Lambeth Teacher with Lambeth NUT

Lilian Baylis School - the most improved school in England

For oh so long, Lilian Baylis School had suffered through adverse publicity, prejudice and to a large extent because of Lambeth's ineffective policies for Secondary Education. When David Blunkett decided on a policy on naming and shaming, Lilian Baylis was included. It hardly helped. It hit the headlines in 2003 when Tory Shadow Minister, Oliver Letwin who lives in Lambeth made his stupid comments about giving up his right arm rather than sending his children to Lilian Baylis. By all accounts, Lilian Baylis has gone from strength to strength, but Oliver Letwin .......?

Now the evidence is clear. Thanks to the management, the staff and the support from the local authority Lilain Baylis has progressed in terms of it's percentage of '5 A* - Cs' from 6% in 2003 to now 39%.

LBTS Headteacher Gary Phillips

The Local Authority link is important, though not aleays in evidence. The record of academies, run by private companies, often with no education background, cannot compare with performances such as this. There is little evidence to show academies with huge resources ploughed in make anything like the difference. Lilian Baylis without substantially changing its intake has easily outperformed academies. And will continue to do so.

We were never in doubt about the intentions of the school in relation to its education philosophy. Indeed, we have an obligation to stress that Lilian Baylis School is the only Secondary school in Lambeth that genuinely could claim to re-integrate students permanently excluded elsewhere. This is a strategy very much advocated by the National Union of Teachers. Consistent with this, the Ofsted report of November 2003 makes clear that exclusion rates are down - confirming the success of their policies.

Press release made by Education Unions in relation to Oliver letwin outburst

Whereas Mr Letwin, Tory Shadow Home Secretary recognises by now that he has offended a substantial part of the Lambeth community, he probably hasn't a clue as to the real underlying social conditions that affect education in the borough. Had he have been properly informed, he might not have made such unwise remarks. Yet anyone reading about Mr Letwin's madcap 'passport' scheme would think that parents really would be able to choose where their children go.

What happens when the schools fill up? Mr Letwin might be aware that in Brixton and Vauxhall parents do not make the choice: 'my local comprehensive is full up, so I'll go to Eton'. The reality is that due to government policies enacted over 25 or so years, we have now reached the stage that there is a net shortage of secondary places in Lambeth. Such is the demand for places that every school, Lilian Baylis included was fully subscribed this year.

Such is the demand for places that Lambeth now plans two further schools to rectify this shortage. This seems to indicate that there is a demand for places in state schools in Lambeth. That demand can only be met by serious planning and capital funding, not by the market thrown up by Mr Letwin's 'passports'. Without suggesting that the present government has it right, it is necessary to point out that numerous school closures happened when the Tories were in charge of Education. The Secretary of State has the power to over-rule LEA closure plans, but none ever did. The turmoil that has been in Lambeth secondary schools is the direct result of government education policies causing confusion and despondency.

Perhaps Mr Letwin is playing to the audience who believes that Lambeth is Labour controlled. Again, during this period although it has been mainly Labour, for long periods it has been otherwise, including today where it is a LibDem/Tory administration. I cannot believe that Mr Letwin wouldn't send his child to a school in a borough where the Tories are in government!

And finally, before Mr Letwin severs his right -arm, he might wish to dwell on recent history of Private schools in Lambeth. Two have recently closed. The more recent was BBi School where, supposedly because of financial difficulties, the teachers were sacked without notice and the children were left shocked and confused. Lambeth Secondary schools, supported the LEA team are working hard without the necessary funding in order to provide quality education for Lambeth children.

We could take Mr Letwin for a tour of the borough so that next time he has anything to say he is better informed.

Thinking of a career at Lilian Baylis?

• Ofsted have considered it an effective school with 98% of lessons Satisfactory or better - they would have been very thorough after Mr Letwin's outburst.
• All departments were considered strong and well led.
• In the 1990's, when opting out in Lambeth, Lilian Baylis was one of the few secondary schools who remained loyal to the LEA and deserve all the support they can get.
• It is recognised, not least by Ofsted, that Lilian Baylis's intake includes many disadvantaged children and low attainers at the point of entry, but those same children have made tremendous strides. Hence the justification for the term 'effective'.
• NUT membership is sound, with a very supportive and very experienced rep.
• It is hard to say what the effect of the new building will be, but it is 21st Century and will be more purposeful in design than the present site.
• It is no longer in the Congestion Charge Zone, so real salaries compare very favourably with similar schools

The new Lilian Baylis - opened December 2004