Leader's Hot Topics

Haringey schools

February 2012 - Council Leader Claire Kober explains her pride in the borough’s schools

There has been a great deal of discussion in the media recently about schools in Haringey, with many commentators quick to judge.

The fact is that our schools, both primary and secondary, give us much to be proud of. The achievements of schools across Haringey are not an accident – they are the result of a clear commitment by schools and the council to support young people to do their very best.

A quarter of all primary and a third of all secondary schools in Haringey are currently judged by Ofsted to be outstanding. Improvements in our schools are being made at a faster rate than in the country as a whole. Last year, 71 per cent of Haringey primary pupils achieved level 4 or above in English and maths. That marked an increase of five per cent from 2008 – far outstripping the 1 per cent national increase over the same time period.

At GCSE, grades improved for the eighth year running in 2011, so that the proportion of pupils earning five or more A* to C grades including English and maths is now closer than ever to the national average. I look forward to watching our young people continue to close that gap and surpass national standards.

Our special schools also continue to take great strides – offering a supportive and stimulating learning environment for some of our most vulnerable children. Our school improvement strategy is based on our proven track record in raising standards – as shown by this year’s encouraging results. That commitment from us applies to all of our schools. Whether they choose to adopt academy status or to stay within local authority control, we will support schools and parents in their choices.

Readers may not know that schools in Haringey are very popular. We are the fifth highest borough in London for the number of primary school aged pupils who live in neighbouring boroughs but attend our schools. Clearly, the challenges faced in Haringey in terms of poverty, mobility and language are significant. But we never use these challenges as an excuse, nor do we rely on them to explain underperformance.

We know our headteachers, staff and governing bodies share our ambition for higher standards. We are determined to see all our schools continue to improve and create more opportunities for every child in the borough.

Contact details

Councillor Kober's ward surgery and contact details are shown on her councillor web page.

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