HEADTEACHERS and principals from across Thurrock got together recently to explore how to share good practice, skills and knowledge in order to provide the best possible education throughout the borough.
The discussion, led by Christine Gilbert who chairs Thurrock’s Education Commission, was part of the head teachers briefing meetings held each half term. The Commission, which has been set up to look at how schools can learn from one another to improve the standard of education overall, is to publish a series of recommendations in September.
Some of the key points for discussion that emerged from the event included:the need for schools to join forces to provide consistently high-quality education
greater scope for the local authority to support schools, but also to empower them and allow them the space to act in their best interests, development of alliances of schools to help one another improving links with higher education, the potential for pre-school education to benefit children’s adjustment to primary school
continuing to recruit and retain the best teachers
Thurrock Council’s portfolio holder for education Cllr John Kent said: “It is great to see head teachers coming together like this to share their ideas on how to work innovatively in order to raise educational attainment.
“This event is another great example of the whole community working together to provide education that rivals the very best.”
Cllr Kent recently began a schedule to visit every school in Thurrock, in order to gain a unique perspective on education in the borough, where it can be improved and where there is a need to share knowledge and best practice.
He added: “Although I have only recently taken on responsibility for education, I am already struck by the professionalism of our teachers and how they – along with our children and young people – are rising to the challenge and showing that young people in Thurrock have a great deal to offer.”
“Our hope is that the children and young people of today are well-placed to get the management jobs in the large-scale, local regeneration projects of tomorrow.”
