Brent Education Debate

Changes in education are coming thick and fast and it is hard to keep up, let alone work out what they mean for children, parents, teachers, headteachers and governors in our schools.

 There is an urgent need for a discussion about the changes that are taking place. Brent teacher unions, supported by Brent Fightback, have organised a debate open to everyone in Brent who is concerned about the future of our education system, both nationally and locally. Academies and free schools, changes in the curriculum, the crisis in the exam system, increases in the size of primary schools, the shortage of primary school places which will soon extend to secondary schools, the role of school governors, changes in the way schools are supported by the local authority and privatisation are all issues which cry out for debate.

 The debate took place on Thursday 20th September at Copland Community School, Wembley High Road.

Speakers  included
Melissa Benn, a local parent, writer and journalist who recently published 'School Wars - the battle for Britain's Education'

 Jon O'Connor, regional manager of the Cooperative College which supports schools setting up as cooperatives, cooperative federations or cooperative academies

 Mary Arnold, Brent Council's lead member for Children and Families

 Martin Francis, Brent Green Party spokesperson on Children and Families

 Hank Roberts, ATL President and a Brent teacher

 The meeting will be chaired by Gill Wood, local parent and school governor.

 Apologies, the Brent Green Agit Prop Film Unit, (aka P.Murry), was only able to film the latter part of this debate to a gridlock in Willesden

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PART 1
 
PART 2
 
PART 3