resignation of David Cameron and a Conservative There was also a political dimension leadership election, headteachers’ to the changes, with funding to go leaders began to be concerned that directly to schools or to academy once again a standardised funding chains, cutting out the role currently formula could slip away. played by local authorities. Justine Greening had barely got The proposals would mean that all through the door of the Department schools would receive a nationally- for Education, when the headteachers’ agreed basic level of support for each unions were asking for answers on pupil. This would then be topped up what was happening and whether the on the basis of three other criteria: plans were still going ahead. additional pupil needs, such as They received part of the answer deprivation; extra school costs, such as on the final day before Parliament those serving sparsely-populated rural finished for its summer break. The new areas; and ‘geographic costs’, such as Education Secretary said that she was higher costs in London. still committed to a national funding formula but that its introduction was Having put forward the big picture going to be delayed by another year. there remained the important question It would not be implemented until of detail. How much of the budget 2018–19. would be a core amount – and how much would be for additional needs? ‘This is a once in a generation How would these additional needs be opportunity for an historic change and weighted? Would the location, rural, we must get our approach right,’ said urban or suburban, make a bigger Ms Greening.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 11 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

When the court found in favour wait and see how they should enforce of Mr Platt, the Department for attendance rules. It’s a dispute that Education responded immediately sets the wishes of individual families The battle over term-time holidays to say that ‘children’s attendance is against the wider collective needs of becomes a courtroom drama non-negotiable so we will now look to the school system. Parents might think change the law’. in principle that they have the right This has been the dispute that refuses holidays. As such they had the choice to make a choice about whether their to go away, dividing parents, schools of either never having a family holiday, Ministers made it clear that, despite children should miss a week or a few and even legal opinion. What should or going in term-time and accept that the court ruling, there would be no days from school. On the other side be the response of schools to parents they would have to pay a £60 fine. green light for such bargain term-time of the argument, headteachers have who take their children on term- holidays or trips to family events. The warned about the disruption it causes, They didn’t really see this as truancy time holidays? Isle of Wight council has also been as teachers have to help children catch but rather as parents exercising their given the right to appeal against the up when they return. They say that The Department for Education has rights on behalf of their family. They decision, so this argument is going to it would be impossible to organise a been unambiguous about this ‘Children might have made the calculation that rumble on through the courts in the class if pupils are randomly taken out should not be taken out of school even with a fine, the overall cost of a next academic year. of school. without good reason’. Missing lessons holiday remained lower. means pupils falling behind, ministers Until the legal dispute is resolved, local This is an argument that shows no sign One parent waged a legal challenge have argued, and a family holiday authorities and schools will have to of being settled. during term-time is not acceptable; against the validity of the penalty this tough stance has been backed system, questioning whether parents by rising numbers of penalty fines. should really have to pay these fines. Official figures showed that more Jon Platt had refused to pay a fine of than 150,000 penalty notices for pupil £120 to the Isle of Wight council for Independent schools gain pupils absenteeism were issued to parents in taking his daughter on an unauthorised but lose members of the Cabinet England last year, an annual increase of term-time holiday. In the High Court in more than 50%. May, Mr Platt won a legal challenge, ‘The storm of the worst recession The Independent Schools Council with the court ruling that he had no in living memory has passed,’ said has run an annual survey of pupil There was far from widespread case to answer. Even with a week’s a private school headteacher as the and school numbers since 1974 and agreement on this. There were parents absence in term-time, the court Theresa May was a independent sector, in more confident it says that 2016 has been one of who said that they could not afford the deemed that overall the pupil had pupil at Wheatley Park mood, announced buoyant figures in its best years. There are now 1,280 inflated cost of travel during the school attended the school regularly. School, Oxfordshire, Term-time holidays can its annual census. independent schools, the highest figure which is a mainstream cause children to fall state school in this century and the number of behind in their learning pupils has reached a new high of more than 518,000.

The independent school sector, relying on the spending power of parents, faced tough times during the recession but it now says that independent schools have recovered and are returning to expansion.

Independent schools, with an intake of overseas pupils, are particularly sensitive to the global economy; so the international nature of the recession as well as the pressure on family budgets added to their financial squeeze.

‘Having felt the pressures of worldwide recession in 2008, independent schools have adapted where necessary

12 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

When the court found in favour wait and see how they should enforce of Mr Platt, the Department for attendance rules. It’s a dispute that Education responded immediately sets the wishes of individual families to say that ‘children’s attendance is against the wider collective needs of non-negotiable so we will now look to the school system. Parents might think change the law’. in principle that they have the right to make a choice about whether their Ministers made it clear that, despite children should miss a week or a few the court ruling, there would be no days from school. On the other side green light for such bargain term-time of the argument, headteachers have holidays or trips to family events. The warned about the disruption it causes, Isle of Wight council has also been as teachers have to help children catch given the right to appeal against the up when they return. They say that decision, so this argument is going to it would be impossible to organise a rumble on through the courts in the class if pupils are randomly taken out next academic year. of school.

Until the legal dispute is resolved, local This is an argument that shows no sign authorities and schools will have to of being settled.

Independent schools gain pupils but lose members of the Cabinet

‘The storm of the worst recession The Independent Schools Council in living memory has passed,’ said has run an annual survey of pupil a private school headteacher as the and school numbers since 1974 and Theresa May was a independent sector, in more confident it says that 2016 has been one of pupil at Wheatley Park mood, announced buoyant figures in its best years. There are now 1,280 School, Oxfordshire, its annual census. independent schools, the highest figure which is a mainstream state school in this century and the number of pupils has reached a new high of more than 518,000.

The independent school sector, relying on the spending power of parents, faced tough times during the recession but it now says that independent schools have recovered and are returning to expansion.

‘Having felt the pressures of worldwide recession in 2008, independent schools have adapted where necessary

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 13 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

The other side of the disproportionate As the Cabinet took shape, the success of private school pupils in Sutton Trust education charity made getting into top universities is that the calculation that Mrs May’s disadvantaged youngsters are under- appointments had the lowest represented in those universities. proportion of privately-educated ministers since the post-war Cabinet of There have been concerns about Clement Attlee in 1945. state school pupils not getting enough places in the most prestigious In the new Cabinet appointed universities and there have been by Mrs May, there were 30% of warnings that too many former private ministers who had been taught school pupils dominate the top roles in privately, compared with 50% of public life. David Cameron’s Cabinet after the 2015 election and 62% in the This came to the surface during the coalition Cabinet in 2010. This meant Cabinet reshuffle that followed Theresa that 70% of ministers in this new May’s success in the Conservative Cabinet were state-educated, either in leadership campaign. Her choice of comprehensives or grammar schools. Education Secretary, Justine Greening, was hailed as a rare example of ‘Anyone should be able to become someone who would be responsible a minister, regardless of social for state schools who actually had background. It is good to see so many attended one herself. Ms Greening more comprehensive and grammar- had gone to a comprehensive educated cabinet ministers,’ said the in Rotherham. Sutton Trust chairman, Sir Peter Lampl.

The courtyard of Durham University, a member of the Russell Group and are thriving just eight years on. averages. When they finish their It’s both heartening and reassuring to A-levels, 92% of private pupils go to Baseline testing struggles to get off see the numbers of schools at such university with 56% going to a Russell healthy levels,’ said the Independent Group university. the ground Schools Council’s General Secretary, Julie Robinson. Exam results remain very important The idea of introducing tests at the benchmark against which to measure to these fee-charging schools and very beginning of primary school has progress through primary school. If The annual snapshot showed what independent school headteachers always been controversial. From the there was no reliable starting point, now constitutes a typical private school have been among the most outset there were warnings about how could there be any assessment pupil. Most are day pupils at co- dogged pursuers of any perceived adding another test into primary of how far pupils had advanced in the educational schools, with the biggest problems with exam boards or schools when teachers were already following years? concentration in London and the south individual qualifications. complaining of over-testing and too east. Only a quarter of private schools much accompanying paperwork. Such a test would be fairer to schools, are single sex and the proportion of Headteachers have loudly complained argued the Government, accurately boarders remains about 14%. The about what they see as the unreliability There were also particular concerns comparing how much they had helped biggest numbers of overseas pupils are of some exam results and this year about tests at the start of school, with pupils and revealing those pupils who from China, Hong Kong and Russia. there were long-running arguments claims that children of four were too might already have been relatively about the outcome of an English young for such assessments. advanced when they entered school. The independent sector makes a IGCSE exam. big selling point of its exam results. Despite the controversy, the Even though the teachers’ unions had Half of A-level grades and two Independent schools, as well as Government had doggedly persevered, been opposed to baseline testing, there thirds of GCSE grades achieved by being sensitive to financial pressures, arguing that there was a valid had been broad political support for independent school pupils were either have faced questions about whether underlying principle. The idea of the concept. At the general election, A* or A, far exceeding the national they are a barrier to social mobility. the baseline test was to provide a the Conservative, Labour and Liberal

14 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

Baseline testing struggles to get off the ground

The idea of introducing tests at the benchmark against which to measure very beginning of primary school has progress through primary school. If always been controversial. From the there was no reliable starting point, outset there were warnings about how could there be any assessment adding another test into primary of how far pupils had advanced in the schools when teachers were already following years? complaining of over-testing and too much accompanying paperwork. Such a test would be fairer to schools, argued the Government, accurately There were also particular concerns comparing how much they had helped about tests at the start of school, with pupils and revealing those pupils who claims that children of four were too might already have been relatively young for such assessments. advanced when they entered school.

Despite the controversy, the Even though the teachers’ unions had Government had doggedly persevered, been opposed to baseline testing, there arguing that there was a valid had been broad political support for underlying principle. The idea of the concept. At the general election, the baseline test was to provide a the Conservative, Labour and Liberal

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 15 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

Democrats had been supportive of the idea as a useful starting point for measuring progress. The leaked spelling test that had to be In a way that might not have been anticipated, the push for baseline cancelled testing suffered a major reversal A teacher who had been taking part this year. in a trial of the test had noticed the error and when this was brought to Primary schools were offered the attention of the Department for three different types of test, each Education, ministers faced their own of them approved as a way of rather difficult set of questions. meeting the requirements of the baseline assessments. Headteachers They rapidly came to the awkward could choose which approach conclusion that they would have to they preferred. cancel the test for this year. It was not really possible to know how many The idea was that schools could find people might have used the practice a type of test that suited their needs, papers or how much this might affect with some structured in a way that the outcome. As such it wouldn’t be was meant to be less disruptive and possible to use the tests as a reliable intrusive. It was a flexibility that sent The testing of young children upon starting measurement. the message that this was not a own internal purposes and it repeated school is unpopular with standardised, formal mini-SATs test for ‘To remove any uncertainty and its commitment to the principle. In some teachers four-year-olds. A spelling test clarify the situation for schools, the short term their use as a formal was leaked on the I have decided that we will remove measure had been postponed and it Department for It is usually students who might feel When the Department for Education the requirement on them to remains to be seen how it might be Education’s website that they have had a tough time from commissioned research from the administer the Key Stage 1 grammar, resuscitated in future. nasty surprises in tests and exams but Standards and Testing Agency to punctuation and spelling test for examine the different types of test this year the Government has run Labour claimed that the Government this year only,’ said Schools Minister, it came up with an uncomfortable into difficulty with some unexpected had been forced into a U-turn. Nick Gibb. conclusion. questions, particularly with primary Teachers’ unions and headteachers’ school tests. He said it had been a ‘regrettable unions seized upon the reversal The study found that the three versions incident’ and the Standards and as evidence of a Government that Seven-year-olds in England’s primary of the tests were not adequately Testing Agency was going to be had failed to listen to the teaching schools were expecting to face comparable. If pupils of similar ability subject to a ‘root and branch’ inquiry. took the three tests they would not profession. questions in spelling, punctuation and have similar results. If comparisons grammar this summer, as part of their The Standards and Testing Agency The National Union of Teachers were not reliable across schools using Key Stage 1 SATs tests in English. said the mistake had been the result of had only recently gathered for their these different tests then it meant ‘human error’ and that an immediate Easter conference where there Unfortunately, the tests had to be that they could not be used for review would be undertaken. were vehement calls to oppose the called off a few weeks before they measuring progress. implementation of the tests. They could were due to be taken when it emerged Headteachers’ leader, Russell Hobby, This meant that, in April, the not have foreseen how quickly the tests that the questions had been published having already seen the sudden Department for Education had to were going to unravel. in advance on a Department for collapse of this year’s baseline testing, announce that it was dropping Education website. welcomed the decision to call off The National Association of their use as a progress measure this this year’s spelling, punctuation and Headteachers, which complained Instead of providing examples of the year, saying that it would have been grammar test. of ‘poor planning and a lack of type of questions that pupils were likely ‘unfair’ to schools to have used them. consultation’, delivered the verdict: to face, there had been a mistake and Mr Hobby had earlier warned The Government said that schools ‘It is hard to avoid saying we told the actual questions were published. ministers that they had little choice could still use baseline tests for their you so’. According to some claims the question except to pull the plug on tests which paper had been on view to schools for seemed to have been compromised several months. saying that schools couldn’t be fairly

16 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 17 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

compared on unreliable test results. Only a few weeks before, the National thousands signing a petition collected ‘The Government is right to introduce He said the Department for Education Union of Teachers’ annual conference online, which was then handed in at the greater structure and rigour into the had acted ‘quickly and appropriately’ in had heard calls to campaign against Department for Education in London. assessment process. Those who oppose reaching the same conclusion. both baseline tests and these spelling this testing need to consider England’s The message from the parents was that and grammar tests in primary schools. mediocre position in the OECD The opposition seized upon the they were opposed to primary schools education rankings,’ said Sir Michael. embarrassment, saying that pupils Even the teachers’ union’s most being turned into ‘exam factories’ and had been working hard for these tests diehard supporters could hardly have that they wanted children to have more Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, argued and all their efforts had been wasted expected that both tests were going to creativity and fun in their learning. that the tests need not be stressful because of ministerial ‘failure and be called off with such suddenness and and that it was important to In terms of making an impact, the incompetence’. in such unpredictable circumstances. raise standards. novelty of a parents’ strike certainly captured the headlines and it prompted Nicky Morgan, who was the Education debates about whether young children Secretary during the parents’ strike, were being over-tested. said ‘Keeping children home, even for a day is harmful to their education’. The school strike that was by parents The fact that the campaign was rather than teachers popular on social media meant that it The argument over the new tests was difficult to know how widespread continued to rumble through the year the support really was among parents When a strike affects schools the first In particular they were protesting including when the results appeared across the country. assumption is usually going to be that against changes to the primary school in July. Almost half of pupils failed to teachers are staging a walk out but curriculum and the way that it is There was no sympathy for the reach the expected level, prompting in May, possibly for the first time, it going to be tested. They claimed that parents’ strike from either government headteachers to say that the results the new SATs tests were too difficult was parents who organised a day of ministers or the head of Ofsted, were unreliable and should not be and put unnecessary stress on these protest that saw children kept away Sir Michael Wilshaw. published. Ministers said that the lower from school. young pupils. results reflected tougher standards and The head of the education watchdog Instead of bringing their children that in the longer term it was better to Primary school parents, under the said that too often, when children fell to school, protesting parents took raise the bar in this way. heading of ‘Let Our Kids Be Kids’, behind in the early years at school, their children to rallies in parks or on staged a one-day strike, protesting they never really caught up. The idea The summer term also saw a more organised visits to museums or places against what they claimed to be a of the tests was to make sure that familiar strike, when teachers walked for educational trips. classroom culture with too many any children who were failing to keep out for a one-day protest over what tests and too much pressure on This was a protest organised and shared In a protest over testing, up could be identified and teachers they argued was a lack of funding for some parents organised could intervene. schools. young children. through social media, with tens of trips to visit museums and art galleries with their children

The strange case of the ‘rogue marker’ and claims of sabotage

Among the least predictable stories of attempt to undermine the SATs tests this year must have been the strange taken by 11-year-olds. case of the ‘rogue marker’. It seemed that there had been an Primary school assessments had attempt to leak part of the English already faced a difficult time, with test due to be taken by hundreds of the postponement of the baseline thousands of pupils in England in the tests and the disruption of part of the final year of primary school. English test for seven-year-olds but what added to the air of uncertainty The night before the test date in May, was what was claimed as a deliberate it appeared that the test had been

18 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION compared on unreliable test results. Only a few weeks before, the National thousands signing a petition collected ‘The Government is right to introduce He said the Department for Education Union of Teachers’ annual conference online, which was then handed in at the greater structure and rigour into the had acted ‘quickly and appropriately’ in had heard calls to campaign against Department for Education in London. assessment process. Those who oppose reaching the same conclusion. both baseline tests and these spelling this testing need to consider England’s The message from the parents was that and grammar tests in primary schools. mediocre position in the OECD The opposition seized upon the they were opposed to primary schools education rankings,’ said Sir Michael. embarrassment, saying that pupils Even the teachers’ union’s most being turned into ‘exam factories’ and had been working hard for these tests diehard supporters could hardly have that they wanted children to have more Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, argued and all their efforts had been wasted expected that both tests were going to creativity and fun in their learning. that the tests need not be stressful because of ministerial ‘failure and be called off with such suddenness and and that it was important to In terms of making an impact, the incompetence’. in such unpredictable circumstances. raise standards. novelty of a parents’ strike certainly captured the headlines and it prompted Nicky Morgan, who was the Education debates about whether young children Secretary during the parents’ strike, were being over-tested. said ‘Keeping children home, even for a day is harmful to their education’. The school strike that was by parents The fact that the campaign was rather than teachers popular on social media meant that it The argument over the new tests was difficult to know how widespread continued to rumble through the year the support really was among parents When a strike affects schools the first In particular they were protesting including when the results appeared across the country. assumption is usually going to be that against changes to the primary school in July. Almost half of pupils failed to teachers are staging a walk out but curriculum and the way that it is There was no sympathy for the reach the expected level, prompting in May, possibly for the first time, it going to be tested. They claimed that parents’ strike from either government headteachers to say that the results the new SATs tests were too difficult was parents who organised a day of ministers or the head of Ofsted, were unreliable and should not be and put unnecessary stress on these protest that saw children kept away Sir Michael Wilshaw. published. Ministers said that the lower from school. young pupils. results reflected tougher standards and The head of the education watchdog Instead of bringing their children that in the longer term it was better to Primary school parents, under the said that too often, when children fell to school, protesting parents took raise the bar in this way. heading of ‘Let Our Kids Be Kids’, behind in the early years at school, their children to rallies in parks or on staged a one-day strike, protesting they never really caught up. The idea The summer term also saw a more organised visits to museums or places against what they claimed to be a of the tests was to make sure that familiar strike, when teachers walked for educational trips. classroom culture with too many any children who were failing to keep out for a one-day protest over what tests and too much pressure on This was a protest organised and shared In a protest over testing, up could be identified and teachers they argued was a lack of funding for some parents organised could intervene. schools. young children. through social media, with tens of trips to visit museums and art galleries with their children

The strange case of the ‘rogue marker’ and claims of sabotage

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 19 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

accidentally published on a password- campaigning against the underlying protected website operated by Pearson, principle of these primary school tests. the private firm that administers the For the opposition, with three separate test, and that a marker with access to problems in this year’s primary tests, the website had attempted to make there was no holding back. it more widely available. About a hundred markers, many of whom are ‘The Government has woefully likely to be teachers, could have seen mismanaged and caused absolute the test. chaos and confusion in primary assessment,’ said Labour’s Shadow In the end, the attempted leak Education Secretary, Lucy Powell. was considered so limited that the Department for Education thought What made this even more difficult and there was no need for a cancellation high profile for the Government was Nick Gibb, Schools and the test went ahead. Minister, admitted a that there seemed to be a cumulative ‘serious breach’ problem with this year’s primary This did however mean that once again school tests. ministers had to appear in the House of Commons to answer urgent questions. Teachers’ unions had already been Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, told MPs opposed to changes to make primary it had been a ‘serious breach’ but that school tests more stretching but now parents could still have confidence in it seemed that the implementation of the reliability of the tests. the tests seemed to be dogged with problems. It was as if the story kept The Department for Education said that switching from stretching academic this attempted leak appeared to be the goals to rather embarrassing own goals. work of a ‘rogue marker’ and claimed that it was part of a wider campaign to Whatever the eventual outcome, the undermine the tests. This was not an tests went ahead and schools’ results will accident or an administrative mistake, be published in league tables in the new the Department suggested, but a academic year, when the cycle of politics Many schools are deliberate ploy by those who were and education begins all over again. adopting outdoor learning as part of their methods

20 | REVIEW OF THE YEAR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION accidentally published on a password- campaigning against the underlying protected website operated by Pearson, principle of these primary school tests. the private firm that administers the For the opposition, with three separate test, and that a marker with access to problems in this year’s primary tests, the website had attempted to make there was no holding back. it more widely available. About a Bell Lane Academy hundred markers, many of whom are ‘The Government has woefully likely to be teachers, could have seen mismanaged and caused absolute the test. chaos and confusion in primary assessment,’ said Labour’s Shadow In the end, the attempted leak Education Secretary, Lucy Powell. was considered so limited that the Department for Education thought What made this even more difficult and there was no need for a cancellation high profile for the Government was Nick Gibb, Schools and the test went ahead. Minister, admitted a that there seemed to be a cumulative ‘serious breach’ problem with this year’s primary This did however mean that once again school tests. ministers had to appear in the House of Commons to answer urgent questions. Teachers’ unions had already been Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, told MPs opposed to changes to make primary it had been a ‘serious breach’ but that school tests more stretching but now parents could still have confidence in it seemed that the implementation of the reliability of the tests. the tests seemed to be dogged with Learning together problems. It was as if the story kept The Department for Education said that switching from stretching academic this attempted leak appeared to be the goals to rather embarrassing own goals. work of a ‘rogue marker’ and claimed ell Lane Academy (formerly Bell Lane Primary School) is that it was part of a wider campaign to Whatever the eventual outcome, the undermine the tests. This was not an tests went ahead and schools’ results will situated near the centre of the large village of Ackworth, accident or an administrative mistake, be published in league tables in the new Beight miles to the south-east of the city of Wakefield. Our the Department suggested, but a academic year, when the cycle of politics catchment consists of a largely White British population. Our Many schools are deliberate ploy by those who were and education begins all over again. adopting outdoor number of Pupil Premium children is low at 9% as is our number learning as part of their methods of children with Special Educational Needs which is also 9%. We have 251 pupils and a 56 place Nursery. We have 12 teachers, 3 of whom are part time. With an admission limit of 40 children per year group, we have 9 classes several of which are mixed year groups.

REPORT CARD For years Bell Lane Primary School was stuck in a rut: its Ofsted grade was never »»Headteacher: Louise Ward better than satisfactory/requires improvement and morale was at an all time low. »»Location: Ackworth, When I moved from Deputy to Head Teacher in 2010, I inherited a situation where Pontefract, West Yorkshire strong leadership was needed to rebuild staff confidence and provide a clear plan »»Part of Wakefield City for moving the school to ‘good’. One of the biggest barriers in achieving this Academies Trust from August was Wakefield Council’s initial reluctance to accept that the school had serious 2015 weaknesses followed by their subsequent over-reaction in the changes they wanted »»251 Pupils on roll to impose. »»Ofsted Rating: Good In September 2014, having won several battles with Wakefield Council, the school »»Investors in People Silver finally achieved its elusive Ofsted ‘good’ grade. A year later it left the council’s Award control and became part of Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT).

BELL LANE ACADEMY | 21 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Consistency and teamwork have Key to monitoring is the focus on The whole been the two key factors in moving termly pupil progress meetings that

school now the academy from the rut that it had include work scrutiny, looking at been in, and these are now helping us progress, agreeing the achievement to

“ensures a to finally break down the last of the date of each pupil and target setting. barriers that have been holding us back. This is done as a team, which includes feeling of “ the class teacher, head teacher, deputy An initial change in focus for the togetherness (who is assessment leader), teachers academy came from something that who lead Literacy and Maths (who are I had been told whilst applying for and also key stage leaders) and recently headship: ‘It’s lonely being a head.’ the lead for Special Educational Needs. belonging. The realisation that if anyone felt lonely The inclusion of subject leaders allows working in our school then it would be Investors in for appropriate targeted support to be impossible to achieve consistency, led agreed and actioned with immediate People 2015 to our team approach where everyone effect when needed. is valued, supported and provided with opportunities to learn from others. A clear focus on ensuring consistent This has secured improved practice evidence in pupil’s work books has for all staff, regardless of their role also played an important role in our within the school. It also ensured that development. These books showcase leadership was shared. The success the academy’s development in many of this team approach has recently key areas: pupil progress; effective been acknowledged through the feedback and pupil response to this; achievement of the ‘Investors in People’ an exciting curriculum that meets the Silver Award. needs of all children; and the pride that our children take in all of their work. ‘The whole school now ensures a feeling of togetherness and Developing consistency in pupil’s belonging.’ books was achieved through the Investors in People 2015 introduction of whole staff work scrutiny sessions that take place A historical lack of consistency in throughout the year for different monitoring procedures was addressed subjects. During these sessions all through the introduction of a teaching staff (including Higher structured monitoring schedule that Level Teaching Assistants and, when enabled appropriate support for all, relevant, support staff), in small along with clear accountability. teams, scrutinise work from Nursery to Investigating our world Year 6 making observations on agreed areas. Information is then collated by the relevant subject leader, identifying strengths and points for development.

‘Meetings are very much about a community approach rather than a top down approach to both decision making and actions.’ Investors in People 2015

This way of working provides whole academy accountability for outcomes, whilst allowing individual staff to reflect on their own practice and seek help from colleagues as needed.

22 | BELL LANE ACADEMY PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

If consistency is to be achieved, then sharing the bigger picture and ensuring that staff have both understanding and ownership of all agreed policies and procedures is key.

‘Staff share senior leaders’ views on how successful Bell Lane Primary School can be and work together closely to achieve the areas identified for improvement at the last inspection.’ Ofsted 2014

Being part of a successful and Reading for pleasure effective academy trust enables us to draw on the expertise of their advisors who work as part of our staff team, broadening our view and building our capacity to identify and implement any changes that are needed more quickly.

As well as a lack of positive support from Wakefield Council in resolving ongoing issues another barrier to moving forward was unstable staffing within the academy. Both were overcome by a determination to seek help proactively from a variety of different places – such as Developing our creativity ‘headhunting’ an ex Ofsted inspector as chair of governors and ultimately The academy continues to have to joining an academy trust (WCAT) with ‘plug gaps’ in children’s learning an ethos that allowed us to set our following earlier staffing issues. ‘The school has own clear direction of travel rather However the skills of current staff, secured effective than constantly having to change links to other academies within the our course under the guidance of trust and advice from supporting trust “partnerships, Wakefield Council. advisors are enabling us increasingly to show accelerated progress across the which make a

Although we have only just achieved academy, which will ultimately impact strong a full complement of permanent staff, on our outcomes. joining WCAT in August 2015 (and contribution to working with them for two years prior The security and positive support to this) has enabled us to continue the provided by joining Wakefield City staff training“ development of teaching and learning Academies Trust means that our to move the academy forward and academy will never be ‘lonely’ and can and improved further the development of internal further strengthen its work as a team outcomes for all monitoring systems and procedures to maintain consistent, highly effective that support all staff in continuously strategies that allow us to continue to pupils. developing their practice. develop into the future. Ofsted 2014

BELL LANE ACADEMY | 23 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice Broad Oak Primary School

Cornerstones Curriculum – Gigantigut project Mr. Kevin Corteen (Headteacher) with pupils hree years ago, it became obvious that our curriculum needed significant overhaul. It met statutory requirements, Tbut was in no way as exciting and engaging as our children deserved. Our inspection in May 2013 confirmed what we knew, giving us the impetus for root and branch change. This change was based on a thematic four step learning philosophy called Cornerstones.

REPORT CARD Each unit begins with memorable first hand experiences, which either involves a visit out of school or inviting visitors into school. The purpose of which is to engage »»Headteacher: and stimulate the children’s imaginations, encouraging them to make observations Mr. Kevin Corteen and begin to formulate questions to be answered later. As the topic progresses, »»Location: East Didsbury, the children increase their knowledge and understanding and practise and develop Manchester new skills. They then innovate, applying this knowledge in solving real or imagined »»The school serves a diverse problems. Finally, the children express their learning, becoming the ‘experts and population and is part way informers’, linking their learning back to the questions they generated earlier in the through an expansion from topic. Our children see a real purpose to their learning and consequently are highly 2 to 3 forms of entry motivated and engaged, and consequently proud of what they have achieved. Examples »»530 pupils and 86 members of this ‘Express’ element have included: pupils setting up and running a one day café; of staff the creation of a classroom sized aquarium simulation; performances of Macbeth and »»34% of pupils have English A Midsummer Night’s Dream at a city centre theatre; a 60M model human digestive as an Additional Language system (Gigantigut), and an Egyptian funeral procession involving all of our pupils. (EAL) The positive impact on pupil outcomes has been very clear. In 2015, attainment and »»26% are Pupil Premium progress in writing is significantly above national averages; the levels of absence and qualifiers persistent absence fell to well below national averages.

24 | BROAD OAK PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

Our Assessment for Learning (AFL) a play worker or play therapist who strategies are at the heart of all that nurtures attitudes and strategies Our children we do, from the use of red, amber and to help our pupils to recognise and have ownership green (RAG) cups and self-selection of address their issues. activities, to quality questioning and “of what they“ thinking time and the use of green Impact is measured by tracking learn and how pens to highlight strengths and pink pupil attainment and entry/exit data pens for areas for development. from the Goodman’s Strength and they are going Difficulties Questionnaire (a brief RAG cups as tools for pupils to self- behavioural screening questionnaire to learn assess are rather like a traffic light. A about children’s behaviour, emotions child selecting green is ready to go and relationships). Each child receives and be challenged; amber may need a score relating to their social abilities support and red needs a different with exit data demonstrating a approach from the teacher. This reduction in social difficulty and visual approach ensures that the improved social ability. pace of learning is brisk in all lessons and frequent checks on pupils’ Additionally Broad Oak funds a understanding are used effectively so coaching mentor from the company individuals can self-select well matched One Goal to deliver a universal offer activities, which build upon their for all pupils to build character by knowledge and skills. Pupils have more developing the pupils “six habits”. opportunities to learn independently This is a bespoke programme designed and collaboratively. These simple but to give our pupils the required skills powerful strategies have raised teacher to think in an informed way, to work expectations, as well as the quality collaboratively with others successfully and quantity of work that our pupils and have positive mind sets that will set are producing. Our children have them on the path to success. ownership of what they learn and how At Broad Oak we understand the they are going to learn, whilst driving importance of physical education, the lesson forward and being totally recognizing that it has significant immersed in learning. benefits to health and wellbeing, With an increased focus on the mental improving brain function and thus the health of young people we support the ability to learn. Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) Outdoor Intervention of identified pupils through our work (Forest Crew) with eQe (Equilibrium and Enablement) accessing whole school input and capacity building interventions that are underpinned by the principles of therapeutic play, safety, creativity and emotional literacy.

For classes/groups we provide indoor and outdoor interventions which are appropriate to need.

Where pupils present with higher levels of social, emotional and wellbeing needs Broad Oak provides individualised therapeutic provision. Pupils receive weekly sessions with

BROAD OAK PRIMARY SCHOOL | 25 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

the quality of relationships between the Early Years team and the children and families in their key worker groups. During the summer term the new nursery intake are invited to individual family meetings with their new keyworker to share important information about the child and the setting. Nursery practitioners support parents to complete an “Ages and Stages Questionnaire” to gain a better picture of the child’s development so far and enable quality dialogue with the parents. Areas of concern are identified quickly and early interventions planned right at the start Early Years Foundation of the school year. Stage We use our Sport Premium money Regular parent workshops are held to innovatively to ensure we provide high inform parents about how and what quality PE and school sport for all pupils. we teach, with presentations and Bespoke CPD for staff is provided by teaching video clips posted on the a PE specialist one afternoon a week school website. through team taught sessions. Moderation is key in increasing the Targeted physical intervention groups accuracy of assessment judgements. support learning. A physiotherapist This is done in various ways; with the works with our SEN children to whole team, with individual keyworkers develop their balance, co-ordination and with other schools in the local Early and agility. These children also access Years cluster group. Rigorous tracking a multi-sensory room experiencing ensures that children are identified

Moderation is combinations of sound, light and early for interventions in speech and aromas to meet their sensory needs. language, phonics or fine motor skills

key in Fitness sessions are run for our less to develop hand muscles ready to write, and keyworkers meet with the phase active children. “increasing the “ leader every half term to discuss their accuracy of We have developed a broad variety of observations of independent learning, enrichment opportunities before, after levels of attainment and progress and assessment school and at lunchtimes to engage all to plan next steps for each child. children in sport and physical activity. A joint project with the local Surestart judgements The percentage of KS1 and 2 children Centre enabled the school to increase taking part in these activities has risen links with the local community and from 56% to 78%. target vulnerable families for early In 2013 the proportion of children language support prior to starting achieving a “Good Level of school. The school hosts a weekly Development” at the end of Reception “Stay and Play” session for parents was 42%, well below the national and children 0-3 years, a baby massage average. In 2015 this had risen to 76% group and several adult education courses including a “Family Language” (national 66%). course for parents with English as an Underpinning the drive for additional language. improvement has been a focus on

26 | BROAD OAK PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION Central Walker CE Primary School

The pupils chose as their Christian values: Love and Friendship / Hope / Endurance / Forgiveness / Peace and Reconciliation

Barbara Redhead, Executive Head Teacher entral Walker Church of England Primary School is a newly built school opened in September 2012, formed Cfrom two closing schools set in the most deprived part of Newcastle upon Tyne.

When I began at Central Walker in 2013, I was told by the Local Authority that Ofsted were expected the next term and their judgment would be Special Measures. By Easter 2014 – two terms later – we were judged GOOD with lots of positives in the report. By the time of our Anglican ethos inspection in May 2015 we were judged Outstanding REPORT CARD and now we are a successful voluntary aided school looking towards a bright future. »»Executive Head Teacher: Barbara Redhead It struck me »»Deputy Head Teachers I’d been teaching a long time when I realised I was already a teacher before my (job-share): deputy head was born! I’ve been a head for more than 20 years and for the past Dawn Day/Faye Kerr decade I have had a double role as the permanent Headteacher at Wyndham Primary »»Location: Walker, East School and also the Interim Executive Head role of a second school in Newcastle; Newcastle upon Tyne never the same second school but always the same focus: going into a school in »»Church of England (Voluntary difficulty, turn them round and create the conditions for a permanent head to take Aided) Primary School over. I am lucky to have learnt so much from each of these very different experiences. »»Two form entry: aged 2-11 So how did we do it at Central Walker? years »»374 pupils; 36 staff School improvement is about patterns and systems. Rather than feeling trepidation in taking over a new school in huge difficulties, waiting for the storm of Ofsted to arrive, »»80% Pupil Premium what I try to do is expressed very well in this quotation by Vivian Green which conjures »»22% EAL up an image of fun, of sharing, of getting over difficulties in the face of adversity: »»Ofsted Rating: Good “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”.

CENTRAL WALKER CE PRIMARY SCHOOL | 27 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

We (or rather the talented staff) record these in our own printed photo books – which add to our collective memories of fun and the joy of learning together. They make lovely books to share when a pupil is upset or troubled.

So how did the transformation at Central Walker start? – well as Antoine du Saint Exupery said, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum people to collect wood, assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass the endless sea.” its about learning to Through the use of simple patterns and dance in the rain” I joined a school – in which the majority systems, we have created a positive Vivian Green of staff wanted to belong to a good climate in our school. Many storms school; they just didn’t know how to have come and more are on their way; get there. Together we introduced together we can dance through them these six systems that are the processes because the children are at the heart of which hold us all together. There are all we do. systems for teaching, for inspiring A school must have a pattern both children and staff to excel. They are for team work, pastoral care, Small children (indeed most of us) positive behaviour, planning, marking need routines which we know and and leadership. Monitoring is always understand to make us safe. Since a thorny problem: ‘so how about if it primary school children (even the moves, ask how far and if it does not 11 year olds) are all still very young, move, ask why not!’ Yes, I am being these routines make the basis of a ironical; schools are about more than safe, secure environment. So we have »THE SIX SYSTEMS valuing what it is easy to measure. If a pattern to the school day, a pattern we wish to provide an outstanding to the school week and a pattern 1. Clarity and organisation of education we must cherish more than to the school year. These patterns teaching systems that. We must also monitor attainment are arranged around the integrated and progress in all aspects of learning. 2. Presentation of overall curriculum with subjects under an learning environment umbrella half term topic: Maths, Monitoring learning is something and values to accelerate English, Science, RE, Humanities, everyone should be doing every progress Sports and the Arts. It also means second they are at work. Everyone 3. Systems for supporting, that we can have exciting “different” needs to think about what they are developing and promoting days for special events or to have an seeing, and always from the pupils’ expectations of staff inspirational artist/story teller in for perspective. As they walk around the 4. Shaping and leading Book Week – these are days when the school at different points in the school development planning and children don’t wear uniform. We all love day they must ask, “how does it feel preparation to dress up! My magic chicken costume to be a pupil here?” If the feeling 5. Support functions of the based on the book, The Wizard and is not one of warmth and set in a school with a rigorous the Fairy and the Magic Chicken (with background of positive relationships focus on wider outcomes the deputies in wizard and fairy outfits) with well supported learning then for pupils and best value shocked the school into silence! Then we must tackle this. Monitoring of financial decisions giggles galore! We have a themed week lessons and pupil book scrutiny is at the end of each term: an International far more effective if it is carried out 6. Governance and the week, a Science/Technology/Engineering/ by teachers themselves. At Central Parental community Maths week, and a multi faith week. Walker staff do this with training and

28 | CENTRAL WALKER CE PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION a shared understanding of the purpose and expectations. The staff when monitoring learn so much of value and their teacher expectations are high, both more challenging and supportive. Our teaching style is illustrated by the Seattle Fish Market story – not a policy but an attitude. The policy always comes after and from the change, so when monitoring happens and there is an issue we set up a personal training plan, in which peer staff will support and challenge each other. There has “Educating the mind been a major turn over in staff – 75% without the heart is no education at all.” We seek to address the processes… of the senior leaders and 30% of the Aristotle teaching staff are new. by which pupils acquire emotional wellbeing. We nurture their skills in Our structures and ethos learning to learn and monitor these at Central Walker strategies as carefully as we monitor progress in reading. These are evident in our school building which is set out in an orderly structured The final part of the plan at pattern; not an easy task given an open Central Walker is events plan space. However the children love Days that are not routine but involve the new part-walls which make them parents and the community. We have feel secure in their class base, whilst the open mornings or afternoons so that space allocated to each Key Stage gives a parents can sit beside their child and light airy feel. In doing this – the learning

see learning happening, with termly of new skills together – our school Our pupils are parents evening/ afternoon so that they walls are hung with quotes, alongside can talk about their child. If parents truly ready for “ silk arts, ornate windows, and art work don’t attend we ring them up to make from graffiti to fairy tales – all different “the next stage a new appointment or find out why – to inspire each child. not. We bend and flex to engage of their Above and beyond our parents but we don’t drop our education. standards of expectation. Everyone at Central Walker gives his/ her personality, character and time to The data story reflects the the pupils. We have a daily breakfast growth of our school club for over 100 pupils, after school As we are now in the top 10 % clubs from gardening to geo-caching. nationally for progress and last year we Every child each half term goes on achieved 92% level 4 reading, writing a visit or has a ‘wow’ visitor day. and maths combined. It is the hard For World Book Day we took the work, dedication and having enough whole school, in class relays, to our staff paid for via pupil premium cash local bookshop for a story, their free – and the experiences we can provide book and refreshments. As an inner using disadvantaged funding – that city school we attract deprivation makes closing these gaps possible. funding – additional cash, so I worry about the coming national funding Our pupils are truly ready for the next changes. As it is, with this extra money stage of their education. They will be a we can include pupils in a genuinely joy for society! worthwhile educational experience.

CENTRAL WALKER CE PRIMARY SCHOOL | 29 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice Cheadle Primary School

Cheadle Primary School was built in 1909

Newly Appointed Headteacher, Karen Leech e are a popular school in the heart of Cheadle which is situated in the southern suburbs of Greater WManchester. Our community reflects modern Britain well and we have children from a range of faiths and cultures. Indeed, we have over 20 different first languages spoken and a steadily increasing number of children for whom English is an additional language. We place great emphasis on developing tolerance, understanding and community cohesion and our strong values are firmly embedded within our learning. We recognise, respect and celebrate difference within our community. Our curriculum is enriched by regular cultural events such as our ever popular Breakfast Weeks where parents and children have the opportunity to breakfast together and sample a wide range of authentic foods from around the world!

We are very proud of our children. When they step through our door, many visitors comment upon the warm and friendly atmosphere in school, how happy, polite and well behaved our children are and how wholly engaged they are in their learning.

Our children are very articulate, they have an excellent understanding of how they learn best and they can identify the key elements of outstanding teaching and learning! They regularly report to Governors and speak knowledgably about our systems, structures and curriculum!

30 | CHEADLE PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

As a new headteacher in my first We were keen to do this without year in post, I am resolute and wholly losing our commitment to providing Our school is committed to ensuring that we meet our children with an outstanding child fun, forward the key demands of the curriculum centred curriculum. whilst being equally passionate about “thinking and Our annual intake of 40 children giving children as much freedom and presents us with a daily logistical creative and we ownership as possible in relation to challenge and encourages us to how and what they learn. Our children manage our mixed age teaching are not afraid are confident to express their opinions groups in a range of innovative and they expect to be consulted on to do things ways. For example, in order to create many aspects of school life. They never additional time for SATs preparation, differently! disappoint and regularly offer fabulous we have experimented with different and imaginative solutions that take Our continued time efficient ways of grouping our our school forward. They love to be cohorts during afternoon sessions success is a given responsibility, treated like adults where, throughout Key Stage 1 and they happily sit around the table and 2 we operate a rotational result of great and share their views and ideas! Many system of teaching similar to that of teamwork, decisions are made democratically a high school. from formally voting on members for comprehensive the School Council to naming our Teachers have the opportunity to newly born chicks! Recently, they have teach Foundation subjects in which self evaluation, completed questionnaires on how they have a particular skill, talent or safe they feel at school, the quality of interest. This means that the children innovation and “ school lunches and the improvements receive high quality and consistent the ability and that they would like to see. They are teaching and that the teacher gains an currently working on a new school excellent overview of standards and desire to try prayer that is personal and bespoke to achievement in a particular subject. new things our school and which children from all This works exceptionally well for faiths will feel comfortable with. Also, subjects such as French, Information they are in the process of interviewing Technology and PE. each other about what they think of our school and creating film clips for our new website!

Our curriculum is engaging and creative and in June 2014, OFSTED judged it to be outstanding. We provide lots of opportunities for skills based, active and cross curricular learning which is led by the children’s interests. At the beginning of each project, they decide what they want to find out and how they want to do it. By giving the children ownership of their learning it creates clear focus, enthusiasm and excitement.

From their individual starting points, our children make good progress. Breakfast Week April 2016 - However, this year, we have been a regular and hugely popular event with children and parents! working extremely hard to further raise attainment throughout school.

CHEADLE PRIMARY SCHOOL | 31 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

crucial. The teachers go out on to the playground at the beginning and the end of each day so that they can chat informally to them. This principle has significantly improved communication and it has been exceptionally well received and much appreciated.

Seeking the views of parents and carers is extremely important to us. We consult them regularly, ask them for feedback on many aspects of school life and use what they say to improve Our Nursery children what we do. Our aim is to have happy celebrating World Book and satisfied parents who feel valued, Day 2016! We use a range of expertise including listened to and who embrace and a sports coach, a dance teacher, an art support the changes that we make. specialist, a music teacher and even a professional cheerleader! By pairing We look for every opportunity to one of our teachers with an ‘expert’ engage our parents and carers in their it has meant that for some curricular child’s education and school life. Each areas we have been able to teach half term we offer fun-packed events the children as a cohort and this has where children and parents take part been great for both staff and children. in exciting and creative tasks which Teachers have received excellent consolidate and extend skills learnt. professional development whilst the These can be anything from cake children have loved the opportunities making to highly competitive and to be together as a year group. challenging competitions and quizzes! Such events are hugely popular, Establishing and maintaining really extremely well attended, and provide good relationships with our parents is Our talented Junior shared memorable learning for both Performance Band hard at work! parents and children. Cheadle Primary School is a good school. We aim high and have a relentless drive for further improvement. We want every child to make the best progress possible during their time with us. Our school is fun, forward thinking and creative and we are not afraid to do things differently! Our continued success is a result of great teamwork, comprehensive self evaluation, innovation and the ability and desire to try new things.

We have made many changes this year and it is wonderful to see the positive impact that they are already having on the children’s progress and attainment and we have many more exciting changes to come!

32 | CHEADLE PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

Hendal Primary School

Hendal Primary School Senior Leadership Team Our new extension provides an outdoor learning space for year six children endal Primary is a 350 pupil strong primary school, at the heart of the local community of Kettlethorpe near HWakefield. 107 children receive pupil premium and we welcome this funding as an important way to help them. Our approach ensures that all aspects of the school support children from all backgrounds and targeted interventions are provided when needed. Pupil premium represents a significant proportion of our budget and we are committed to ensuring it is utilised to maximum effect.

REPORT CARD We believe that there is no “one size fits all” so it is essential that we identify individual barriers in order to provide support targeted to the individual’s needs, »»Head Teacher: Christine Platts enabling all our children to flourish. The school was judged to be ‘good’ at the »»Local Authority maintained most recent inspection (November 2012) and continues to ensure high achievement school remains a key priority. In April 2014 an expansion programme was agreed to »»Behaviour Resource Unit increase admissions from 45 to 60 per year group and our new extension was attached opened in January 2016. When this works through the school, it will take our »»350 pupils aged 3 to 11, numbers to 450. 56 staff At Hendal we believe that childhood is a time of play and that through play we »»31% Pupil Premium discover the excitement of learning, the rewards of achievement and acquire our »»Sing Up Platinum Award life skills. The Early Years setting is a colourful, well-planned and busy environment »»Open Futures Flagship School which develops playing and exploring skills, active learning and creative thinking. We have chosen to invest heavily on our outside facilities, especially in foundation as it supports the development of healthy and active lifestyles by offering the children opportunities for physical activity, freedom and movement,

HENDAL PRIMARY SCHOOL | 33 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

works with individual children for 30 minutes a day, four days a week. Each lesson is tailored to the child’s particular needs and the programme is intensive and highly effective with children who experience difficulties with literacy learning. Detailed observation records are taken daily to ensure evidence of learning. Effective and accurate strategies are then designed by the teacher to provide meticulous and effective activities. Reading recovery brings the most challenging children from “low achievers,” to a level where they can Outdoor provision fully engage with the curriculum. contributes strongly to the development and promoting a sense of well- Art and design is a subject about of children not only in foundation but being. Children in foundation are which both teachers and pupils throughout school able to move freely throughout the are passionate. Staff plan exciting inside and outside early year’s areas, creative opportunities throughout choosing for themselves where to topics, linking art to the curriculum learn, as well as taking part in more whenever possible. Children explore conventional lessons and structured drawing, painting and sculpture learning throughout the day. They through a range of art and design have opportunities to explore, solve activities, learn about great artists and problems, develop their imagination techniques from different cultures. through role play and small world We celebrate achievements and every (imaginative play where children are child’s art work can be seen on display provided with small, beautiful objects), around school. be creative when model making and painting, share stories and rhymes and In addition we have access to two become confident and independent fantastic art resources in Wakefield: writers and readers. The Hepworth and the Yorkshire Reading Sculpture Park. Children visit both and Children at Hendal are lucky to have really enjoy the exciting workshops on recovery brings access to a large and exciting outdoor offer. We take part in the Yorkshire area as well as an outdoor classroom. Sculpture Park “Ignite” programme, “the most They enjoy playing in the large sand pit, which involves artists working in challenging making music, challenging themselves school with each class to create on the adventure trail and gardening works of art and explore techniques children from with friends amongst other fun such as sculpture, printing and

activities. At Hendal we “play together, puppet making. This is also a great ‘low achievers’, whatever the weather” in our superbly opportunity for staff, children and

to a level resourced outdoor environment and parents to work alongside an artist, children can be seen in wellies and learn new skills and engender a love where they “ raincoats jumping in puddles on of “the arts.” rainy days. can fully As part of our partnership with the engage with We believe that reading is the gateway British Council and a link school in to all knowledge and we strive to Chengdu, China, we welcomed four the curriculum prevent our children falling behind. Head teachers from this city to the Our specialist reading recovery teacher Wakefield district. During their visit

34 | HENDAL PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION we demonstrated our love of singing, The Council is made up of two showcased our outdoor provision representatives from each year, who and highlighted the range of delicious are elected by their peers after taking school meals prepared by our award part in a challenging and democratic winning kitchen team. The Head election process. The Council meets teachers took many ideas from Hendal regularly to discuss a whole range of to enhance the provision in their own issues prompted by the needs and schools: such as allowing children suggestions of the children. To date, to explore their own ideas in lessons our Council has been consulted on and the importance of singing across a wide variety of policies and school the curriculum. developments, had contact with our MP and interviewed candidates for We now employ a Chinese Language teaching posts. The School Council is Assistant to deliver Mandarin lessons Our School Council take the true embodiment of ‘Pupil Voice’. their role very seriously throughout school to enrich our whilst enjoying a visit children’s understanding of the world to the Mayor’s Council beyond the UK and to appreciate Chamber the culture of China. Children in Foundation and KS1 are taught basic commands and look more into the culture and art of China. Children in KS2 are exposed to more language delivered in a formal setting; much like that of a Chinese classroom.

Hendal Primary has a very high standard of singing throughout school. Our achievements were recognised by Sing Up, for which we attained the Platinum award. As ambassadors for singing, we have undertaken outreach work with other schools. We have Hendal Primary is a welcoming, hosted joint events collaborating with friendly, bright and happy school children from other schools, coming where children feel secure. There is together for rehearsals and performing a clear moral purpose and a shared for parents in the evening. These have belief that the school can impact been outstanding events, appreciated upon the lives and opportunities of and enjoyed by all. Music permeates throughout our curriculum. children. We encourage a culture where staff believe all children can We are passionate about enabling our achieve (there are no “excuses” for children to contribute to the constant underperformance) and we work process of improving our school. The in close partnership with parents, School Council gives children the who are the child’s first and most opportunity to voice their own opinions important educators. and make important decisions about key issues, and aims to find new It is a school where good behaviour and exciting ways of raising money is expected and where children enjoy to benefit all our children. Ideas to growing up. It will always be a place improve all aspects of school life can be of enjoyment, where we encourage, placed in a suggestion box or discussed reward and celebrate all our with School Council representatives at diverse successes. class ‘surgeries’.

HENDAL PRIMARY SCHOOL | 35 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Hunslet Moor

Active learning!

unslet Moor is a thriving, inner city school in the south of Leeds. At the time of writing this, the school is on Developing inquisitive learners Hthe verge of a significant expansion from 315 to 420 pupils. We have families who have attended the school across generations, as well as a growing number of families who join us as new to the country. The past 10 years has seen a significant period of social change within the local area and has presented challenges for the school.

Painting a picture of what this school looked like ten years ago would still highlight deprivation in the local area. However, there was a distinct difference in the ethnic and culture mix we see today. The majority of the population were White British and REPORT CARD approximately a third of the children’s first language was Bengali. Fast forward to 2016 … the school has a very multi-cultural feel. At the most recent count, 33 languages »»Head teacher: Hannah Darley were spoken across school. Children are drawn from a diverse range of cultural »»Location: South Leeds backgrounds and a significant number of children are from deprived backgrounds. This »»Community Primary School has had a big impact on the school community and we have needed to ensure our »»Number of pupils: 366 school is inclusive and reflective of all cultural influences whilst continuing to adapt and Number of staff: 65 respond to the emotional and social needs of children and their families. »»Number of pupil premium: The most recent Ofsted inspection in 2014 recognised the rapid improvements that 162 have been made by the school. The culture within the school is reflected in our motto: »»Number of SEN pupils: 68 Aiming for Excellence: Unlocking Your Child’s Potential. The school’s drive for success »»Ethnicity of pupils: 80% has come through those who have shown a sustained commitment, determination minority ethnic pupils and belief in the uncompromising vision for the school in the most challenging of times: a handful of leaders, a skilled Governing body and a number of staff who have »»Ofsted rating: Good ‘kept the faith’ over the years with the direction in which the school is heading.

36 | HUNSLET MOOR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

Future leaders – growing from peace which is often not associated Staff are within with the bustle and activities of the local area. Their second impression expected to Having been the Deputy Headteacher forms quickly after spending time with for 3 years, I took over the Headship of our children: their energy and spirit “actively build the school in 2013 following a period of is infectious! Respect and tolerance extensive transition between myself and are strengths within the school. Class relationships the previous Headteacher. I believe this assemblies are well established and and engage was significant in sustaining the pace we use these as a way of celebrating and direction the school was heading together different religious events and with families, towards in its improvement journey. learning about different cultures. Our annual community event is planned after all, the “ The approach we take in the by year 6 children and is a great development and recruitment of school is at the opportunity for us to come together school leaders reflects my own career and enjoy entertainment across cultures development at Hunslet Moor. heart of this with a ‘festival’ like atmosphere. Recruitment processes over the years community have shifted within the school. We focus For many of our children, the socio- on exploring the values, attitudes and economic factors faced by their families experience in individuals that are relevant have a significant impact upon their to the challenges many of our families social, emotional and mental health face rather than on technical abilities. We needs. This may include contending are always on the ‘lookout’ for potential with chaotic home lives and a lack leaders; teachers who have proven of resources to support them. Whilst themselves within the classroom and who such factors could be seen as excuses, demonstrate high aspirations for pupil as a school, we have instead created achievement and also for themselves as a strong focus upon developing the learners. Whether teachers, volunteers conditions to support children in or support staff, we endeavour for our becoming ‘ready’ to learn. Driven by adults to reflect the diversity of the the school’s Pastoral team, children’s community, as well as to be positive personal, social and emotional development has a high priority across role models to our boys and girls. the school and much work is done We have appointed middle and senior to ensure conditions are in place to leaders with a growth mind-set along enable individual children to ‘thrive’. with beliefs that align with the schools’ Additional resources often include values. We have given them the accessing further support from local continuous professional development Cluster therapists, as well as in-school needed to progress as influential leaders, and off-site additional provision. Capturing our school driven to secure the best outcomes values through our ‘DREAMS’ ethos for pupils through shaping and driving whole school change. There is a strong model of distributive leadership to empower and develop leadership behaviour. This has been achieved through planned programmes of coaching and mentoring which support leaders in achieving their potential.

Conditions for learning Walking into Hunslet Moor, we are often told by those new to the school they are struck by a sense of calm and

HUNSLET MOOR | 37 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

We have further developed an D Dreams For me, as a leader, the school’s approach to embed developing R Resilience success is embedded in the time relationships and this includes a E Engagement spent securing the fundamen- focus upon promoting and engaging A Ambition tal elements as outlined in the teaching and support staff in M Mutual Respect phases of development below. This is my interpretation of our understanding the importance S Self-belief journey and is in no way meant of these relationships across the Alongside this, we have developed to represent a linear process: community. We have developed the use of restorative approaches the use of Hunslet Moor ‘DREAMS’ »»Community: How can the to develop staffs’ understanding currency which children can use community become further of people’s behaviour when under to ‘buy’ reward time such as extra engaged? What do they stress or having experienced trauma. playtime, cooking activities, or a want from their school? Our work to promote the rights of football tournament. This is used by »»Personnel: Do people have the child has been recognised as we all staff to promote and reward the the right skills, values and have secured our Level 1 in the Rights ‘DREAMS’ behaviours exemplified by behaviours to ensure they Respecting Schools Award. We have our children. Assemblies are used to work consistently to achieve also developed our Behaviour and promote and illustrate the ‘DREAMS’ the best chances for children behaviours and values, and ‘DREAMS’ to succeed? Discipline Policy to further promote relationships between pupils and ambassadors are used as role models »»Recruitment: Recruiting for between staff and pupils. The policy to their peers. values and resisting the pres- embodies the ways in which we sure to fill vacant posts with Many of our children have had little develop behaviour for learning and bodies. experience of places of interest outside pupil’s abilities to self-manage their »»Disciplined development: school. We organise many enrichment own behaviour. All professionals understand experiences, such as visitors coming their role, responsibility and Staff are expected to actively build into school and educational visits accountability and can articu- relationships and engage with families, outside of school and in the immediate late the strategic direction of after all, the school is at the heart of locality. These are well supported by the school. Growth from within this community. We work hard to our parents and valued by the children. allows this to be possible. reach parents who may be reluctant Our Breakfast Club and After-school »»Functionality: Going back to to approach school, recognising the clubs offer a real range of sporting essentials, instilling order and multiple barriers that some parents and other activities, all of which are discipline in ways of working. face, such as language and previous oversubscribed and have grown in Creating appropriate systems negative experiences of school. We use popularity in the past couple of years. and structures and embed- parenting classes and family support Such wider opportunities have proven ding across school. This to be significant in inspiring pupils creates shared expectations workers to engage with parents and to want to achieve and to engage in across school about ‘how we our parent consultation meetings are wider learning opportunities. do things around here.’ very well attended. We have been successful in securing the Achievement »»Growth and innovation: The future for Hunslet Moor Primary for All Quality Mark and this work A commitment to continu- is looking bright. We have shown, has been beneficial in supporting ously developing staff skills in terms of challenge and facing the and equipping more inexperienced and expertise. Embedding a need for change, this does not faze us. culture of achievement and staff with understanding approaches Instead it has been the catalyst for us ownership of practice in an which can breakdown such barriers to adapt and grow. As a community, environment in which princi- with families. we are on a mission to continue ples and practice align to the to build a school that is a place of values of the school. As a school, we have developed a real focus on values and behaviours outstanding learning and from which The school’s journey over the important to us and these are set out children develop the values, behaviours last decade is further docu- in our ‘DREAMS’ expectations, with and attributes of lifelong learners mented in a book each letter standing for a specific within a multicultural Britain. co-authored by Hannah. behaviour or value:

38 | HUNSLET MOOR PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION Kings Oak Primary Learning Centre

Left: Year 5 celebrating World Book Day Above: Alison Wilks, Headteacher ombwell in Barnsley, is in the bottom 15% of social and economic deprivation in the UK. There is a history Wof low aspiration, high levels of unemployment and teenage pregnancy. More than a third of our families have been involved with social care and 45% of pupils qualify for pupil premium. As a result of a good reputation and increasing levels of migrants, predominantly from Eastern Europe, the school now has 449 children on role compared to 320, 10 years ago.

Kings Oak was born after the closure of two schools which the new Headteacher, Alison Wilks was appointed to oversee. Eight out of the existing 45 members of REPORT CARD staff met the criteria and were employed in the new learning centre. Four Assistant »»Headteacher: Alison Wilks Headteachers were also recruited to enable rapid sustainable change to take place. »»Number on roll: 449 Three of these staff have now secured their own headships. »»Ethnicity: EAL (English as an Kings Oak Primary Learning Centre has always had vision at its very core. We recognised additional language): 45 (32 that our community was trapped in a cycle of poverty and low aspirations and so it European, 13 other), Gypsy became our mission to break that cycle and empower our children and their families Roma: 4, White British: 400 through learning, therefore we adopted “Learning for Life” as our motto. »»SEND (Special Educational Needs and disability) : 99 The responsibility of ensuring that this vision is disseminated throughout school and »»FSM (Free school meals): 120 the community is down to every member of staff. Leadership is distributed at every level and the degree of commitment from each leader cannot be over emphasised »»Looked after children: 7 or taken for granted. We have invested heavily in leadership development and every »»Teachers: 21 Ofsted inspection has resulted with an outstanding judgement for Leadership and »»Non- teaching staff: 46 Management. The Headteacher has been invited to work with the National College

KINGS OAK PRIMARY LEARNING CENTRE | 39 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

and the DfE on leadership development memory. Our children love coming to We are programmes and is now a Local Leader school and they are passionate about passionate of Education and a Pupil Premium learning. Since opening, attendance

“about the Champion. has increased by 5%. One of the ways we develop a love In order to raise aspirations, we

quality of our of learning so that they become need to have high expectations. To lifelong learners is through teaching enable children to achieve these high curriculum and “ the Seven Rs. These are: responsibility, expectations, they experience first ensure that resilience, reflectivity, reasoning, quality teaching from committed and risk taking, resourcefulness and highly trained members of staff who creativity lies relationships. They are taught believe that every child in their class at its heart. alongside the National Curriculum can be successful. Careful recruitment and form the foundations of a of the right teachers with specific lifelong learner. Bloom’s Taxonomy skills, attitudes and philosophy has (a hierarchy of thinking skills ranging enabled us to build an outstanding from remembering to creating) has and unique team. We are committed always been used by our teachers to to high quality continuous professional encourage the children to think at a development for all our staff including deeper level, enabling them to strive for peer coaching. Many of our teachers mastery in all areas. We are passionate have moved on to leadership positions about the quality of our curriculum and in other schools, while some have been ensure that creativity lies at its heart. promoted. Teaching assistants have When children are allowed to express gained degrees with some becoming themselves and have ownership over higher level teaching assistants or their learning, then we see the effects moving on to a career in teaching. In through high levels of motivation. addition to this, parents have been Learning at Kings Oak has real purpose supported in getting back to work or and our children apply this into a context education through doing voluntary that is celebrated at the end of the topic, work or placements at the school. This whether it be a production that they is one way that our school regenerates have written and produced themselves and instigated a parliamentary visit in or through curating an exhibition about 2007. It is important that our children the Egyptians. Learning in this way not see that even as adults, we all value only helps our children to develop and and enjoy learning. apply key skills but enables the brain Year 6 children raft to store new learning in the long term One way of ensuring that learning is building whilst on a for life is by promoting a passion for residential visit. reading. We regularly have “book weeks” where the school celebrates a specific author or genre. Authors and poets are invited to come into school and perform, inspire and work with the children. All the children’s learning will revolve around a particular text, resulting in enthusiastic, fired up children creating inspirational pieces of writing and artwork. Parents are invited to a weekly session where they can read with their children. We encourage siblings to join together for this to create an enjoyable and

40 | KINGS OAK PRIMARY LEARNING CENTRE PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION purposeful opportunity for learning. We invest a lot into our foundation stage to develop early language and literacy skills. Highly skilled practitioners and early interventions have enabled us to highlight quickly and address any potential concerns. The literacy leaders in school hold parent workshops for them to find out exactly what is expected from their children by the end of the year and how we will enable them to achieve it. This is a chance for parents to develop strategies to support their children at home in an environment where they feel safe to ask questions. In 2015, 67% of our Year 3 children children achieved a level 5 in reading. experiencing what life was like in a Victorian Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and We have focused on building strong workhouse. Two, we will continue to teach in the relationships with our parents and way that we whole heartedly believe is employ a parent support advisor who right for the children in our community. works closely with parents and carers We are investing in a virtual learning needing support. She deals with a whole environment, a room that will provide variety of issues from head lice, bed sounds, smells and visual effects to wetting and behaviour management to immerse our children in the next best handling finances, support with medical appointments and home visits. This has thing to a first-hand experience, for resulted in our families having a huge example, we can take them on The amount of trust in the school and allows Polar Express, to the top of Mount us to support our children at a deeper Everest or to the battlefields of The level to maximise learning. Somme. We are determined to keep inspiring our children and our families The warm and friendly environment is and equipping them with the skills commented on frequently by parents and attitudes to become successful and visitors to the school. We have and compassionate human beings worked tirelessly to break down barriers for a challenging, unpredictable but with our families and encourage them Year 2 children exciting future. investigating medieval to become involved with their children’s times at Conisborough education as much as possible. We aim Castle. to make them feel welcome as soon as they enter the building. It is important for us to use parents’ names, smile and empathise with their issues. Emotional intelligence is something we value greatly in the school. We look for it at interview, we model it as a leadership team and as a result, positivity permeates throughout the building.

So, what next? Despite the challenges of Ofsted and the ever increasing expectations of children at the end of

KINGS OAK PRIMARY LEARNING CENTRE | 41 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice Robert Ferguson Primary School

Pupils assess their own work

Graham Frost, Headteacher and pupils catch up on the day’s events hen I became headteacher of Robert Ferguson Primary School in 2009, the school needed urgent action to Wraise standards, restructure the staff team, restore dilapidated facilities and recover from rapidly declining pupil numbers. The teachers had all the responsibility, but lacked the authority to make the necessary changes. I quickly secured their commitment to a “no-excuses” approach.

REPORT CARD Three years later Ofsted rated the school “good” and today the school is radically »»Headteacher: Graham Frost transformed. Numbers have risen from 280 to 410, the school budget is back in »»Location: Carlisle the black, and children benefit from teaching of the highest standard and excellent »»Ages 3-11 facilities. Simultaneous improvements to teaching and learning through high quality professional development are key to our success. »»410 on roll »»Above average pupil All staff contribute to the identification of strategic goals, collectively find solutions premium entitlement and hold themselves to account for achieving results. In all our decision-making the needs of the children are paramount, with changes to teaching firmly rooted in research evidence, collectively agreed and acted upon by all. It is no longer necessary to “manage performance” because staff are highly motivated, supported and encouraged to prioritise their own professional learning and engage in research. We currently have four teachers studying towards a Masters in Education (MA).

Early Years practice and a greater emphasis on aspects of learning such as resilience, perseverance and problem-solving have strongly influenced what we call “LEEP” (Learn, Extend, Enrich, Practise) – our way of organising lessons so that pupils become increasingly self-regulating in their learning. Never content to build

42 | ROBERT FERGUSON PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

Robert Ferguson Primary School is a most welcoming school. It provides Changes to trainee teachers with a great experience in a rich, stimulating learning environment supported by enthusiastic, skilled practitioners. All staff working teaching are “ with students are experienced mentors who uphold their trainees and “firmly rooted recognise and welcome the strengths and attributes that they bring into school. The caring and respectful ethos ensures that the children respond in research most positively to the additional adults that they meet in their classes, ensuring a happy and fulfilling experience for all concerned. The students evidence. from the University of Cumbria who have a placement at Robert Ferguson School are indeed very fortunate.

Stephanie Hewison Professional Partnership Tutor (PPT) University of Cumbria

I feel a great sense of community in the school from the office staff right through to the headteacher and everyone in-between. I have found all the teachers in the school approachable and willing to help or offer insights to different aspects of teaching. I feel fortunate to have had such a positive experience whilst on placement.

Alistair Kane Trainee Teacher practice on passing fads, we are jointly 2. Self- and peer-assessment against researching and evaluating this approach criteria determined by the teacher. with University of Cumbria. 3. Self- and peer-assessment against Our research is underpinned by two criteria determined jointly by hypotheses, based on professional teachers and pupils. experience. First, when there is a A Year 5 Playground Leader helping a Reception pupil. pupil-teacher ratio of up to 30 to 1, a combination of skilful teaching and pupil self-regulation leads to high motivation and deeper, broader learning. Second, we are finding reciprocal benefits in the combination of formal, subject- led learning (approx. 70% of the timetable) and cross-curricular, applied learning (30%). This approach enables pupils to deeply embed knowledge and skills, and helps teachers resist pressure to “teach to the test”.

Our assessment practice has evolved through three key stages:

1. Providing “learning menus” (lists of learning criteria) to enable pupils to participate in assessing their own learning and selecting their next steps.

ROBERT FERGUSON PRIMARY SCHOOL | 43 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

»WHAT YEAR 5 PUPILS SAY

“When we start a new topic, the teacher asks us what we want to find out and do, and we put it on the topic plan.”

“We choose our own challenge, and if we choose something too easy we can just move on to something harder. If it’s too hard, we can choose something easier until we feel confident.”

“I like being on School Council because your opinion is used, and you ask other classes what they want to make school better.” Podcast Production Team

Alongside our formative assessment website), and our student school approaches, we have devised and councillors successfully enlisted the programmed a bespoke, online support of Cumbria County Council to system for checking how well pupils fund an essential extension of school are progressing with core learning. hall and kitchen. At a classroom level, We listened to our parents’ views teachers routinely involve pupils in and made radical changes to our planning new topics, factoring in prior termly progress reports which learning and pupils’ personal interests. describe learning simply, accurately Moving forward, pupils now plan and constructively to inform their own topic learning, including »WHAT IS GOOD further progress. ABOUT OUR SCHOOL? what and how they will learn, and the medium in which they will express Nursery: “When teachers mark our work, their learning. “Being outside and making we get a new step so that we can Our plans for the future have one word a tent.” improve.” – Year 5 Pupil. “Doing hard jobs with numbers.” at their core - empowerment. Robert “I like reading books.” Ferguson Primary School has become We place the highest level of trust in a highly effective, professional learning Reception: our pupils. For example, they organise community characterised by continuous “We keep trying!” the library, a healthy tuck shop, self-improvement for teachers

“Being kind to people.” playground games and an enterprise and pupils. “Playing outside.” week. They express their learning to

“Learning new letters.” a wide range of audiences through the written word and recorded Year 2: We place “ the media (e.g. video recordings and “I like LEEP because there are podcasts - YouTube and iTunes). As highest level lots of different things to do.” a result, pupils make an exceptional “I like the different challenges.” “of trust in our contribution to community life through “I feel like I have really pushed charitable fund-raising (see the myself this morning.” pupils. December 2015 newsletter on our

44 | ROBERT FERGUSON PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION St Edward’s RC Primary School

Left: May 2016 St Edward’s girls football team – National Champions t. Edward’s RC Primary School is situated in Linthorpe, one Right: Reception children – mile from Middlesbrough town centre in the North East exploring and understanding the world Sof England. It serves a mixed catchment area, and pupils progress to well above national average by Year 6. Graded outstanding in both Ofsted and RE inspections, the challenge to maintain performance is one that drives the school forward. At the end of 2015, St. Edward’s became one of eleven schools to form a new Multi Academy Trust comprising ten primary schools and one secondary school.

REPORT CARD Constantly achieving outstanding results means you need to know the school inside out, embrace ambition and set outcomes which people can relate to. Learning »»Head teacher: Mary Brown needs to be personalised and engaging, and as a leader you need to be willing to »»Ofsted rating: Outstanding push the boundaries and take risks without any fear of failure. »»409 pupils, 49 staff The key to sustaining outstanding status is to ensure that everyone shares the vision »»2 form entry and I set the highest of expectations in all aspects of school life. Our values, culture »»Diocese of Middlesbrough and direction are lived and observed by governors, teachers and assistants, cleaning »»Part of St. Hilda’s Catholic staff, and of course pupils and parents. Everyone is therefore accountable; we are all Academy Trust leaders together.

KS2 results are high, and in the past three years have improved further. In 2015 for example, 100% pupils achieved Level 4b or above in maths, reading and writing making us one of only 187 schools to achieve this. We have been named ‘Top Teesside School’ the past two years and in 2014 awarded first place in the North East. The Times Newspaper Power League ranked St Edward’s as 33 in the 300 best schools guide.

ST EDWARD’S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL | 45 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Each individual pupil has a right My dedicated staff inspire and As a leader, to achieve the highest standards motivate pupils; they ensure teaching you need to possible within a safe environment. and learning in the classroom is You therefore need a challenging adapted to excite and develop

“be willing to curriculum, continuous monitoring curiosity. I expect teachers to work at

push the of standards and assessment and the mastery level, which is to achieve consistent communication. The the highest level of attainment for all curriculum needs to be personalised boundaries “ children. Progress is evident in pupils’ well beyond any statutory objectives, books and can be measured through and take risks and should include community news comparative assessment before and without any as well as wider world issues. In doing after learning. this, I tell the staff to take risks and fear of failure think outside the box! The titles of ‘higher, middle and lower’ ability groups have been As Head teacher, I want pupil voice removed. Instead, pupils are grouped at the forefront of what we do. We into tasks which enable them to be ask, “what do you want to learn?” challenged based on their learning »QUESTIONS Their responses are collated, displayed, and understanding from the previous TO CONSIDER and incorporated. We expect our day’s lesson. For instance, a child pupils to be part of the planning of previously considered as ‘lower ability’ »»What would you want the curriculum and in turn, our pupils could face a higher level task if their to learn at their age? want to be challenged. Their thirst understanding was good on the »»How will it be taught for knowledge is evident and we previous occasion. This approach relies to make it exciting encourage pupils to provide feedback on accurate marking, feedback and yet probe their and offer ideas to help personalise assessment, all of which are recognised understanding further? learning. This approach enhances the strengths in our school. »»What are the Key Skills curriculum and helps to develop pupils’ (what they need to own leadership skills. The Senior Leadership Team is know) and Core Skills strategically placed in every year group I am passionate in creating a curriculum (how will it be taught)? to lead and impart the vision, supported which is rich and innovative with by some important appointments: thematic approaches and cross- curricular links. History drives the »»A senior leader develops and embeds curriculum in Autumn for example, with the social, moral, spiritual and Geography and Science taking over in cultural curriculum to encourage the Spring. Literacy and Maths skills are right behaviours in children, focused interwoven and embedded throughout. around our values and community. Celebrating the Based on positive evidence, this curriculum teacher has been asked to be Senior Leader in Education to share good practice. »»My School Sports Coach develops able and talented pupils, leads extended school activities and small intensive training with vulnerable pupils. He contributes to planning and assessment, and is now being funded for a Foundation Teaching Degree. »»A teaching assistant with a Psychology degree was funded through Pupil Premium to help ‘unlock minds’.

46 | ST EDWARD’S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

»ENCOURAGING AND NURTURING PUPILS’ LEADERSHIP, LEARNING AND RESPONSIBILITY

»»The ‘Sports Crew’, where children organise and purchase sports equipment. Trained Play Leaders are responsible for leading competitions. »»The School Council enthusiastically inputs into my school development plan. »»The Chaplaincy Team meets regularly with the parishioners and community to develop links. »»Our ‘Fruit to Suit’ initiative – a healthy snack business organised entirely by Year 5 pupils as purchasers, product controllers, budget holders and sales assistants. They report termly to governors on profit and sales.

Working with all ages, she has made I am inclusive with my senior team, exceptional progress with some and we regularly scan the external children increasing their reading age environment for new information and by 20–30 months. innovations. Embracing creativity is »»Higher Level Teaching Assistants, one key, alongside a ‘go for it’ attitude and of whom is a fully qualified teacher, evidence of impact. I constantly ask the following questions to clarify direction have expertise in specific areas such and deliver objectives: as Food Technology, Eco-schools and Maths. They are able to manage »»Do they know the vision and how it behaviour, assess and plan. can be achieved?

Our Extended School Programme »»Are they empowering others; stimulates and extends understanding. developing their own people skills? We have 37 extended school clubs; »»Am I being clear in how I want the each with a clear purpose. The Roller school to perform? Skating club, for example, encourages »»“So What?”– progress and impact is self-discipline and core muscle my motto development whilst the Debating club I believe my passion and drive to do solicits opinions. These are organised what is best for pupils coupled with by teachers, parents and teaching innovation, communication and rigour assistants with 99% pupil involvement. are vital elements to success. My next Sports science lesson The Department for Education policy challenge is to apply and share this ‘Assessing without Levels’ relates to philosophy as a director on the board the removal of national performance of the new Multi Academy Trust. I also levels for children. In the past two mentor future Head teachers and leaders years, I have developed formative and I am in the process of applying for assessments in the core subjects which National Leader in Education. show progress against the term’s I want pupils to feel safe and come work and is highlighted in pupils’ to school with genuine hope and books. I recently shared this initiative enthusiasm; eager to learn. I also want at a Head Teachers’ Conference in staff who are dedicated to the whole York which generated requests for child each and every day. The desire assistance from schools in and around to make a difference and succeed is the region of the north east. Due to always achievable, and your base or high demand, I held an open day for location should not limit ambition. other schools to observe teaching There is no better example of this than and learning in the classroom and to St. Edward’s girls’ football team, who discuss our assessment practices. Such recently won the Danone Nations Cup collaboration and school-to-school 2016 and really helped put us and support is essential for learning and Middlesbrough on the map! continual self-development.

ST EDWARD’S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL | 47 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice Stanley Grove Primary Academy

School of News in partnership with the University of Salford

Phil Mellen, Executive Principal tanley Grove is a large primary school with 671 pupils on roll serving the community of Longsight in central SManchester. The pupil population is predominantly from a Pakistani/Bangladeshi background but there are a total of 26 different home languages spoken. Every single pupil starts school below or significantly below expected standards for English and Maths skills and half of pupils are entitled to free school meals. In some year groups this hits eighty per cent.

REPORT CARD The school has a team of one hundred and seven employees with more than a third »»Executive Principal: of the staff now from ethnic minority backgrounds. Philip Mellen »»Head of School: Amy Footman The best the school had ever been graded by Ofsted was satisfactory/requires improvement until June 2014 when inspectors judged the school to be good. »»Location: Longsight, The school has been part of the Bright Futures Educational Trust since September East Manchester 2012. Phil Mellen started as Principal in July 2013 with 10 years’ experience as a »»Academy Status: Headteacher and moved to the role of Executive Principal of Stanley Grove and September 2012 Gorton Mount Primary, which is also part of Bright Futures, in September 2015. »»Three Form Entry (674 on roll) Amy Footman has been Head of School at Stanley Grove since September 2015.

It is impossible to attribute the improvement in teaching, learning and outcomes at Stanley Grove to one thing, or even to half a dozen things. Schools are often eager to look for the miracle cure - the new assessment scheme, teaching style or resource that will transform their establishment. In reality it is much more complicated. Recruitment and training of a permanent teaching and support team was important but so was success in sport. Investment in reading books and IT was essential but community links and large scale events also played an integral role.

48 | STANLEY GROVE PRIMARY ACADEMY PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

Reading is a good place to start. The partner observations with the support school invested heavily in books for the of a coach, has also been a major factor Partnerships classroom, library and the home. A full in this improvement. play a key role time Reading Leader was appointed with a brief to improve the teaching of The school has also established “in providing the reading across the school. Events with close working partnerships with The visiting authors attracted as many as Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester staff and pupils two hundred parents into the school Museum, Lancashire Cricket Club, of Stanley and hundreds of books were sold, an Manchester University and The Diane outcome that was replicated at regular Modahl Sports Foundation. This was Grove with book fairs. Book swaps were initiated, prompted by a cultural experiences better “ with a low quality of books to start survey of pupils in Autumn 2014 with but then increasingly better stories which showed that many Stanley opportunities for all age groups. ‘The Big Book Bash’, Grove pupils had never visited cultural a family festival based around children’s facilities that were in some cases and improved literature, attracted nearly 2000 less than a mile away (1% of pupils outcomes parents, pupils, friends and neighbours had been to The Whitworth, 9% to to the school field in July 2014 and was Lancashire Cricket ground at Old followed by an equally successful ‘Bikes, Trafford, for example). These new Books and Beyond’ in 2015. relationships have paid immediate and lasting dividends with all pupils going These events were part of a drive to to the Whitworth and Manchester open the school doors in particular to Museum and pupils having the parents. Adult learning classes, regular opportunity to be the guard of honour workshops on teaching and learning, at a Lancashire T20 match. During ‘Bring an Adult to School’ weeks and October half term 2015, Stanley Grove community festivals helped to build a pupils exhibited animations at the closer partnership between the school Whitworth and led workshops for and the wider Longsight community. families in what is now the Art Fund The appointment of a full time parental Museum of the Year. These unique liaison officer also enabled parents to opportunities are part of the mix that have a single first point of call for queries has led to pupil and parent surveys that could not be easily answered by the Stanley Grove admin team. being overwhelmingly positive about the provision offered by the school. Manchester Libraries Partnerships play a key role in providing Reading Challenge Winners the staff and pupils of Stanley Grove 2015 with better opportunities and improved outcomes. The school is part of Bright Futures Educational Trust, a small multi-academy trust (9 schools) and the community of practice between schools is a key element of school improvement and professional development. The Trust schools are also all part of a wider teaching school alliance (Alliance for Learning) which has opened up to staff a wide range of training opportunities, helping to improve teaching across the school to the point where senior leaders are grading all teaching good or better and 70% outstanding. The Reflective Inquiry programme, where teachers do

STANLEY GROVE PRIMARY ACADEMY | 49 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice Review of The sport and PE provision at Stanley Stanley Grove Grove is now exceptional with more

is now than forty different clubs running across Parliament the year and 88% of pupils taking part.

“exceptional The school is now regularly winning local tournaments and reaching with more“ Manchester Wide finals in cricket, Graceful in defeat – David Cameron than forty football, basketball, athletics and more. We are the current Manchester hockey responds to the verdict of the different champions and went on to finish 3rd clubs in the Greater Manchester tournament. EU Referendum Pupils also have many opportunities to attend sporting events to inspire of London, had been introduced. them and groups have recently With mass resignations from Labour’s attended Wimbledon, World Squash Shadow Cabinet as the leadership crisis Championships, England v New Zealand in the Opposition unfolded, he advised T20 cricket, football at Manchester her to keep her phone on because United and more. she might be promoted by the end of the day. Residential trips have also developed Shakespeare in Schools with all pupils from Years 3 – 6 performance Then he gave his response to the being offered opportunities from an Referendum decision. ‘It was not the overnight stay to a week long Lake stories. The school funds the majority result that I wanted, or the outcome District experience. All pupils go on of the finance for all trips, to prevent I believe is best for the country I love at least one day trip per term with a cost becoming an issue for our families. but there can be no doubt about the result. Of course I do not take back new approach linking these trips to All of these initiatives and inputs have what is said about the risks; it is going vocabulary development, which is combined to improve pupils outcomes to be difficult…’ He also promised having a very positive impact on pupil with an increase from 22% to 52% that an upsurge in hate crime against reading and writing. As pupils lacked in good level of development at end migrants would be stamped out. experience of a variety of settings (the of Reception, a 20% increase in seaside, forests, farms for example), pupils attaining Level 3 at Year 2, and One of his key announcements was it was seen as crucial to give those combined Level 4 at Year 6 moving that he would not trigger the formal experiences to all children at Stanley from 59% to 71% in two years. Pupil EU exit process – Article 50 of the Grove and to link them directly to progress across the whole school has also David Cameron’s Lisbon Treaty – and the timing of that vocabulary development and quality improved rapidly in all subjects and pupil resignation speech decision and the nature of the future outside 10 Downing Big Book Bash parade attendance is improving year on year. Eleven months after delivering the first relationship Britain would seek with the Street outright Conservative General Election EU were matters for his successor. He Stanley Grove is part of a collaborative victory since 1992, David Cameron said he would take that message to the and innovative Trust and at the centre came to the Commons Dispatch Box as emergency European Council meeting of a supportive community with whom a lame duck Prime Minister, a caretaker that had been convened for the next the school has built a relationship who would remain in office only until day, to respond to the Brexit vote. of trust. The investment in reading, his successor could be named. The the strong partnerships and ongoing Referendum vote to leave the EU had ‘Tomorrow will also provide an teacher development have led to ended his career with brutal finality. opportunity to make the point rapid improvements in educational that although Britain is leaving the experiences and outcomes for all He was cheered by his MPs as he European Union we must not turn pupils. The school, the community arrived in a packed Commons Chamber our back on Europe or the rest of the and Bright Futures Educational Trust and he seemed remarkably good world,’ he added. believe that Stanley Grove is providing humoured. Moments before he rose, an outstanding education for all pupils. the newest MP, Rosena Allin-Khan, For Labour, Jeremy Corbyn – accused Long may it continue. who had been elected to replace of fighting a lacklustre referendum Labour’s Sadiq Khan, the new Mayor campaign – said his party had put

50 | STANLEY GROVE PRIMARY ACADEMY Review of Parliament

Graceful in defeat – David Cameron responds to the verdict of the EU Referendum

of London, had been introduced. With mass resignations from Labour’s Shadow Cabinet as the leadership crisis in the Opposition unfolded, he advised her to keep her phone on because she might be promoted by the end of the day.

Then he gave his response to the Referendum decision. ‘It was not the result that I wanted, or the outcome I believe is best for the country I love but there can be no doubt about the result. Of course I do not take back what is said about the risks; it is going to be difficult…’ He also promised that an upsurge in hate crime against migrants would be stamped out.

One of his key announcements was that he would not trigger the formal EU exit process – Article 50 of the David Cameron’s Lisbon Treaty – and the timing of that resignation speech decision and the nature of the future outside 10 Downing Eleven months after delivering the first relationship Britain would seek with the Street outright Conservative General Election EU were matters for his successor. He victory since 1992, David Cameron said he would take that message to the came to the Commons Dispatch Box as emergency European Council meeting a lame duck Prime Minister, a caretaker that had been convened for the next who would remain in office only until day, to respond to the Brexit vote. his successor could be named. The Referendum vote to leave the EU had ‘Tomorrow will also provide an ended his career with brutal finality. opportunity to make the point that although Britain is leaving the He was cheered by his MPs as he European Union we must not turn arrived in a packed Commons Chamber our back on Europe or the rest of the and he seemed remarkably good world,’ he added. humoured. Moments before he rose, the newest MP, Rosena Allin-Khan, For Labour, Jeremy Corbyn – accused who had been elected to replace of fighting a lacklustre referendum Labour’s Sadiq Khan, the new Mayor campaign – said his party had put

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 51 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Parliament

forward a positive case for Remain She was challenged by the SNP’s nuclear proliferation. Theresa May did and had convinced two thirds of its George Kerevan who asked if she, not accept that at all – and she took supporters. He said people in many personally, would order a nuclear strike a direct swipe at Dr Lucas. ‘Sadly, she communities felt disenfranchised and which would kill 100,000 innocent and some Labour Members seem to powerless because they had been failed, men, women and children. Her be the first to defend the country’s not by the EU, but by Tory governments. response was a blunt, unadorned ‘Yes’. enemies and the last to accept these A nuclear deterrent was pointless if a capabilities when we need them.’ He complained that the campaign had government was not willing to use it, been marked by untruths and half- she added. The Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, truths and added, in a pointed rebuke, questioned the ‘ever-ballooning ‘ that ‘the country will thank neither the She had open support from cost of Trident renewal – but for him Government benches in front of me Labour backbenchers including the central issue was this ‘Do these The UK’s Trident nor the Opposition benches behind Missile nuclear John Woodcock, MP for the weapons of mass destruction – for that for indulging in internal factional deterrent was one submarine-building seat of Barrow is what they are – act as a deterrent of the first issues manoeuvring…’ – an observation and Furness… ‘Whatever she is about to the threats we face and is that Theresa May faced that provoked a blast of scorn from as the UK’s new to hear from our Front Benchers, deterrent credible?’ Tory and SNP MPs, and silence from Prime Minister it remains steadfastly Labour Party With the upheaval Unlike the Prime Minister he was not the Labour benches. caused by the UK’s policy to renew the deterrent while new Government. Surely, he said, there European referendum, other countries have the capacity to prepared to press the nuclear button. With Scotland having voted to remain should now be a General Election? many questions are still threaten the United Kingdom and ‘I would not take a decision that killed to be answered in the European Union, the SNP’s many of my colleagues will do the millions of innocent people. I do not A series of Conservative Leave Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson, right thing for the long-term security believe that the threat of mass murder campaigners, the veteran Sir Bill Cash, said the Scottish Government would of our nation and vote to complete the is a legitimate way to go about dealing seek to protect Scotland’s place. the former Cabinet Minister, Owen programme that we ourselves started with international relations.’ ‘We are a European nation and it Paterson, and others praised the Prime in Government.’ really matters to us that we live in Minister for holding the referendum, Mr Corbyn faced repeated challenges an outward-looking country, not a a line also taken by UKIP’s sole MP, The Prime Minister answered with from his own MPs. Angela Smith noted diminished little Britain.’ Douglas Carswell, who was heavily an approving quote from Labour’s he was ‘Fond of telling us all that the heckled as he warned that the task of manifesto, which said Britain must Party Conference is sovereign when The Liberal Democrat Leader, implementing Brexit could not be left remain ‘committed to a minimum, it comes to Party policy. Last year the Tim Farron, said he still passionately to ‘Europhile mandarins’ and called for credible, independent nuclear Party Conference voted overwhelmingly believed British interests were best prominent Leave campaigners to be capability, delivered through a in favour of maintaining the nuclear served by being at the heart of Europe. involved – a comment which provoked Continuous At-Sea Deterrent’. deterrent, so why are we not hearing a A few moments later his predecessor, a backbench shout of ‘Yeah Farage.’ defence of the Government’s motion?’ the former Deputy Prime Minister, The Green MP, Dr Caroline Lucas, The Government Mr Corbyn retorted that Labour’s policy Nick Clegg, said it could not be right This was the first of what will doubtless voted in favour said the UK’s nuclear weapons drove was under review, provoking more that the Conservative Party members be scores of Commons statements on of the renewal of Trident shouts from Labour MPs. who would elect Mr Cameron’s the Brexit process – they will become a replacement would, in effect, choose a fixture in Parliament for years to come. The bombardment continued. The former Defence Minister, Kevan Jones, compared Labour’s defence review to the mythical unicorn; people believed it existed but no-one had ever seen it. Trident Submarine Renewal Former Shadow Armed Forces Minister, Toby Perkins, said the case for not The first Commons outing for a new She was moving a motion to confirm replacing Trident had fallen apart. Prime Minister is normally a great plans for a multi-billion pound Former Shadow Defence Secretary, occasion in its own right, but Theresa programme to replace the submarines Vernon Coaker, said Britain could not May’s debut, following the withdrawal which carry the UK’s Trident Missile abandon its responsibilities as a senior of her final opponent in the Conservative nuclear deterrent – a move which member of NATO. leadership race the week before, was underlined her personal commitment overshadowed by a spectacular outbreak to Trident renewal which, she said, The SNP’s Westminster Leader, of Labour infighting. was essential to national security. Angus Robertson, said the people

52 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

She was challenged by the SNP’s nuclear proliferation. Theresa May did George Kerevan who asked if she, not accept that at all – and she took personally, would order a nuclear strike a direct swipe at Dr Lucas. ‘Sadly, she which would kill 100,000 innocent and some Labour Members seem to men, women and children. Her be the first to defend the country’s response was a blunt, unadorned ‘Yes’. enemies and the last to accept these A nuclear deterrent was pointless if a capabilities when we need them.’ government was not willing to use it, she added. The Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, questioned the ‘ever-ballooning ‘ She had open support from cost of Trident renewal – but for him Labour backbenchers including the central issue was this ‘Do these The UK’s Trident Missile nuclear John Woodcock, MP for the weapons of mass destruction – for that deterrent was one submarine-building seat of Barrow is what they are – act as a deterrent of the first issues and Furness… ‘Whatever she is about to the threats we face and is that Theresa May faced as the UK’s new to hear from our Front Benchers, deterrent credible?’ Prime Minister it remains steadfastly Labour Party policy to renew the deterrent while Unlike the Prime Minister he was not other countries have the capacity to prepared to press the nuclear button. threaten the United Kingdom and ‘I would not take a decision that killed many of my colleagues will do the millions of innocent people. I do not right thing for the long-term security believe that the threat of mass murder of our nation and vote to complete the is a legitimate way to go about dealing programme that we ourselves started with international relations.’ in Government.’ Mr Corbyn faced repeated challenges The Prime Minister answered with from his own MPs. Angela Smith noted an approving quote from Labour’s he was ‘Fond of telling us all that the manifesto, which said Britain must Party Conference is sovereign when remain ‘committed to a minimum, it comes to Party policy. Last year the credible, independent nuclear Party Conference voted overwhelmingly capability, delivered through a in favour of maintaining the nuclear Continuous At-Sea Deterrent’. deterrent, so why are we not hearing a defence of the Government’s motion?’ The Green MP, Dr Caroline Lucas, The Government Mr Corbyn retorted that Labour’s policy voted in favour said the UK’s nuclear weapons drove was under review, provoking more of the renewal of Trident shouts from Labour MPs.

The bombardment continued. The former Defence Minister, Kevan Jones, compared Labour’s defence review to the mythical unicorn; people believed it existed but no-one had ever seen it. Former Shadow Armed Forces Minister, Toby Perkins, said the case for not replacing Trident had fallen apart. Former Shadow Defence Secretary, Vernon Coaker, said Britain could not abandon its responsibilities as a senior member of NATO.

The SNP’s Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson, said the people

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 53 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Parliament

ideal partners but if action was not taken now, those forces would soon be reduced.

Another issue was the position of Labour MPs. In 2013, the Opposition Leader at the time, Ed Miliband, had not been prepared to back the Government. By 2015, a combination of horror at the brutality of ISIL and at the Paris attacks meant there were many who supported the use of armed force and would defy any attempt to make them vote against it. Crucially, Hilary Benn took the opposite view to Labour their number included the Shadow leader Jeremy Corbyn airstrikes against ISIL in neighbouring Foreign Secretary, Hilary Benn. over intervention in Syria Iraq – but many Labour MPs were fuming about remarks he had made Jeremy Corbyn was opposed to the previous evening to a meeting of extending the bombing but, under Conservative MPs, when he suggested huge pressure, had allowed his MPs HMS Vanguard people who voted against airstrikes a free vote. ‘It is impossible to avoid returning to Faslane, the conclusion that the Prime Minister were ‘terrorist sympathisers’. He faced of Scotland had repeatedly shown It will be for the Scottish people to Scotland understands that public opinion is repeated challenges to withdraw and their opposition to Trident renewal determine whether we are properly moving increasingly against what I apologise – but stuck to a formula that – and he added ‘The Government protected in Europe and better believe to be an ill thought out rush to unity was needed and that it was time have a democratic deficit in Scotland represented by a government that we war. He wants to hold this vote before to move on. and, with today’s vote on Trident, actually elect. At this rate, that day is opinion against it grows even further.’ it is going to get worse, not better. fast approaching.’ One focus for questions was the Another key force in the debate was Prime Minister’s claim that there are the Commons Foreign Affairs Select 70,000 moderate Syrian opposition Committee which had earlier published fighters who could act as a ground a report raising a series of questions force against ISIL while the UK gave about any intervention which the The vote to bomb ISIL in Syria air support. Under questioning Prime Minister was careful to answer from the SNP’s Westminster Leader, in detail. Its Chair, the Conservative The Commons surprise vote in August people since 7/7 on the beaches of Angus Robertson, he said he was not Crispin Blunt MP, said Britain’s military 2013 rejecting armed intervention in Tunisia and they have plotted atrocities arguing that all of those 70,000 were effort in Iraq had helped stabilise Tim Farron, Liberal the civil war in Syria was undoubtedly on the streets here at home. Since the country in the face of a rapidly Democrat Leader David Cameron’s worst-ever November last year our security services advancing threat from ISIL and he now parliamentary defeat. That moment have foiled no fewer than seven supported extending that effort to reverberated when, two years later different plots against our people, so across the border into Syria. in the wake of the Paris attacks, he this threat is very real. The question returned to the Commons with a is this: do we work with our allies The ensuing debate produced a motion to allow British forces to strike to degrade and destroy this threat series of passionate speeches – the at ISIL, or Daesh, in Syria. and do we go after these terrorists Liberal Democrat Leader, Tim Farron, in their heartlands from where they gave an emotional description of his He warned MPs that ISIL was plotting are plotting to kill British people, experiences visiting refugees who had Paris-style attacks against Britain and or do we sit back and wait for them to made the risky journey to Greece. had already targeted this county. attack us?” ‘A seven-year-old lad was lifted from ‘We face a fundamental threat to our a dinghy on the beach at Lesbos. My security. ISIL has brutally murdered He was attempting to rally all-party Arabic interpreter said to me, ‘That lad British hostages. They have inspired support for the use of British forces has just said to his Dad, “Daddy are ISIL the worst terrorist attack against British in Syria – they were already launching here? Daddy are ISIL here?”’

54 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

ideal partners but if action was not taken now, those forces would soon be reduced.

The ensuing debate produced a series of passionate speeches – the Liberal Democrat Leader, Tim Farron, gave an emotional description of his experiences visiting refugees who had made the risky journey to Greece. ‘A seven-year-old lad was lifted from a dinghy on the beach at Lesbos. My Arabic interpreter said to me, ‘That lad has just said to his Dad, “Daddy are ISIL here? Daddy are ISIL here?”’

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 55 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Parliament

Winding up the debate for Labour was in prostitution and vice. If it had and have far more in common with Hilary Benn who took the opposite happened here they could have been each other than things that divide us’. view to Jeremy Corbyn. ‘The carnage our children. in Paris brought home to us the clear David Cameron said the House could and present danger that we face from ‘We are faced by fascists – not just best honour her memory ‘by proving Daesh. It could just as easily have their calculated brutality but their belief that the democracy and freedoms that been London, Glasgow, Leeds or that they are superior to every single Jo stood for are indeed unbreakable, Birmingham and it could still be.’ He one of us in this Chamber tonight and by continuing to stand up for our said the UK could not leave its defence all the people we represent. They hold constituents and by uniting against to others and asked what message us in contempt. They hold our values the hatred that killed her, today and inaction would send to Britain’s allies – in contempt. They hold our belief in forever more’. tolerance and decency in contempt. France, in particular. Tributes were paid from all sides, in a They hold our democracy – the means short sitting, which was followed by He listed some of their atrocities: the by which we will make our decision a memorial service at St Margaret’s, gay men thrown off the fifth storey tonight – in contempt… My view is the parish church of Parliament. The of a building in Syria, the mass graves that we must now confront this evil. Labour MP, Rachel Reeves urged in Sinjar said to contain the bodies It is now time for us to do our bit in colleagues ‘to carry on Jo’s work and of older Yazidi women murdered Syria. That is why I ask my colleagues guard against hatred, intolerance by Daesh because they were judged to vote for the motion tonight.’ too old to be sold for sex, the killing and injustice and to serve others with of 30 British tourists in Tunisia, While Jeremy Corbyn folded his arms dignity and love…. Batley and Spen will go on to elect a new MP, but no-one 224 Russian holidaymakers on a and looked away, Mr Benn sat down Jo Cox’s maiden plane, 178 people in suicide bombings to rapturous cheers and even applause speech to Parliament: can replace a mother’. in Beirut, Ankara and Suruç and of from both sides of the House. A few ‘We are far more of Yorkshire. In the gallery, Mrs Cox’s united than the Jo Cox had been a leading figure 130 people in Paris ‘including those minutes later the Government motion husband Brendan sat with their two things that divide us’ in several all-party groups – the young people in the Bataclan, whom was carried with 66 supporters from young children and members of Conservative former International Daesh, in trying to justify its bloody the Labour benches outweighing the their family. Development Secretary, Andrew slaughter, called apostates engaged seven Conservative opponents. MPs wore white roses and several Mitchell, served with her, as co-chair of women Labour members were dressed the Friends of Syria, making common in the suffragette colours of purple cause, as he put it, ‘with a crusty and green. Some MPs wept quietly old Tory’. MPs pay tribute to their murdered as the Speaker, John Bercow, opened The Labour MP, Stephen Kinnock, proceedings ‘We meet today in heart- had shared an office with Jo Cox. colleague, Jo Cox breaking sadness but also in heartfelt He spoke first of the unspeakable solidarity… all of us who came to On Thursday 20 June, a week before personal suffering her murder had Tributes to Jo Cox MP know Jo during her all too short service the EU Referendum, campaigning was brought on her family. He said Jo in this House [she had been elected Cox would have been outraged by in full swing – the usual cycle of attack, in 2015] became swiftly aware of her a poster unveiled on the morning of rebuttal and counter attack was being outstanding qualities, she was caring, her death by the UKIP leader, Nigel played out. Suddenly the political world eloquent, principled and wise. shuddered to a halt as news emerged Farage, showing a queue of migrants ‘A poster on the streets of Britain that of the brutal murder of the Labour MP, ‘Jo was murdered in the course of her demonised hundreds of desperate Jo Cox, outside a constituency surgery duties, serving constituents in need… refugees… She would have responded in her Yorkshire seat. An attack such as this strikes not only at an individual but at our freedom.’ with outrage and with a robust The House of Commons had been in rejection of the calculated narrative recess for the Referendum, and was The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, of cynicism, division and despair – recalled to pay tribute the following agreed the murder was an attack on because Jo understood that rhetoric Monday. The chamber was packed but democracy and he quoted from Jo has its consequences. When insecurity, the seat normally occupied by Jo Cox Cox’s maiden speech when she told fear and anger are used to light a was left empty, except for two roses – the Commons ‘We are far more united fuse, an explosion is inevitable’. Labour’s red rose and the white rose

56 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us’.

David Cameron said the House could best honour her memory ‘by proving that the democracy and freedoms that Jo stood for are indeed unbreakable, by continuing to stand up for our constituents and by uniting against the hatred that killed her, today and forever more’.

Tributes were paid from all sides, in a short sitting, which was followed by a memorial service at St Margaret’s, the parish church of Parliament. The Labour MP, Rachel Reeves urged colleagues ‘to carry on Jo’s work and guard against hatred, intolerance and injustice and to serve others with dignity and love…. Batley and Spen will go on to elect a new MP, but no-one Jo Cox’s maiden speech to Parliament: can replace a mother’. ‘We are far more of Yorkshire. In the gallery, Mrs Cox’s Jo Cox had been a leading figure united than the husband Brendan sat with their two things that divide us’ in several all-party groups – the young children and members of Conservative former International their family. Development Secretary, Andrew MPs wore white roses and several Mitchell, served with her, as co-chair of women Labour members were dressed the Friends of Syria, making common in the suffragette colours of purple cause, as he put it, ‘with a crusty and green. Some MPs wept quietly old Tory’. as the Speaker, John Bercow, opened The Labour MP, Stephen Kinnock, proceedings ‘We meet today in heart- had shared an office with Jo Cox. breaking sadness but also in heartfelt He spoke first of the unspeakable solidarity… all of us who came to personal suffering her murder had know Jo during her all too short service brought on her family. He said Jo in this House [she had been elected Cox would have been outraged by in 2015] became swiftly aware of her a poster unveiled on the morning of outstanding qualities, she was caring, her death by the UKIP leader, Nigel eloquent, principled and wise. Farage, showing a queue of migrants ‘Jo was murdered in the course of her ‘A poster on the streets of Britain that duties, serving constituents in need… demonised hundreds of desperate An attack such as this strikes not only refugees… She would have responded at an individual but at our freedom.’ with outrage and with a robust rejection of the calculated narrative The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, of cynicism, division and despair – agreed the murder was an attack on because Jo understood that rhetoric democracy and he quoted from Jo has its consequences. When insecurity, Cox’s maiden speech when she told fear and anger are used to light a the Commons ‘We are far more united fuse, an explosion is inevitable’.

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 57 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Parliament

we also have a duty to consider those affected by the decisions we make and The Lords reject the Government’s the votes we cast.’ She went on to say that it was wrong Tax Credit changes to enact such a major change via ‘a statutory instrument, a tool designed The Government lost more than to throw the Chancellor’s financial for minor changes to processes 50 votes in the House of Lords in the strategy into chaos, because it removed and administration, being used to first year of the 2015 Parliament – but £4.4bn of savings. implement a substantial change by far the most significant, both in in policy that will affect millions of George Osborne immediately warned terms of the money involved and of people’s livelihoods. That is not my that the vote raised constitutional the constitutional aftershocks, was decision but I hope that we will do issues and shortly afterwards the the Peers’ rejection of controversial everything we can to stop it’. plans to cut tax credits – the benefits Government commissioned Lord used to top-up the incomes of low- Strathclyde, a former Leader of the Baroness Stowell The second amendment was from paid workers. House of Lords, to review the powers argued that tax credits the crossbencher, Lady Meacher, who ‘will remain an important welfare budget. The regulations that of the Upper House. wanted to delay the changes. ‘The part of the welfare we debate today deliver no less than Peers are not supposed to meddle in system’ lowest income families, stand to lose The debate began with the Leader of £4.4bn of those savings next year financial matters but this measure was more than £20 a week. For one of us the House, Lady Stowell, defending alone,’ she explained. not part of a finance bill. Instead it was this can mean a meal in a restaurant. put forward in an order, or statutory the plans. She said spending on tax That argument was challenged by Lord For a poor working family it can mean instrument, issued under existing credits had risen from £4bn to £30bn Campbell-Savours, a Labour peer and a pair of shoes for a child who comes legislation, which meant it was both and the bill was no longer sustainable, former MP. ‘When the Prime Minister home from school crying because their un-amendable and subject to a one- warning that interference in a key said at the last general election that toes are hurting in shoes that are too off vote. budget measure would overstep the an incoming Conservative government small, or money to feed the meter to conventions which prevent the Lords would not cut tax credits – child tax keep the family warm.’ Faced with claims that the order would from overriding the tax and spending cost the poorest families thousands credits – was he telling the truth or decisions of the elected Commons. The Labour former Work and Pensions of pounds a year, the Lords passed a was he deliberately misleading the Minister, Lady Hollis, proposed the third Labour motion calling on ministers to ‘In our manifesto, my Party made it British people?’ Lady Stowell retorted amendment which would postpone the postpone the cuts and provide extra clear that reducing the deficit would that the Conservatives had been very cuts for three years while transitional support for those affected, for a three- involve difficult decisions, including clear in their manifesto that they would protection was brought in. She dismissed year transitional period. The result was finding savings of £12bn from the aim to make welfare savings of £12bn talk of constitutional crisis. ‘We can and that working-age benefits would The interior of the be supportive of the Government be targeted. House of Lords and give them what they did not ask There were four amendments in for – financial privilege – or we can be front of Peers: the Liberal Democrat supportive instead of those three million Lady Manzoor had put down a families facing letters at Christmas telling ‘fatal motion’ which would stop them that on average they will lose up the changes; the second and third to around £1,300 a year.’ introduced delays. The fourth – from The Conservative former Chancellor, the Bishop of Portsmouth – simply Lord Lawson, supported the changes expressed regret at the policy. All but and insisted peers had no right to reject the last, Lady Stowell warned, would them but he wanted reform of the challenge the primacy of the Commons Lord Lawson, former whole tax credits system because too on financial matters. Chancellor of the much money went to well-off families. Exchequer Lady Manzoor said 4.9 million children ‘It is perfectly possible to tweak it to would be affected by the cuts to tax take more from the upper end of the credits. ‘We have a duty in this House tax credit scale and less from the lower to consider our constitutional role but end,’ he said.

58 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

we also have a duty to consider those affected by the decisions we make and the votes we cast.’

She went on to say that it was wrong to enact such a major change via ‘a statutory instrument, a tool designed for minor changes to processes and administration, being used to implement a substantial change in policy that will affect millions of people’s livelihoods. That is not my decision but I hope that we will do everything we can to stop it’.

Baroness Stowell The second amendment was from argued that tax credits the crossbencher, Lady Meacher, who ‘will remain an important welfare budget. The regulations that wanted to delay the changes. ‘The part of the welfare we debate today deliver no less than system’ lowest income families, stand to lose £4.4bn of those savings next year more than £20 a week. For one of us alone,’ she explained. this can mean a meal in a restaurant. That argument was challenged by Lord For a poor working family it can mean Campbell-Savours, a Labour peer and a pair of shoes for a child who comes former MP. ‘When the Prime Minister home from school crying because their said at the last general election that toes are hurting in shoes that are too an incoming Conservative government small, or money to feed the meter to would not cut tax credits – child tax keep the family warm.’ credits – was he telling the truth or The Labour former Work and Pensions was he deliberately misleading the Minister, Lady Hollis, proposed the third British people?’ Lady Stowell retorted amendment which would postpone the that the Conservatives had been very cuts for three years while transitional clear in their manifesto that they would protection was brought in. She dismissed aim to make welfare savings of £12bn talk of constitutional crisis. ‘We can and that working-age benefits would be supportive of the Government be targeted. and give them what they did not ask There were four amendments in for – financial privilege – or we can be front of Peers: the Liberal Democrat supportive instead of those three million Lady Manzoor had put down a families facing letters at Christmas telling ‘fatal motion’ which would stop them that on average they will lose up the changes; the second and third to around £1,300 a year.’ introduced delays. The fourth – from The Conservative former Chancellor, the Bishop of Portsmouth – simply Lord Lawson, supported the changes expressed regret at the policy. All but and insisted peers had no right to reject the last, Lady Stowell warned, would them but he wanted reform of the challenge the primacy of the Commons Lord Lawson, former whole tax credits system because too on financial matters. Chancellor of the much money went to well-off families. Exchequer Lady Manzoor said 4.9 million children ‘It is perfectly possible to tweak it to would be affected by the cuts to tax take more from the upper end of the credits. ‘We have a duty in this House tax credit scale and less from the lower to consider our constitutional role but end,’ he said.

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 59 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Parliament

Strike and his final words, about the families of the 96, produced applause An unexpected Leader of the Opposition from MPs. ‘They have kept their dignity in the face of terrible adversity. When the Speaker called on Jeremy They could not have shown a more Corbyn, as Leader of the Opposition, at profound love for those they lost on Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQ), that day. They truly represent the best it was the first time in 30 years in the of what our country is all about. Now Commons that the veteran left-winger it must reflect on how it came to let had spoken at the Dispatch Box. them down for so long.’ Unlike the three rival candidates he had The Conservative, Bob Neill, who defeated so conclusively in Labour’s chaired the Commons Justice Select leadership election, he had never been Committee asked the Home Secretary a minister or shadow minister still less Jeremy Corbyn, to look at creating a mechanism to sat in Cabinet or Shadow Cabinet. Labour Leader of the ensure ‘proper equality of arms,’ extortionate rents charged by some Opposition, reads between the families of disaster victims He was facing a Conservative Leader private sector landlords’. questions from the public at PMQ and the authorities in dealing with who had been one of the main players inquests and legal proceedings. in PMQs for a decade and who had David Cameron observed parliamentary protocol and congratulated Mr Corbyn coached previous Tory Leaders on The former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, on his resounding leadership election how to handle it for years before Steve Rotherham, – one of several that. Things were about to change, victory and he welcomed the idea MPs at Hillsborough that day – said Labour’s new leader wanted a different of a new style at PMQs. He agreed Theresa May, speaking the Liverpool fans had always known more affordable housing was as Home Secretary kind of PMQs, led by the concerns of in the public interest.’ As some MPs they were not to blame. ‘It took the public – and he received 40,000 needed but added that the record wiped away tears, she added ‘No-one political intervention to force the replies when he asked people to of the Governments he had led was should have to suffer the loss of their judicial process of this country to take email him with their questions for better than that of the previous loved ones through such appalling 27 years to recognise what we knew David Cameron. Labour Government. circumstances and no-one should have from day one – that Hillsborough to fight year after year, decade after was not an accident… that drunken Mr Corbyn followed up with questions ‘I have taken part in many events decade, in search of the truth’. and ticketless fans did not turn up around the country and had from Steven, on social rents and from late, hell-bent on getting in and conversations with many people about Paul and Claire, on cuts to tax credits– Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, that it was not caused by a drunken what they thought of this place, a subject raised in a thousand of his Andy Burnham, said the inquest “tanked-up mob”.’ our Parliament, our democracy and emails – that he warned would cost jury had delivered a ‘simple, clear, The Liberal Democrat, Greg our conduct within this place,’ he families up to £1,300 per year and powerful and emphatic’ verdict. ‘But Mulholland, said the families of explained. ‘Many told me that they was ‘absolutely shameful,’ he said. it begged the question: how could something so obvious have taken so victims had been treated appallingly in thought Prime Minister’s QuestionTime The strategy was to continue; by his the aftermath of the disaster. ‘We saw hundredth question, in March 2016, long? There are three reasons: first, was too theatrical… and that they police officers sitting eating chicken he had asked about health issues in 25 a police force that has consistently wanted things done differently but and chips in the gymnasium as the of them, welfare in 24, housing in 16 put protecting itself over and above all they wanted their voice to be bodies were lying there, while families and education in five; it was a far less above protecting people harmed heard in Parliament.’ were told that they could not hug Westminster-centric approach. by Hillsborough; secondly, collusion their loved ones in body bags because The result was something quite between that force and a complicit they were the property of the coroner. different, dominated by bread-and- Those first exchanges were courteous print media; and thirdly, a flawed Worst of all, the initial coroner forced and careful as the two circled one judicial system that gives the upper butter issues but with little of the alcohol testing on all these victims – another. It was left to the leaders hand to those in authority, over and familiar professional political fencing including children such as 10-year-old of two of the smaller parties in the above ordinary people.’ – at least at first. The opening question Jon-Paul Gilhooley – of this unlawful Commons to insert a couple of was from a woman called Marie who He said a similar inquiry was now disaster. That was a disgrace, and barbs. The first came from the SNP’s wanted to know what the Government needed to clear up what had happened we want to know that it will never Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson, intend to do about the ‘chronic at Orgreave during the 1980s Miners’ happen to a single victim again.’ lack of affordable housing and the who said he was looking forward to working with the new Labour Leader to oppose Tory austerity and fight 60 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

Strike and his final words, about the families of the 96, produced applause from MPs. ‘They have kept their dignity in the face of terrible adversity. They could not have shown a more profound love for those they lost on that day. They truly represent the best of what our country is all about. Now it must reflect on how it came to let them down for so long.’

The Conservative, Bob Neill, who chaired the Commons Justice Select Committee asked the Home Secretary to look at creating a mechanism to ensure ‘proper equality of arms,’ between the families of disaster victims and the authorities in dealing with inquests and legal proceedings.

The former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rotherham, – one of several MPs at Hillsborough that day – said Theresa May, speaking the Liverpool fans had always known as Home Secretary in the public interest.’ As some MPs they were not to blame. ‘It took wiped away tears, she added ‘No-one political intervention to force the should have to suffer the loss of their judicial process of this country to take loved ones through such appalling 27 years to recognise what we knew circumstances and no-one should have from day one – that Hillsborough to fight year after year, decade after was not an accident… that drunken decade, in search of the truth’. and ticketless fans did not turn up late, hell-bent on getting in and Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, that it was not caused by a drunken Andy Burnham, said the inquest “tanked-up mob”.’ jury had delivered a ‘simple, clear, powerful and emphatic’ verdict. ‘But The Liberal Democrat, Greg it begged the question: how could Mulholland, said the families of something so obvious have taken so victims had been treated appallingly in long? There are three reasons: first, the aftermath of the disaster. ‘We saw a police force that has consistently police officers sitting eating chicken put protecting itself over and and chips in the gymnasium as the above protecting people harmed bodies were lying there, while families by Hillsborough; secondly, collusion were told that they could not hug between that force and a complicit their loved ones in body bags because print media; and thirdly, a flawed they were the property of the coroner. judicial system that gives the upper Worst of all, the initial coroner forced hand to those in authority, over and alcohol testing on all these victims – above ordinary people.’ including children such as 10-year-old Jon-Paul Gilhooley – of this unlawful He said a similar inquiry was now disaster. That was a disgrace, and needed to clear up what had happened we want to know that it will never at Orgreave during the 1980s Miners’ happen to a single victim again.’

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 61 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Parliament

who said he was looking forward to Will the Prime Minister join all of working with the new Labour Leader us, from all parts of this House, in An unexpected Leader of the Opposition to oppose Tory austerity and fight denouncing that sentiment and standing against renewal of the Trident nuclear with us on behalf of the innocent victims When the Speaker called on Jeremy missile submarines – a highly divisive and for the bravery of our armed forces Corbyn, as Leader of the Opposition, at issue among Labour MPs, most of who stood against the terrorists? Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQ), whom do not share their leader’s That produced loud “Hear, hears’ it was the first time in 30 years in the unilateralist views. and the Prime Minister replied that Commons that the veteran left-winger Then, the Leader of the DUP at Mr Dodds had spoken for the vast had spoken at the Dispatch Box. Westminster, Nigel Dodds, raised majority of people in Britain. ‘My view Unlike the three rival candidates he had Mr Corbyn’s key appointment to is simple, the terrorism we faced was defeated so conclusively in Labour’s Nigel Dodds, Deputy Labour’s front bench team, his veteran wrong… The death and the killing leadership election, he had never been Leader of the left-wing ally, John McDonnell, as was wrong. It was never justified and a minister or shadow minister still less Democratic Unionist Shadow Chancellor. Mr Dodds pointed people who seek to justify it should be sat in Cabinet or Shadow Cabinet. Party (DUP) to the plaques by the entrance to ashamed of themselves.’ the Chamber in memory of Airey He was facing a Conservative Leader Neave, Robert Bradford, Ian Gow and That flash of steel was a harbinger who had been one of the main players Sir Anthony Berry – MPs murdered by of the Prime Minister’s increasingly in PMQs for a decade and who had Jeremy Corbyn took a different approach terrorists. He added ‘The Opposition dismissive treatment of the Labour coached previous Tory Leaders on David Cameron observed parliamentary at his first PMQs, Leader has appointed a Shadow Leader in later PMQs – culminating in how to handle it for years before that. tackling former PM protocol and congratulated Mr Corbyn Chancellor who believes that terrorists his advice to Mr Corbyn to ‘put on a Things were about to change, Labour’s David Cameron with on his resounding leadership election should be honoured for their bravery. decent suit’. new leader wanted a different kind of crowdsourced questions victory and he welcomed the idea PMQs, led by the concerns of the public of a new style at PMQs. He agreed – and he received 40,000 replies when more affordable housing was he asked people to email him with their needed but added that the record questions for David Cameron. of the Governments he had led was Responding to the Chilcot Report ‘I have taken part in many events better than that of the previous around the country and had Labour Government. on the Iraq War conversations with many people about Mr Corbyn followed up with what they thought of this place, questions from Steven, on social It had been a long time coming, and women and 23 British civilians who our Parliament, our democracy and rents and from Paul and Claire, on the Parliamentarians in both Lords died in the conflict. ‘In their grief our conduct within this place,’ he cuts to tax credits– a subject raised and Commons had complained about and anger, I hope they can draw at explained. ‘Many told me that they in a thousand of his emails – that the time taken by Sir John Chilcot to least some solace from the depth and thought Prime Minister’s QuestionTime he warned would cost families produce his report on the decision rigour of this report and, above all, was too theatrical… and that they up to £1,300 per year and was to go to war in Iraq. When it did some comfort from knowing that we wanted things done differently but ‘absolutely shameful,’ he said. The arrive, seven years after he started will never forget the incredible service above all they wanted their voice to be strategy was to continue; by his work, his two million word verdict and sacrifice of their sons, daughters, heard in Parliament.’ hundredth question, in March 2016, provoked cross-party soul-searching husbands and wives.’ he had asked about health issues in and recrimination. The result was something quite He turned to the keystone of the 25 of them, welfare in 24, housing in different, dominated by bread- Sir John concluded that the UK went argument for war in 2003. ‘Central to 16 and education in five; it was a far and-butter issues but with little of to war before the peace process the Government’s case was the issue of less Westminster-centric approach. Tony Blair, Prime the familiar professional political Minister during the was exhausted, that the intelligence weapons of mass destruction. Sir John fencing – at least at first. The opening Those first exchanges were courteous invasion of Iraq on which the decision was based finds that there was an “ingrained question was from a woman called and careful as the two circled one was flawed and that the planning belief” genuinely held in both the UK Marie who wanted to know what the another. It was left to the leaders for the aftermath was inadequate. and US Governments that Saddam Government intend to do about the of two of the smaller parties in the The Prime Minister, David Cameron, Hussein possessed chemical and ‘chronic lack of affordable housing Commons to insert a couple of responded with a Commons statement biological capabilities.’ The evidence and the extortionate rents charged by barbs. The first came from the SNP’s – he began by addressing the families for that belief, he found, was not some private sector landlords’. Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson, of the 179 British servicemen and properly examined.

62 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT PRIMARY EDUCATION EDITION

who said he was looking forward to Will the Prime Minister join all of working with the new Labour Leader us, from all parts of this House, in to oppose Tory austerity and fight denouncing that sentiment and standing against renewal of the Trident nuclear with us on behalf of the innocent victims missile submarines – a highly divisive and for the bravery of our armed forces issue among Labour MPs, most of who stood against the terrorists? whom do not share their leader’s unilateralist views. That produced loud “Hear, hears’ and the Prime Minister replied that Then, the Leader of the DUP at Mr Dodds had spoken for the vast Westminster, Nigel Dodds, raised majority of people in Britain. ‘My view Mr Corbyn’s key appointment to is simple, the terrorism we faced was Nigel Dodds, Deputy Labour’s front bench team, his veteran wrong… The death and the killing Leader of the left-wing ally, John McDonnell, as was wrong. It was never justified and Democratic Unionist Shadow Chancellor. Mr Dodds pointed Party (DUP) people who seek to justify it should be to the plaques by the entrance to ashamed of themselves.’ the Chamber in memory of Airey Neave, Robert Bradford, Ian Gow and That flash of steel was a harbinger Sir Anthony Berry – MPs murdered by of the Prime Minister’s increasingly terrorists. He added ‘The Opposition dismissive treatment of the Labour Leader has appointed a Shadow Leader in later PMQs – culminating in Chancellor who believes that terrorists his advice to Mr Corbyn to ‘put on a should be honoured for their bravery. decent suit’.

Responding to the Chilcot Report on the Iraq War

It had been a long time coming, and women and 23 British civilians who the Parliamentarians in both Lords died in the conflict. ‘In their grief and Commons had complained about and anger, I hope they can draw at the time taken by Sir John Chilcot to least some solace from the depth and produce his report on the decision rigour of this report and, above all, to go to war in Iraq. When it did some comfort from knowing that we arrive, seven years after he started will never forget the incredible service work, his two million word verdict and sacrifice of their sons, daughters, provoked cross-party soul-searching husbands and wives.’ and recrimination. He turned to the keystone of the Sir John concluded that the UK went argument for war in 2003. ‘Central to to war before the peace process the Government’s case was the issue of Tony Blair, Prime Minister during the was exhausted, that the intelligence weapons of mass destruction. Sir John invasion of Iraq on which the decision was based finds that there was an “ingrained was flawed and that the planning belief” genuinely held in both the UK for the aftermath was inadequate. and US Governments that Saddam The Prime Minister, David Cameron, Hussein possessed chemical and responded with a Commons statement biological capabilities.’ The evidence – he began by addressing the families for that belief, he found, was not of the 179 British servicemen and properly examined.

REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT | 63 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Parliament

Mr Cameron voted for military action as In what many took to be a veiled a Conservative backbencher, in 2003. He reference to Tony Blair he added. said lessons needed to be learned – and ‘We now know that the House was the first was that ‘taking the country misled in the run-up to the war and the to war should always be a last resort House must now decide how to deal and should only be done if all credible with it 13 years later.’ alternatives have been exhausted’. He then added that the British people The Chilcot inquiry published more should not, in future, recoil from than 200 memos from Tony Blair to any military intervention. ‘There are President George Bush. The Leader unquestionably times when it is right to of the SNP at Westminster, Angus intervene, as this country did successfully Robertson, pointed to one which he in Sierra Leone and Kosovo… there have thought was particularly telling. ‘On been times in the recent past when we 28 July 2002, Tony Blair wrote to should have intervened but did not, such President Bush saying I will be with as in failing to prevent the genocides in you, whatever.’ Rwanda and Srebrenica.’ His point about the real reason for The Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, the invasion was picked up by the who voted against military action senior Conservative, David Davis. in 2003, was heckled by some of ‘The aim was regime change, not his MPs when he condemned the WMDs. That fact, and the fact invasion. ‘Frankly, it was an act of that, as Sir John Chilcot says, Blair’s military aggression launched on a commitment made it very difficult for false pretext, as the inquiry accepts, the UK to withdraw support for military and has long been regarded as illegal action, amount to a deception and a by the overwhelming weight of misleading of this House of Commons. international legal opinion. It led to It is not the only one. Sir John has been the deaths of hundreds of thousands very careful about avoiding accusing of people and the displacement of the former Prime Minister of lying to millions of refugees… By any measure, the House but a lot of the evidence the invasion and occupation of Iraq suggests that he did. What action can have been, for many, a catastrophe.’ this House take to deal with that?’ UK troops in action in Iraq

Westminster Publications is grateful to Mark D’Arcy and Sean Coughlan for their contributions to this publication.

COPYRIGHT © WESTMINSTER PUBLICATIONS 2016 All rights reserved by Westminster Publications. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from Westminster Publications. Westminster Publications warrants that reasonable skill and care has been used in preparing this publication. Notwithstanding this warranty Westminster Publications shall not be under liability for any loss of profit, business, revenues or any special indirect or consequential damage of any nature whatsoever or loss of anticipated saving or for any increased costs sustained by the client or his or her servants or agents arising in any way whether directly or indirectly as a result of reliance on this publication or of any error or defect in this publication. Westminster Publications shall not in any circumstances be under any liability whatsoever to any other person for any loss or damage arising in any way as a result of reliance on this publication.