OUR PATCH SEPTEMBER 2016
Far left, Brackenbury's
new headteacher Dave
Collins. Left, the boys'
team wins 2015 Mayor's
Cup final. Below, author
Michael Morpurgo opens
the new school library
FAIR FUNDING
PARENTS URGED TO
BACK H&F CAMPAIGN
Could new funding
changes mean 10%
cuts for local schools?
F
with the windows being replaced and
the main entrance and office relocated
from side to front, creating more
teaching spaces for smaller groups.
Last year the school won the
international school award from the
You sense the passion
for sport, arts, music and
academic work; it’s an
all-round school
British Council, for its work fostering
an international dimension in the
curriculum and improving cultural
understanding.
Of special significance is its link with
Beza School in Ethiopia, which has
included reciprocal staff visits.
Justine Greening, then international
development minister, said she was
‘delighted to celebrate the international
work of Brackenbury, and the energy
and passion of the young people’.
Three years ago the school’s library
was rebuilt at a cost of £80,000 –
constructed by apprentices after
architect Jessie McIntosh and other
parents lent their expertise.
A new open hexagonal area was
created, surrounding young readers with
volumes stored on low, child-height
shelves, with three ‘pods’ for group work
and special needs teaching.
The seal of approval was conferred by
Michael Morpurgo, the War Horse author
and former children’s laureate.
The school encourages its young
charges to cultivate veg, then cook and
eat their home-grown produce.
In local MP Andy Slaughter, the school
has an important line to Parliament.
He visited in July, shortly before classes
broke up, to support the children’s Send
My Friend to School campaign, helping
youngsters around the world who can’t
go to school because of war, emergency
and natural calamities.
WELCOME & GOODBYE
Vanessa Pawsey, on behalf of of the
school’s parent teacher association,
welcomed the new head and said Jackie
Roberts would be a hard act to follow.
“Jackie has been with the school 16
years and has been a passionate, loyal
force driving the school forward,” she
said. “Sport and art play a big part in
Brackenbury life and Jackie worked
hard to make sure that every child gets
involved and has the chance to shine.
“She will be very much missed.”
unding cuts to local schools
could hit H&F, warns
the local council. Now
Hammersmith & Fulham
Council is urging parents and carers
to oppose the cuts to local schools.
The proposed changes to school
finances could see each local
school lose as much as 10 per cent
of its funding according to some
projections.
The Government will announce
its decision early next year.
“I have been working with
concerned teachers and governors
for some months but it’s vital that
parents and carers are also given
the chance to fight these plans
which could do real damage to our
schools,” said Cllr Sue Macmillan,
H&F Cabinet Member for Children
and Education.
She said the Government is
looking to cut funding from
authorities like H&F to redistribute
that money to authorities outside
of London which have historically
invested less in their schools.
The harsh cuts could threaten
jobs, hit the range of subjects
taught and even damage the longterm viability of some schools.
The council has launched a
campaign against the cuts. You
can join it here: www.lbhf.gov.uk/
fairfunding
“We will do everything we can
to fight these unfair plans – a fight
which will be all the more powerful
with your support,” she added.