Camden New Journal
Publications by New Journal Enterprises
spacer
  Home Archive Competition Jobs Tickets Accommodation Dating Contact us
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
By RICHARD OSLEY
 

Concern: Shelia Gunn


Worries: Nasim Ali
Primary split on two-weeks-and-you're-out rule

CHILDREN who miss two weeks of lessons could be kicked out of a Regent’s Park primary school in a new crackdown on poor attendance.
The New Journal has learned that a “two-weeks-and-you’re-out” rule has been discussed for the first time at Netley School in William Road.
Governors are currently split on whether the measure would dent truancy levels and discourage parents from booking term-time holidays.
Some members of the governing body feel stricter rules would improve attendance.
Others feel the strategy could have a reverse effect and leave pupils struggling to turn their fortunes around without a school place to help them.
Parents met last Tuesday to discuss the proposals and agreed to look at whether the new rules could be imposed. Labour councillor Nasim Ali is one of the dissenters among the school’s governors.
He said: “They were saying: ‘Miss two weeks and the pupil will be taken off roll.’ I didn’t agree with that and said that children could be left without a school place. That can’t be a good thing. In the end, we agreed to see what other schools are doing.”
A council press official said schools currently could send out warnings if parents take their pupils away without permission for two weeks. If the pupil did not turn up for a further two weeks then stronger action can be taken.”
The discussion at Netley, which was told to improve standards by government inspectors last October, came against the backdrop of a fresh debate at the Town Hall over how well Camden copes with truancy.
In the latest round of political warfare ahead of next month’s council elections, Conservative councillor Sheila Gunn, the party’s education spokeswoman, said: “Camden’s record has improved very slightly from being the worst out of all inner London boroughs to being the second lowest. Hardly a record to be proud of. Camden Conservatives believe that issues such as parents taking their children on holiday during term or for religious holidays should be left to heads and governing bodies to handle.”
Labour’s education chief Councillor Lucy Anderson said that the Tories had got it all wrong about allowing governors to handle the issue.
She said: “The whole point is to get a consistent approach. We do have to do better but our improvement in Camden has been steady.”
spacer
» A-Z of Theatre
» Local Reviews
» Local Listings
» West End Reviews
» West End Listings
» Theatre Tickets
» Theatre & Hotel Packages













spacer


Theatre Music
Arts & Events Attractions
spacer
 
 


  up