Success in the Making

Hackney Head picked for prestigious panel on teacher standards

March 23rd, 2011 with No Comments

A Hackney Headteacher has been asked by the government to review the key skills that teachers need to improve pupil’s performance.

Greg Wallace, who is the Executive Principal of Mandeville, London Fields, Woodberry Down and Whitmore Primary Schools, is one of just 15 education experts who will be working on the review.

It is prompted by a concern from the Coalition Government that the current standards that new teachers must meet to stay in the classroom are not rigorous, clear or effective enough.

Greg Wallace said: “We need unequivocally clear standards that ensure the best classroom practice becomes the norm. I think the new standards should give due weight to the importance of understanding how to teach reading, writing and maths.

I’ve been the Headteacher at Woodberry Down for the last ten years. This time has taught me how important it is to set clear, high expectations for staff, accompanied by appropriate and proportionate support. I know that we can create world-class teachers and schools in Hackney by having heightened clarity about the skills and knowledge that effective teachers must possess.”

He added: “I am constantly impressed by what I see in Best Start Federation classrooms and by the unswerving commitment our teachers display in the effort to achieve excellence.”

Woodberry Down was judged to be ‘outstanding’ in its last inspection and was included in Ofsted’s publication: “Reading by Six- How the Best Schools Do It”. It is part of the Best Start Federation that also includes Mandeville and London Fields Primary School. It is proposed that Whitmore Primary School, judged by Ofsted to be making inadequate progress, should join the federation. This is currently subject to consultation.