Havering's primary schools have performed strongly in recent years, but there is a concern among parents, the council and the government that our secondary schools are not doing as well as they should. 

This is something I am keen to help rectify and today I began discussions with secondary heads and the council's education team about how we can move forward and raise the aspirations of local children, particularly white working class kids who have been struggling. 

I had a meeting with Havering Borough Leader, Cllr Roger Ramsey, followed by a visit to Redden Court School to see what they are doing right. Redden Court got the highest 'Progress 8' score in the borough, which measures a child's progress from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4. They are doing some excellent work with children with special educational needs as well, with their SEN unit about to be expanded to cater for more local students. 

I had a productive meeting with Headteacher, Mr Ward, and was shown around the school by two enthusiastic, bright and confident Year 10 students. Redden Court is in the process of taking on the leadership and management of Royal Liberty in the neighbouring Romford constituency and hopes to spread best practice across the borough.

I paste below some information I have received from the council about efforts to improve secondary performance:

We have recently launched our consultation on the plans for secondary expansions in 2018 https://www.havering.gov.uk/info/20006/schools_and_education/445/delivering_education/4 .  You will see that the schools identified are significantly over subscribed each year, and are situated in the areas of highest demand.  Further expansions from 2019 and beyond will be subject to further consultations, commencing in June 2018.  

Gaynes and Sanders schools are maintained by the local authority and it is expected that both of these remaining schools will be part of Multi Academy Trusts by the end of 2017.  The remainder of our secondaries are either part of Multi Academy Trusts, or Single Academy Trusts.

Information on the future expansion proposals can be found on the Council’s website - https://www3.havering.gov.uk/Pages/Services/School-organisation-place-planning.aspx

Schools, the Local Authority and the Regional Schools Commissioner have agreed a school-led improvement strategy, and an independently-chaired Improvement Board has been established to oversee the strategy, with the key indicator of the success being that all schools will be judged to be good or better by Ofsted by July 2018, subject to each school’s place in Ofsted’s calendar of inspections.  

An external improvement lead of high calibre has been commissioned to work with schools, advising schools on the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and promote the effectiveness of leadership at all levels.   

The authority continues to monitor the performance of all schools on a regular basis with a refreshed approach to bringing about necessary improvements, including forensic evaluation of progress through monthly performance review meetings in those schools identified as being under-performing, and a greater use of the powers available to the authority where schools are a cause for concern.