The future of education in Hackney – a word from councillor Rita Krishna

Looking forward: Cabinet Member for Children's Services, councillor Rita Krishna. Photograph:Hackney Council

As young people across Hackney prepared for the start of the new school year, I shared their sense of excitement as I too took on a new challenge.

This summer responsibility for education passed from The Learning Trust back to Hackney Council, and now forms part of my portfolio. I’m thrilled to welcome The Learning Trust team into the council as a new department, and look forward to overseeing even greater improvements in our schools and colleges.

It marks the start of a new era for education in Hackney. Those of you with good memories may remember that, back in 2002, The Learning Trust was awarded a 10 year contract to run our schools and colleges.

Back then our schools were unrecognisable from the brilliant schools we have today. We were failing our young people and something had to be done to boost the life chances of young people in Hackney.

When the contract was awarded to The Learning Trust we aimed high and had big ambitions for all of our schools; we wanted our schools to be the first choice for Hackney parents.

Over the last 1ten years we’ve worked closely with the Trust, schools, parents and pupils to achieve a remarkable turn around. Grades have gone through the roof, with GCSE results now above the national average, and this year more young people sat A and AS Levels in Hackney’s schools and colleges than ever before.

For me, one of the greatest achievements has been to narrow the gap between the results of pupils who are eligible for free school meals and those from better off families.

In the last five years the number of pupils in this group who have achieved at least five top GCSE grades has risen by 19 per cent. This is just one of the reasons that in 2011 Hackney was named the most improved local authority in the country.

This has been achieved thanks to a fantastic partnership working between the schools and The Learning Trust, which is why most of that team has now transferred to the council.

Our Building Schools for the Future programme also helped, and we’ve refurbished or rebuilt all of our existing schools, and built five new academies, creating 21st century learning environments which make Hackney a great place to learn.

We’re in a strong position, but we cannot afford to be complacent. We’re committed to ensuring all children in Hackney get the best possible start in life, no matter what their background.

If you’re starting at a new school, college or university this September, I’d like to wish you every success and the best of luck for the future.