We recently had the opportunity to meet with the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, and Tony Foot, the Director General for Strategy Group at the Department for Education (DfE), at the Sanctuary Building in London.
On a Mission:
It was a rare and unique opportunity for us to introduce some of our outstanding headteachers and teachers to the Secretary of State. We brought along the best and most experienced educators to highlight the growing concerns surrounding classroom engagement and the significant barriers to learning that teachers are facing today.
Pressing Our Point:
Present at the meeting were our educational partners: Victoria Richmond, Headteacher of Oasis Academy Skinner Street; Cheryl Chalkley, Headteacher of Mersham Primary; and Victoria Harris, Senior Lead Year 5 Teacher at Mersham. These very experienced and passionate educators made representation to the SoS of the views of many teachers and heads, especially those who are working on the front lines in our primary schools.
The Issues Being Faced:
The meetings at the DfE provided an opportunity for the headteachers to engage in a serious discussion about the challenges teachers are now facing, including deteriorating levels of aspiration, a lack of respect for teachers and focus, poor behaviour in class, managing and supporting the additional needs of children with SEND with limited resources and other barriers to engagement with learning.
Advocating for Our Effective Early Intervention Provision:
The headteachers also had the chance to directly advocate to the Minister and her head of strategy about the positive impact of Challenger Troops’ work across the education sector. This includes our in-school early intervention “Tiger Troop” programmes, which have resulted in significant improvements in student engagement, behaviour, respect, and attendance.
"Outdoor learning is giving them back their childhood wonder and curiosity at new things, allowing them to experience the marvel of discovery and the learning that comes from taking risks"
