A small school making a big difference in our community.
Being a parent of a five-year-old and school governor means my life has adjusted to the rhythms of the school year. An early drop-off, an evening meeting, and the community green day. A ditty book to read, the single central record reviewed, a graduation ceremony.
The last five weeks had me worrying about an Ofsted call that never came. We are ready but that doesn’t stop me feeling nervous and restless. Governors play a minor part in an inspection but I fear being the one who gets it wrong. Something missed or forgotten that we should have done. The summer break provides some respite and brings its own challenges.
“Who is looking after Rennah on Friday?”
The end of our year has moved from the short days of winter to the long days of summer. The time to reflect and take stock has shifted.
Destination Tottenham
It is hard for schools everywhere. Numbers are down, fuel and food costs are up. A fully deserved pay rise for teachers has to be paid for from already tight budgets.
We are a single-form entry school with falling pupil numbers. The lack of children is a common story nationally and an accelerating crisis in London.
While the number of children falls, thousands of new homes rise up around Tottenham Hale. These high-rise homes with expansive views are part of what the developers call the creation of ‘a new heart’ in our neighbourhood.
We used to worry about how the infrastructure will cope with all this development. Now we meet to discuss the closing of forms. Three forms become two. Two forms become one.
In the boroughs to the south — Camden, Hackney and Islington — schools are now closing. To the east, Waltham Forest bucks the trend, with families heading to the end of the Victoria line to find the homes and schools they seek. In Tottenham, we wait. Cautiously optimistic that the trend will change.
Remaining optimistic
At Ferry Lane, we continually strive for more. We are optimistic despite the challenges faced. We look to improve step by step, to deliver on vision, aims and objectives in a sustainable way.
Public sector inefficiency is not an option for any school. The renting of rooms, applying for grant funding, and negotiating school meal contracts are all part of what is required to balance the budget. The facilities manager keeps the school open late and on the weekends, our headteacher works on grant applications, and governors knock on the doors of local businesses to see how they can help.
Despite falling funding, we have continued to make improvements. A grant paid for a new sensory room in the nursery, that can be used by children across the school. Another pot of funding will pay for improvements to the library and new books for the school.
We are proud of how inclusive we are. In a small school, the staff know everyone and every child’s journey matters. Over the last 18 months, we have been able to fund a teacher who specifically works with children with special education needs. They are delivering the type of bespoke interventions that can make a real difference to a child’s experience in school.
Improvements to the exterior of the school have made it more welcoming to the children and families, as well as our wider community. The latest mural was funded by the Canal and Rivers Trust and shows the connection we have to the natural environment.
We have worked with Ferry Lane Action Group (FLAG — the resident’s association) to build strong relationships with the people who live on our estate. The co-hosted annual Community Green Day is the main event but there are so many opportunities to collaborate and learn together.
Our SATs results are also very good. 74% of children reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The national average was 59%.
Looking forward to next year
The next academic year will be tough. The Ofsted concerns will return and there will be more discussions about numbers and the future of schools in the borough.
Through these challenges, our optimism will remain. The staff and governors at the school are brilliant, determined and caring. Everyone involved in the school is passionate about delivering the best possible environment for children to love learning and to thrive.
To here more about other work I do, please take a look at my website www.tomspencer.net
