Nicky Phillips | Schools Week

Effat Rahimi-Kaloujeh, SIMS inclusion manager, Westminster Academy

When staff at Westminster Academy greet Effat Rahimi-Kaloujeh, there is clear admiration and respect in their voices. It is not surprising. Her determination to help others and learn as much as she can has seen her come from a young Iranian in her 20s unable to speak much English, to a graduate who now runs […]

Adam enjoys a ‘surreal’ day at Number 10

Fifteen-year-old Adam Brombley was one of 20 young cancer survivors entertained at the prime minister’s London home recently. Adam, a pupil at Chichester High School for Boys (CHSB), met Samantha Cameron and a host of celebrities, including singer Peter Andre, radio host Sara Cox and TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp. “Peter Andre was probably the nicest […]

Edition 18: Sir Peter Simpson, Dame Kathy August, Nick Weller and Sally Willcox

Sir Peter Simpson is to become the Independent Academies Association’s (IAA) first chief executive officer following a strategic review that identified the association could no longer solely rely on a voluntary chair and board. Dame Kathy August is its new chair, taking over from Nick Weller. Sir Peter says: “I’m proud to take this role […]

Windsurfer takes top honours

A young windsurfer who won world titles when she was 15 has been named the best young sailor in Britain for 2014 by the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA). Emma Wilson of Bournemouth Collegiate School saw off competition from the under-16 Topper sailing world champion, Calum Rosie, and the national rigid inflatable boat youth champion, Kamila […]

Here’s one I made earlier. . .

St Peter’s C of E Primary pupils in Bristol picked up whisks and wooden spoons to compete in a whole-school bake-off to celebrate the launch of their new kitchen classroom. Officially opened by Barny Haughton of Square Food Foundation, a cookery school in the city, the classroom will allow children aged 4 to 11 to enjoy […]

The new CPD: film lessons and train teachers to be coaches

Seventeen top heads have put their name to five proposals outlined in a report to help boost professional training for teachers. In Developing Teachers, a document published by the Sutton Trust last Friday, they call on the three main political parties to ensure that all teachers and school leaders are entitled to professional development. The […]

What to look out for in the year ahead (and more)

On January 22 the Department for Education (DfE) published information that it says will help headteachers, principals and governors plan ahead, prepare for, and apply mandatory (compulsory) legal requirements during this academic year and beyond. Changes include the introduction of the pupil premium, changes to teachers’ pension and new GCSEs and A levels. The department […]

Ross McGill, deputy head, Quintin Kynaston Community Academy

Ross McGill, blogger, Twitter fiend and a deputy head, Quintin Kynaston Community Academy, north London Wearing a long black coat, fluorescent vest and speaking into a walkie-talkie, Ross Morrison McGill’s 6ft 4in skin-headed frame would look perfect outside a nightclub marshalling rowdy night clubbers. But it’s Friday, it’s 4pm and McGill – the only state […]

Champion gymnast shares technique

Pupils at Windmill primary school in Raunds, Northamptonshire, flexed their muscles during a visit from their new Education Fellowship ambassador and world champion gymnast, Daniel Keatings. The athlete, who has won gold at Commonwealth, European and World games held two gymnastic workshops with pupils in years 3 to 6 and took a whole-school assembly. Dressed […]