Received my OBE at Windsor Castle yesterday. Huge thank you to all the amazing teachers, children, families and leaders who have supported me in trying to improve the life chances for all young people in the UK.
Of the 284 schools that had more than 60% disadvantaged pupils, just 24 (8%) achieved a ‘progress 8’ score above 0.0 in last year’s GCSEs. If we are to improve
#SocialMobility
our nation needs to invest in its poorest communities.
#LevellingUp
1/2…
Just completed 10 years at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
as Principal. It’s been an immense privilege to work for our amazing children and their families. Huge thanks to all staff (old and new), ex staff,
@ArkSchools
and other leaders who have supported me personally along the way!
This chart is fascinating…Lots going on! In relation to
#Ofsted
- there is not one school judged ‘Outstanding’ with a
#FreeSchoolMeal
cohort percentage of +60%. There are also some interesting outliers…two schools with P8 of approximately +0.8 judged RI.
#OfstedReform
…1/2
Unusual
#resultsday2020
, but incredibly successful for the vast majority of
@ArkGlobeAcademy
students who have confirmed destinations from their 1st choice Uni...and we have 3 students of to
#Oxbridge
! Huge thanks to our wonderful team of adults for their commitment and support.
‘English schools to phase out cruel behaviour rules’ - The ‘cruel’ behaviour rules that lead to
#suspensions
are related to safeguarding, bullying, sexism, racism or physical assaults. No child or adult should be expected to tolerate any of the above.
Congratulations to our 3 Oxbridge offer students. Olamide reading classics
@UniofOxford
, Lauren reading theology and Kirsten medicine
@Cambridge_Uni
. Huge thank you to the team of
@ArkGlobeAcademy
adults who have supported them...you are having a huge impact on our young people!
Excellent summary by
@BBCNewsnight
of disproportionate increase in top grades being allocated at independent (private) schools. Did ‘pushy’ parents or the marketisation of education influence the grades awarded?
#GradeInflation
This year, 44.8% of A-level grades were awarded A or A*, compared to just over 25% in 2019.
But how do results differ between schools and what impact might they have on existing inequality?
#Newsnight
’s
@Lewis_Goodall
runs through
#resultsday
figures ⬇
Happy
#WorldDownSyndromeDay
to those lucky families who experience the joy of our special children. Our wonderful Francesca with her amazing twin sister, Elizabeth
#LotsOfSocks
This is one of my favourite quotes of all time. I have a copy in a frame on my office wall. I share as a reminder to all those who have the courage, discipline and resilience to do extraordinary work that so few people have the privilege to experience.
#Eng
#Euro2020Final
A real privilege, and genuinely emotional speaking at the last ever
#FutureLeaders
event. I have met and been inspired by so many participants and Future Leaders coaches & staff over many years. Today was no different. Keep fighting the ‘good fight’ and stay connected!
#FL1000
It’s great to see so many of our Year 10s and Year 12s back at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
! Everyone has adjusted brilliantly to our ‘new’ social distance way of learning.
As chair of Southwark Association of Secondary Heads,I can confirm that this report is inaccurate and does not represent the view of our 22 members. We hope to provide our community with additional clarity tomorrow regarding our position.
@BBCNews
@vicgoddard
There will be many education leaders delivering the same message over the coming weeks and months. Let’s hope we are heard and children at state schools receive the investment needed to compete with their more privileged peers attending private schools.
Fantastic week for
@ArkGlobeAcademy
…4
#Oxbridge
offers! Congratulations to our successful applicants, who know they have some hard work ahead to secure the grades. For those who applied, but didn’t get an offer…you will still attend a great university
#growthmindset
Just watch
@BBCNews
report on 10 o’clock news about education underperformance for White students on free school meals. Conclusion - provide more ‘practical’ courses instead of academic qualifications. This isn’t
#LevelingUp
- this is
#LowExpectations
for working-class children.
@tombennett71
As chair of Southwark Association of Secondary Heads, I can confirm that this report is inaccurate and does not represent the view of our 22 members. We hope to provide our community with additional clarity tomorrow regarding our position.
Extremely proud and privileged of the
@Elephant__Group
to be shortlisted for the Student Social Mobility Impact Award. Huge thank you to our fantastic CEO
@JayneCETaylor
and our ‘Herd’ of amazing staff for changing the lives of so many young people across the UK.
What a week! Real pleasure to be back in the building doing a job I love with great professionals at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
and
@ArkEvelynGrace
. Reconnecting with our work and our people is the first important step to ensuring future success for our children!
Wow…we made it!
@ArkGlobeAcademy
staff, children and their families have displayed remarkable levels of resilience and optimism during this extraordinary year. Thank you all for your commitment to our wonderful community. I hope you all enjoy a well-deserved summer break.
Very proud of
@ArkGlobeAcademy
students competing today in the London Athletics Championship. 8 athletes, 5 Gold medals and 3 silver. Amazing! Well done to the dedicated athletes and a huge thank you to our PE staff who worked so hard with the athletes to make it happen!
End of term for
@ArkGlobeAcademy
. Staff BBQ of appreciation. On behalf of our children and their families I thank you for your relentless commitment and professionalism. You continue to make a huge difference to our community. Enjoy your well-deserved summer break.
The
#COVID
-19 crisis has meant this has been the most challenging of weeks at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
. I’m humbled today by our amazing staff and children, who have pulled together to ensure that our community is as well prepared as possible for next week’s closure. Huge thanks!
What a fantastic afternoon at the inaugural
@ArkSchools
Athletics Championships. 18 Ark schools from Hastings, Portsmouth, Birmingham and London coming together as a community to compete, celebrate and have fun. Thank you to athletes and dedicated teachers for making it happen!
A fantastic morning with our
@ArkGlobeAcademy
Year 13 students and adults on
#Results2021
. So many smiling faces from students who have worked incredibly hard, in exceptional circumstances, to secure great results and excellent destinations. A special day! Thank you
#TeamGlobe
.
It was a huge privilege to pick up
@ArkSchools
6th Form of the Year award at the
#arkteachersummit
on behalf of our wonderful
@ArkGlobeAcademy
staff. A truly amazing group of dedicated adults...thank you for your continued commitment to our children and their families.
We are thrilled, as today’s results mean that 60% of our students are now going to a top third university, which is three times the national average for non-selective state schools.
#alevelresults2019
#proud
Thank you
@brands2life
...this is a ‘game changer’ for our year 10 students. Your generosity will ensure all year 10s can access
@ArkGlobeAcademy
’s excellent online narrated lessons and remote learning.
Huge thanks to
@brands2life
for donating 20 Chromebooks. This helps us overcome challenges in providing all of our Yr 10s with digital remote learning. Brands2Life has been an amazing business partner to our Academy by continuously supporting our young people and staff.
Based on the numbers in the report below - last year
@ARKGlobeAcademy
sent more disadvantaged students to uni than the combined efforts of Buckinghamshire grammars!
#socialmobility
Private schools lobby
#Oxbridge
for places for their pupils - this is precisely why we set up
@TheElephantGrou
. Underrepresentation of the 93% of pupils who attend state schools will continue as long as private schools have ‘back door’ access.
Extremely proud that
@ArkGlobeAcademy
was mentioned during commentary of Jubilee Pageant. Even more proud that our students mentioned Michael, our amazing security guard, as someone they admired.
Amazing to catch up with our ‘Future Leaders’ legend, inspiration and mentor Glen Denham. From the New Zealand Tall Blacks through to eduction, he is a model of exceptional leadership.
#NoIslands
Scrapping B-Tecs 'hammer blow for social mobility' - This needs to be urgently reviewed.
@ArkGlobeAcademy
6th Form BTEC students access university at a similar rate to our A Level students. This changes the lives of our young people.
#LevellingUp
6th Form
#resultsday
@ArkGlobeAcademy
are always special, but this year feels especially so. Huge congratulations to our students on your fantastic achievements. Thank you to our amazing adults for their expertise and hard work in ensuring our students’ success.
#resultsday2022
Huge congratulations to
@ArkGlobeAcademy
Junior Boys
@SchoolAthletics
squad for reaching the national final with the 2nd highest score in the country. Massive team effort by whole Globe community. Looking forward to the national final on 8th July!
Huge congratulations to
@ARKGlobeAcademy
Year 13s on an excellent set of A level and vocational results and a massive thank you to all of our dedicated staff who have such a positive impact on our young people.
Scientists question school closures impact - The mixed messaging is astonishing; a few people gathering outside in parks is life threatening and irresponsible, but it is ok to have thousands of children and adults in school classrooms!
#coronavirus
Huge congratulations to Cecilia on her selection for
@bballengland
Under15 national squad. She is an excellent role model for all at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
and our first student to represent their country. Best wishes for the upcoming international tournament in Greece.
More Progress 8 (P8) GCSE data - Some schools posted excellent P8 scores. Of the schools (50 in total) that secured a P8 score of +1.0 or above approximately 60% had a ‘disadvantaged’ cohort below national average of 27.6% and no school had a ‘disadvantaged’ population over 50%.
Reflecting on the half-term at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
- I feel fortunate to work with an amazing group of professionals, serving a wonderful community. Great academics, sport, the arts,debating etc. I can’t thank our adults enough for the ‘extras’ they provide for our amazing children!
Wow…What a half term! New staff have brought energy and ideas. Existing staff have showed them the
@ArkGlobeAcademy
way and shared excellent practice. And our students have lived up to our values. It’s now time for all to enjoy a restful half term. Thank you
The end of an extraordinary term for so many reasons at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
. It has been a privilege to work with an amazing group of professionals and wonderful children. Their efforts have kept us safe, with minimal disruption to learning. Enjoy a well-earned break
#TeamGlobe
!
Wow, what a year! Covid has reinforced the vital role schools and school staff play in the physical, mental and intellectual health of our nation - blessed to work with awesome professionals at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
and
@ArkSchools
, serving talented & diverse communities.
#HNY2021
The plan to cut free public transport in London for children is worrying - it will have a huge impact on attendance of all children, especially those from poorer families, at the start of an incredibly important academic year. We urgently need a solution!
At
@ArkGlobeAcademy
we have a ‘no opt out’ approach in the classroom, supported by a ‘culture of error’ ensuring children feel safe when they inevitably get things wrong.
#GrowthMindset
No student should be permitted to sit in a class & choose not to participate in a lesson. This goes to culture of a classroom/school. This should be challenged immediately & by referring up if need be. The Principal should make this clear to everyone, provide training & enforce.
Our young people have missed out on so much during the pandemic. As a nation, we need to do better than this to support a healthy recovery for all children.
Paris 2024
#Olympics
: 1 in 3
#TeamGB
went to a private secondary school. This has increased since Rio 2016 and a disappointing legacy of
#London
2012. We have failed to invest and nurture talent in our state schools. This is reverse
#SocialJustice
.
My view of The City of
#London
this morning from
#Blackfriars
station platform. Bold statement, but this has to be the best train station platform in the UK!
Our
@ArkGlobeAcademy
Junior Boys Athletics team setting off for their hotel in preparation for tomorrow’s
@SchoolAthletics
nation finals. Eat well, hydrate and have a relaxing evening!
When you know that ‘like for like’ state school students outperform their private school peers at university, targeting state school students is the solution and not the problem as stated below!
#FairAccess
The 1st
@ArkSchools
junior cross country championship held at Burgess Park. Well done to all the athletes for their tremendous effort and competitiveness. Thanks to all the dedicated PE staff who made it happen, especially the
@ArkGlobeAcademy
team for organising.
The end of a great week. Year 10s and Year 12s students joining our primary children at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
. Thank you to our amazing team of adults who made this happen! Looking forward to having all children back at school in the near future.
Huge thank you to all of our amazing staff and children at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
for their commitment and resilience. Despite the challenges, they deal with them gracefully and skilfully.
#community
I can’t think of a more important time for
#IndependentSchools
to ‘step up’ and use their charity status to work systematically with state schools to support ‘catch up’ for thr UK’s most vulnerable children during the summer and throughout the next academic year.
#SocialGood
Excellent week at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
preparing for students’ return. Classrooms ready, lessons and assemblies planned, 1st Covid test for secondary students done! Thank you to the wonderful team of adults for ensuring all students are back full-time on Monday.
#Community
Real pleasure to speak at
@ThePiXLNetwork
#Legacy
event. So many inspiring speakers, especially Olivia, just 22 and recent Oxbridge graduate. She made us all think about changing the narrative from ‘disadvantaged’ children or communities to
#Underserved
!
Whatever your preferred genre of music, this is a wonderfully emotive track about a sibling with
#DownSyndrome
. Huge thank you to
@OfficialAitch
&
#EdSheeran
for celebrating the joy that people with Down Syndrome bring to us all - My G via
@YouTube
‘Too many teenagers going to university’ - Which teenagers is the
@dailytelegraph
referring to? Rationale is that it is a ‘strain’ on national finances. Solution - remove the £2.5 billion tax exemptions for private schools to help fund university places.
#LevellingUp
#FairAccess
“If you told me two years ago that I’d apply & get into Oxford University I would have laughed at you.”
For Olamide getting into a top university seemed like a distant dream before joining The Access Project.
Now in her 1st year, she got back in touch to share her experiences.💚
Looking forward to sharing and learning more about how we close the provision gap for underserved communities at the
@HFL_Education
Disadvantage Conference.
Meet
@MattJones_Globe
Principal of
@ArkSchools
and a distinguished speaker at Disadvantage Conference. His tireless efforts in aiding disadvantaged students, as seen through his work in the Timpson Review and
@Elephant__Group
, are truly inspiring. Join us:
Surely
@UKLabour
there are many more pressing education issues that need to be addressed rather than this ideological driven system overhaul e.g. teacher recruitment/retention, SEND support, additional funding for vulnerable families?
What a lovely way to end the week.
@ArkGlobeAcademy
Year 7 girls basketball team through to the London
@bballengland
Junior
#NBA
finals. Congratulations and thank you to our hardworking team and the PE team who have supported them.
Congratulations to
@ARKGlobeAcademy
wonderful Year 11s for their impressive GCSE results - I’m sure they would want to join me in thanking our dedicated team of adults who have supported them every step of the way.
#ProudPrincipal
#gcseresultday2018
Interestingly
#MPs
are one of the very few
#PublicSector
occupations that have had their salaries increase at a higher rate than inflation over the past 10 years. MPs have had 30% increase (approximately £20,000) since 2011.
Doctors working 24/7 for 10 years have had their pay cut by £20,000 📉
While MPs have seen their pay rise by the same amount in that time 📈
Doctors have spoken 🗣️
We’ve paid for the bail out of the banks 🏦
We’ve paid for the pandemic 😷
#EnoughIsEnough
#JuniorDoctorsStrike
Our amazing 6th Form at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
participating in their ‘National Dress’ catwalk for
#CultureDay
#EnrichmentDay
. Fantastic outfits and community spirit. Thank you…it was a real privilege.
The achievement gap explained in 2 graphs! Funding decisions actively working against
#SocialMobility
and
#SocialJustice
. Our government needs to show serious intent in improving academic outcomes for all and delivering on the
#LevellingUp
rhetoric!
Two excellent virtual meetings today with
@ArkSchools
primary head teachers and
@lb_southwark
secondary head teachers. Both groups adopting a pragmatic determination to reopen schools for our children as soon as it is safe to do so for the communities we serve.
What a half term at
@ArkGlobeAcademy
. All adults and children have adapted brilliantly to remote learning and to our on-site ‘Community Classrooms’. Additional laptops from
@ArkSchools
has helped us transform our provision. Thank you all and enjoy a well-earned break.
Awesome day celebrating and sharing in the joy of our year 11 on their
#ResultsDay22
! Even better day knowing that we will be seeing so many of them in our wonderful
@ArkGlobeAcademy
6th Form this September. Thank you to all involved for making today a such special occasion.
The stage is being set up… Sound check is underway… 🎭
We are very excited to host
@The_Globe
for a special performance of the Tempest starting in less than two hours!
#GlobeonTour
#thetempest
Wow…what an incredibly inspiring and uplifting evening of music. From brass to rap…the standard was amazing! Thank you and congratulations to all involved, especially the talented young musicians from across the
@ArkSchools
network.
Here we are…! Sound-checking on stage at
@BarbicanCentre
getting ready for the
#ArkMusicGala2023
tonight! Looking and sounding wonderful - our audience are in for a treat 🤩
Wow...what a visit!
@ArkGlobeAcademy
year 8 students at
@premierleague
offices, learning about how premier league football clubs are focused on the holistic development of their young players; on and off the pitch!