Representatives of the leading national education charity, Teach First, have visited the Isle of Wight as part of a series of meetings to explore ways in which organisations can collaborate even more effectively to improve education standards.
The organisation works to address education inequality so all children have the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
Teach Fist placed 4 graduate teachers in island schools last year, who continue their placements this year, and has placed an additional 13 new graduates from the start of this term.
Councillor Chris Whitehouse, Conservative Education Spokesman, who arranged the visit, said:
“Teach First are national leaders in placing high caliber graduates into schools, developing leaders in schools, helping children make informed choices about their futures, and nurturing innovation in education provision. The more we can do to encourage their engagement with the Island, the better.”
Teach First were represented by Helen O’Connor, Teach First’s South East and South Coast Director, and Jess Johnson, who works in their External Relations Division. They met with a range of educators on the Island as well as representatives of the Isle of Wight Council. They have already been in discussion with the wider education community and hope to continue these talks in the near future about how best they can widen their help for local schools.
Cllr Whitehouse added:
“The team from Teach First will also shortly be meeting the Island MP, Andrew Turner, in Westminster. They will discuss ways in which he could facilitate the involvement of the wider business community in their future work on the Island.
Article continues below this advertisement “We also had a very constructive meeting with the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Cllr Jonathan Bacon, and with officers from Hampshire County Council, including Brian Pope, who leads on improving education on the Island.”
“With five schools in and around my ward of Newport West (Carisbrooke College, Christ the King, Newport Primary, Carisbrooke Primary and St Thomas of Canterbury Primary) education improvement has always been my highest priority.
“I will always do everything possible to continue the improvements in Island education standards. With the GCSE results just published, it’s clear that although there have been some improvements, once again we have some schools’ results heading in the wrong direction. Second best is simply not good enough. We must all work harder, together, to address the continuing concerns.”
