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Jerry Collins |
Pimlico Academy goes back to school
PIMLICO Academy opened its doors to students this week, finally putting to bed a year of unrest that has overshadowed the school.
Headteacher Jerry Collins praised pupils and staff for a “fantastic start”, saying it felt like a completely different place.
Among the changes ushered in by Mr Collins, who replaces interim headteacher Jo Shuter, are a new behaviour policy to clamp down on unruly pupils as well as a host of after-school clubs and special guest speaker slots.
Students will have the opportunity to join the debating society, have a coffee in the philosophy café and for the first time ever join the rugby or rowing team.
There are even plans for motivational talks from Match of the Day star Alan Hansen and Millwall chairman, Theo Paphitis.
Mr Collins said: “There haven’t been any huge changes but we do have a new behaviour policy. Staff are more empowered and have better support networks. We are also talking with parents about the uniform. There’s an air of calm around the school.”
He added: “We’ve got a whole new set of extra-curricular clubs and activities and we are going to get the student council up and running again to give pupils more of a voice. We haven’t changed the syllabus or anything like that, but being an academy has given us the independence to be able to work on our priorities. It’s all about a fresh start for the school and that is what it feels like.”
Over the past year, a group of parents campaigned to stop the charitable trust Future taking over the reins at the 1,400-pupil school as an academy. A delegation of parents this week met with the Schools Minster Lord Adonis and local MP Mark Field to try and overturn the decision. |
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