Education in Hackney: Cllr Bramble on the challenges ahead

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble

As the newly appointed Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, I’m really looking forward to the new school year. I’m responsible for some of the most important services in the council, and while huge improvements have been made in recent years, I am under no illusion that there is still work to do.

The transformation of Hackney’s schools over the last decade has been phenomenal; we’ve gone from having some of the worst schools in the country to some of the very best. As an administration, this is one of our proudest achievements, but we know we cannot afford to be complacent.

With budget cuts from central government, new policies being introduced and the changing shape of schools across the country, there are some real challenges ahead. My task is to ensure we continue to go the extra mile to give all children in Hackney the best possible start in life, no matter what their background.

SEN sector

Before becoming a cabinet member, I worked in the special educational needs (SEN) sector, so the national changes to SEN provision, which come into effect from September, are something I’m especially interested in.

The changes will see ‘Statements’ – which dictate the level of support children with SEN receive at school – gradually replaced by Education Health Care (EHC) plans. These plans will be jointly commissioned by Hackney Learning Trust and the council’s social care and health services, meaning a child’s needs will be addressed in one plan.

This will mean significant changes for local families and I want to assure them that the council will support them, share any information we receive from the government and make the process as easy and transparent as we can. We’re planning information sessions over the coming months and working closely with parent groups and schools to prepare for the changes.

School places

One of the biggest challenges facing councils across London is the pressure on school places. We’re working hard to ensure that all children in Hackney have access to a place at a good school. It’s not easy, with funding and space restrictions and our growing population being major obstacles, but I’m confident that by working with schools and parents, we are in a good position. This year 90 per cent of children received a place at their parents’ top three preferences of primary school.

Hackney 100

Another issue that’s top of my agenda is ensuring that there are plenty of opportunities for young people across the borough. An example of this is our Hackney 100 scheme, which will provide 100 high quality work placements for 16 and 17-year-olds. In return for working up to eight hours a week with some exciting local firms outside school hours, they’ll receive the London Living Wage and some invaluable work experience.

On top of this we are working closely with companies and further education organisations to ensure there are good opportunities available for our older children. From September, young people up to the age of 18 will be legally required to remain in some form of education or training, be it a school or college course, an apprenticeship or training at work. Providing positive opportunities is the key to unlocking young people’s potential, so it is crucial that this forms a central part of our approach to education.

Hackney is a great place to grow up and I’d like to wish all of our hard working pupils and teachers a great start to the new school year. I’m looking forward to meeting many of you over the next term.