How the injustice began...

PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE BEST START FEDERATION GOVERNING BODY

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              Saturday, 27 July 2013

On 23rd July, 2013, Hackney Learning Trust (HLT) immediately suspended the Best Start Federation’s (BSF) Executive Principal, Greg Wallace, and removed its Governing Body’s delegated budget because it claimed, following an investigation by Hackney Council, to have identified significant concerns regarding Best Start Federation’s management and governance.

 

The Best Start Federation Governing Body takes financial governance very seriously indeed. We have asked for but not been given any information about the precise areas of concern from either the Investigating Team of the Hackney Council or from the Hackney Learning Trust.

We understand that an interim report has been prepared. We have asked to see this report but this has been refused. We have also asked for detailed information to justify the assertions but so far none has been forthcoming.

 

While no system ever operates perfectly, we refute entirely that there was persistent lack of governance or worse, misfeasance by this Governing Body.  The Best Start Federation Governing  Body has appealed to the Secretary of State for Education to intervene.

 

We understand that HLT has concerns about the computer contracts in the schools and Greg Wallace’s relationship with the provider C2 Technology. 

 

Peter Passam, MBE, who was Chair of Governors of Woodberry Down Community Primary School and London Fields when the first contract was signed with C2 Technology in 2009 and is currently acting Chair of the Best Start Federation Governing Body, made clear to the Investigating Team during his interview with them in June 2013 that he knew about this connection and that the contract was awarded on quality and value for money. 

Commenting Peter Passam, MBE, Acting Chair of Governors, said,

 “Greg Wallace was always open with me about his connection with C2 Technology.  The contract was judged on its value and its quality. We have been very satisfied with the work which has given the children access to modern technology at a competitive price.  Greg Wallace and his senior management team have transformed the five schools in the Best Start Federation.   We now have schools that provide a strong primary education for over 2,000 children.  I believe that C2 Technology has provided value for money support for our schools."

 

The standards this Governing Body insists on and maintains may be ascertained by a review of the performance in other areas of the schools in our care. The standards in all five schools within the Best Start Federation have improved dramatically over the past five years.  Under Greg Wallace’s leadership, failing and weak schools have been transformed into Outstanding or Good schools. The life chances of thousands of Hackney primary children have been significantly improved and children now leave the schools “secondary ready”.

 

The facts

Woodberry Down has been placed on Ofsted’s list of outstanding schools on three consecutive occasions. The school has been nationally recognised for a variety of reasons, particularly effective leadership, the teaching of reading and marking. It is a National Teaching School and the Executive Head is a National Leader of Education.

 

London Fields was in Special Measures in 2008 when it became part of the Best Start Federation. By March 2011 it was judged Outstanding by Ofsted, a view confirmed by the local authority.

 

Mandeville had a decade of very low test results. Since joining the Best Start Federation in 2009 standards have been transformed. Ofsted recently judged the school to be Good with Outstanding leadership.

 

Whitmore began working with the Best Start Federation in 2011. At that time, Whitmore was placed on the Department for Education’s list of the worst 200 schools. By 2013 the school was judged Outstanding by Ofsted.

 

Burbage began working with the Best Start Federation in 2012. By the end of that year it was placed on the list of the 100 most improved schools. Improvements have continued, with the school achieving its highest ever SATs results in 2013.

 

The most recent local authority monitoring report (July 2013) judged leadership to be outstanding in each of the five schools.

 

The Best Start Federation Governing Body is working currently to convert all five schools into a Multi-Academy Trust outside the control of the Hackney Learning Trust.  The intended conversion date was May 1, 2013 but the investigation, which was launched by Hackney Council in April 2013, has by necessity put these plans on hold.