Ed Sheridan, Local Democracy Reporter
Published:
1:04 PM May 13, 2021
Headteacher Richard Brown and Urswick School headgirl Melissa Hussain.
- Credit: Archant
A Hackney headteacher has called for “urgent” action after hearing some local children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are only getting one hour of education a day.
At a recent children and young people’s scrutiny commission meeting, Richard Brown, executive head at both the Urswick School and pupil referral unit New Regent’s College, relayed reports of poor quality practice from students who had been at New Regent’s before being placed in special schools outside the borough.
Hackney Free School in Kingsland Road, Dalston
- Credit: Google
Hackney New School (HNS) is set to complain to broadcasting regulator Ofcom over an ITV News report that detailed allegations of extreme disciplinary measures, including pupils in detention being referred to as “detainees”.
HNS, in Kingsland Road, Dalston, was taken over by the Community Schools Trust (CST) in November 2019 following a damning Ofsted report which forced it to shut because it was “unsafe” for students, is seeking an apology from ITV through Ofcom.
It claims the report was unfair in the context of how much the school has improved since then.
Hackney New School brought in Britain s toughest headteacher Barry Smith last February to improve standard after the east London school was described as unsafe in an Ofsted report.