The
Conversation: A new sixth form
May 30, 2008
William
Atkinson is on a mission to extend opportunities to his
disadvantaged pupils and spearhead learning in the wider
community. He tells Victoria Neumark why setting up a sixth
form is integral to his plan
Q: Why open a sixth form?
A: We want to continue to grow young people. At the moment,
we cut off at 16, just as they are emerging as young
adults. A sixth form will give us an opportunity to nurture
them for two more years.
The notion of post-16 education is not highly developed for
many of our pupils when they first arrive. Some who are
capable fail to make that transition. We want to give them
a sense of what's worth doing, what they can do. We fight
against their preconceptions. We want to set their
expectations against national targets, not the more limited
context of the inner-city.
Q: How will a sixth form fit in with your existing
provision?
A: It's all about expectation. We have high expectations
for all our pupils. The majority come from challenging
circumstances: 60 per cent receive free school meals; more
than 60 per cent have special educational needs; more than
70 per cent are from single-parent families; and we have a
transient pupil population, with 25-30 per cent mobility
each year.
Unlike middle-class children, many of our pupils don't
share an understanding of how to achieve in school. Younger
pupils will benefit from having older students to act as
positive role models and learning mentors, and to add new
dimensions to school performing arts.
If you're middle class, going to university can seem like a
birthright. Post-16 education helps transform our
youngsters' life chances, making them pathfinders in their
community.
Q: And why now?
A: For a long time, our parents and those of our local
primary schools have been agitating for a sixth form. It's
been a constant request at parents' evenings. Our current
Year 11s are really keen. They said: "Oh, sir, we would
have loved to stay on."
We had an "outstanding" Ofsted report this January; we've
got 67 per cent getting five A*-C GCSEs, 43 per cent
including maths and English; we're ninth in this year's
value-added tables. As a lead school for the ICT diploma
for 14- to 19-year-olds, we are already working with local
schools, FE and employers. So this seems the right time to
develop our range of vocational and academic post-16
courses. It's also an opportunity for staff development,
recruitment and retention.
Q: Who will attend?
A: We expect about 130 of our current 180-strong year group
to attend in the first year, building up to 260/270 in the
second. With backing from local business, we hope to
develop into a local education centre, catering for a
disparate community and sharing courses and students with
neighbouring academies and colleges. It's all about being a
real neighbourhood school.
Q: How do you see it developing?
A: Our goal is to be second to none in developing our
children. As well as the sixth form, we intend to help
regenerate the local community. We're extending links into
the home and wider community. Our family learning unit is
starting GCSEs for parents, as well as the usual evening
classes in yoga, flower arranging, literacy, numeracy and
computing. We'll run languages, English and maths,
depending on demand.
The benefits will be great: to see your parents learning in
school says, "Education is important, education is
lifelong". We've got to bring home and school closer
together. To further aid this, we have a gym and community
swimming pool.
Q: So you are rooted here?
A: I like to grow things. When I arrived, the school was in
special measures; now it's outstanding. We've taken a patch
of land and made a garden, a farm. Anyone can maintain
something good; I like to grow something good.
Our young people come here from tower blocks and the
streets. They sit in the outdoor classroom and hear
birdsong; they see senior citizens from the community
digging, and tiddlers from primary schools and nurseries
weeding and playing with rabbits. They go to food
technology classes and learn to eat healthily and to
exercise. It's nurture, it's organic. I love it.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: William Atkinson
Age: 58
Job: Headteacher, Phoenix High, Shepherds Bush, London
1995-present
Education: BEd, North London Polytechnic 1975-78; MEd,
Kings College London 1978-79; honorary doctorate,
University of North London (now London Metropolitan
University) 2002
Career: teacher, Portsmouth Modern Boys' School 1971-73;
teacher, Islington Green School 1973; assistant head of
year, Holloway Boys' School 1974-81; deputy head, Henry
Thornton School 1981-83; deputy head, White Hart Lane
School 1983-86; head, Copland Community School 1986-87;
head, Cranford Community School 1987-95
Other: Standards Task Force 1997; Leadership in Diversity
award 2002; featured on Channel 4's The Unteachables in
2005; Teaching Awards judge since 1997; Fellow, Royal
Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and
Commerce 2000-present
Interests:
family, sport (rugby, cycling), current affairs.
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