Anthony Painter

Forgive the personal note to this blog post but yesterday I received confirmation of some very special news. For the last six years I have been a Governor of Hackney Community College (and Vice Chairman for the last three years) and we were inspected by Ofsted a few weeks ago. I am so proud of Ian Ashman’s management team, the staff and all the learners at the college that the overall grade was ‘good.’

It is also worth mentioning my fellow Governors: they have been unwavering in their determination to see a significant improvement in the success of learners while also ensuring the College’s financial viability. That has been crucial in supporting the staff and learners who are absolutely the heroes of this story.

Hackney Community College operates in some of the most challenging circumstances in the country. As the Ofsted report acknowledges:

“Around 70% of learners are of black and minority ethnic heritage. For a high proportion of learners, English is their second language. Learners are mainly from Hackney and adjacent boroughs. Nearly 95% reside in disadvantaged areas.”

“The borough is one of the most economically and socially deprived in the country, with all 19 of its wards in the poorest 20% nationally. It has the third highest proportion of workless people in the United Kingdom, with over 31% of the working age population without jobs. Its residents are less well qualified than the London average, with over 16% of those of working age having no qualifications. The proportion of the population with mental health support needs is very high. The proportion of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) is relatively high, at 6.5%.”

And yet, the college has never let this stymie its ambition for the learners and the local community- it sees itself as a key community institution. As the report states:

“Leadership is highly effective and inclusive, ensuring that meeting the needs of learners iscentral to all aspects of planning and the management of the college. Managers and staff are strongly focused on raising aspirations, maximising learners’ potential and meeting the needs of the local community.”

There is a strong focus on equality:

“Equality and diversity are promoted very effectively throughout the college and are given a high priority. The learner population is highly diverse and this is broadly reflected in the staff profile. Data are used well to monitor equality and diversity. Achievement gaps are being reduced.”

And finally, a word about the Governors and their capability/ contribution:

“Governance of the college is strong. Governors havefull and effective involvement in establishing the college’s strategic direction. They provide critical support for managers and set challenging targets for improvement. They have a wide range of relevant experience, expertise and community links and act as a valuable resource for the college.”

As you see, I’m proud as punch of the college’s success and continuing improvement. We have had to make some tough adjustments in the last few years both to improve our own financial and academic performance and respond to a changing and tougher public policy environment. Things will get even tougher in the next few years but in what the college has achieved and its demonstrated ability to adapt, I have full confidence that it will thrive and even improve further. But for a short time, it is worth reflecting on the collective achievement and the contribution that makes to Hackney’s renaissance and the lives of the learners who now have a better start in life or a second or third chance- which is what really matters.

One final word about Ofsted- they were utterly professional in their approach and gave us a chance to express ourselves while remaining absolutely rigorous in their assessment. Inspections are always a time of high anxiety but this one seemed to be far less fraught than the previous inspection I was involved in. This seemed to me to be a constructive yet balanced way of proceeding.

Here’s the Ofsted report and here is Hackney Community College’s reaction.