Four London boroughs no longer on deprivation index

The Office of National Statistics has published its 'English indices of deprivation 2015' in which one of its headlines is: 'The 20 most deprived local authorities are largely the same as found for the 2010 Index, but the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Haringey have become relatively less deprived and no longer feature in this list.'

Hackney Police station sold to free school for £7.6m

From the Hackney Citizen: Following an open bidding process... the site has been bought for use by the school, with the Education Funding Agency – the government body responsible for finding sites for free schools – paying for the site.

Hackney head says change status before choices are cut

From the Hackney Citizen: http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2014/01/31/northwold-primary-school-academy-application/

The Hackney Citizen reported: 'Headteacher Alison Kriel said: “We know that there is a general election coming up and all political parties have said they are going to keep the academies programme in place (but) ... fewer and fewer opportunities for schools to decide for themselves what kind of academy they want to be”, adding: “That’s why we decided we want to be proactive and decide for ourselves.”

Primary staff support status change in secret ballot (Hackney)

From the Hackney Gazette:
http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/hackney_school_will_be_first_primary_academy_in_borough_if_application_is_approved_1_3232001

A school (Northwold Primary School) has made the controversial decision to apply to become the first primary academy in the borough.

Ex Cameron Tech City adviser looks into Hackney free school

From the Hackney Citizen: http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2014/01/07/benjamin-southworth-ada-lovelace-academy/

UPDATE: (Feb 2014 Hackney Gazette: http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/hoxton_technology_guru_plans_to_set_up_free_school_to_cultivate_the_next_generation_of_entrepreneurs_1_3285897)

 "A former adviser to the government’s Tech City initiative is finalising an application to open a new free school for 16-19 year olds.
 "Benjamin Southworth, a 32-year old entrepreneur, was selected to advise David Cameron as deputy chief executive of the Tech City Investment Organisation. His 12-month contract came to an end in June.
 "Provisionally called Ada Lovelace Academy..."

Galloway calls commoms debate on when academy heads should resign

George Galloway: http://www.georgegalloway.net/2013/12/mp-calls-for-kings-free-school.html

George Galloway has submitted a motion for debating whether academy heads under investigation should resign. He mentions Sajid Raza of Kings Science Academy in Bradford and Greg Wallace, former academy 'superhead' in Hackney.

Hackney 'superhead' resigns as investigation continues

From the Hackney Gazette:
 http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/shock_resignation_of_so_called_superhead_greg_wallace_1_3021890


"Teaching unions have warned Hackney Council not to sweep their investigative report on the so-called superhead Greg Wallace under the carpet, following his shock resignation yesterday.

Mr Wallace – once described as one of education secretary’s Michael Gove’s “magnificent seven - was suspended from his post in July while the council investigates allegations over the awarding of lucrative computer contracts to C2 Technology, which is reportedly owned by his boyfriend Tony Zangoura.

Academy/free school news

A further tranche of 102 free schools has been given permission to open their doors to pupils from next year - 46 of them in London (one in Hackney - City Gateway Hackney): http://www.building.co.uk/gove-approves-102-new-free-schools/5055215.article



Lancashire remains neutral on academies:
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/education/education-chiefs-told-to-leave-schools-alone-1-6042698

Cllr Matthew Tomlinson said: “ The DfE wrote to me again expressing disappointment at the number of academies we have in Lancashire and asking for a meeting. “My view is that there is no need. As far as I am concerned Lancashire schools are doing well and perfectly happy to stay in with the county. “ If they want to meet, I will meet them but I have nothing to say. At the end of the day individual schools decide what they want to do and it is certainly not for us to say they should or shouldn’t become academies. Our job is to support them. “They choose to stay within the control of the county.”

 Gove on Bradford:

“I will do everything possible to ensure that I, or another minister, visits Bradford as soon as possible. It is instructive that, in Bradford, politicians of every party – including Respect – apart from Labour, are backing free schools.” http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10664112.Education_Secretary_Michael_Gove_calls_for_free_schools_U_turn/

Nut free academy in the US: http://alhijraacademy.com/al-hijra-is-a-nut-free-school/ 

Hackney free school given council go ahead

http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2013/09/10/hackney-new-school-planning-application-approved/ 

From the Hackney Citizen
Hackney New School


Plans for new school buildings were approved at last night’s Hackney Council planning subcommittee meeting despite concerns about overcrowding on the school’s site in De Beauvoir...

http://newschoolfinance.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/independent-93-flavours-of-free-schools.html 

Independent: 93 flavours of free schools

The Independent:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/special-report-the-changing-face-of-education--michael-goves-school-project-runs-wild-and-free-8783637.html

"A veritable kaleidoscope of new state-funded schools will open their doors for the first time next month – 93 of them part of the Government's free school programme."

It mentions Hackney Free School (or Hackney New School?)

Hackney Citizen: three free schools in Hackney given the go ahead:

http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2012/08/20/three-hackney-free-schools-to-open/

two part of existing chains, one set up by parents led by former investment banker Andreas Wesemann (older Independent article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/an-11hour-schoolday-in-hackney-even-the-parents-arent-sure-its-a-good-idea-8191500.html)

ES: Hackney primaries and contracts for boyfriend

Evening Standard:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/superhead-hailed-magnificent-by-michael-gove-suspended-after-contracts-went-to-his-boyfriends-it-firm-8736007.html 


Evening Standard: A superhead described by education secretary Michael Gove as “magnificent” has been suspended after it emerged that his boyfriend heads a company that provides IT services to his schools. Greg Wallace was suspended as executive principal of a federation of five primary schools in Hackney, east London, last week. IT services were supplied to the schools, which were poised to become a chain of academies, by C2 Technology, a firm headed by Tony Zangoura, Wallace’s boyfriend. It had details about Michael Gove and his adviser Henry de Zoete. Hackney Gazette: http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/concerns_over_hackney_superhead_s_five_school_academy_bid_1_1799811