A Tale of Two Sixth Forms

It’s a story about what we want for our children and it goes to the heart of modern politics.

NewVIC (Newham Sixth Form College), was set up to offer sixth form opportunities to young people in Newham. For many years it did sterling service. But it has had its problems, not least of which was a damning Ofsted report which labeled its management and leadership as inadequate.

But NewVIC had political support. It was egalitarian. It proclaims itself to be “friendly, diverse and inclusive”. Its students participate in current political campaigns. It speaks the right language of the current left politics.

Over a decade ago, two politicians, Cllr Quintin Peppiatt and Mayor, Sir Robin Wales looked at the ‘A’ Level results for students across Newham and undertook to make some radical improvements. Doing the same things as had been done before would not make the changes needed to improve the life chances of Newham young people.

They committed to creating new opportunities and institutions that would challenge and inspire young people. From this discussion, the Sixth Form Collegiate was born, specializing in science and technology. Brampton Manor was set on a course which saw more students go to Oxbridge than Eton. And the Academy of Excellence was born and housed in former council offices in Stratford.

The Academy of Excellence has just been admitted to The World Leading Schools Association. This makes it one of less than a dozen such schools in the UK and the only one in the state sector. Indeed, it is the only state school outside of China that is in the association.

The Academy recruits from local children and has given opportunities that were simply unavailable a decade ago.

Their membership of the association will mean that their students are eligible for scholarships across the globe, including the USA’s to institutions.

One major difference is that under Wales there was a clear agenda to improve the education of Newham’s children; it began pre-school and it continued to assist Birkbeck College to settle on a site in Newham. There is seemingly a laissez faire attitude from amongst the current administration. “Nothing to do with us.”

It seems that the political infighting is more important than delivering improvements for the people of the borough.

But back to the Academy. We say well done to them. The Academy has challenged and supported Newham students in a way that was unimaginable in the 1990s. In doing so it has given Newham young people access to global opportunities.

And not a bad legacy for Messers Peppiatt and Wales.