Paper petition details
Stop Stepney Green Boy’s School becoming a mixed school
• Converting the school takes away the right of children to
attend a boys' school in the Borough.
• There are no other secular and non-religious boys' school
left in the Borough.
• Educational standard and financial stability are not
impacted whether the school is single sex or mixed. It depends on
many other relevant factors.
• The school has had good results for many years. The school
has not been held back due to it being a boys' school.
• The school should consult and respect the views of the
parents, other stakeholders and the local community.
• Single gender faith schools in Tower Hamlets are achieving
well. Single gender boys' schools are also achieving well in
the
• UK.
• It will adversely affect gender balance in Tower Hamlets
Schools.
• Currently, the school attracts children from diverse
cultural groups in Tower Hamlets and neighbouring Boroughs, which
will be impacted if the school is converted to a mixed
school.
• Evidence dictate, performance and discipline in single sex
schools are higher.
• Teacher retention and recruitment is not dependent on
whether it is a single sex school. Other factors play an important
role.
On reaching 2000 signatures
This Paper petition was received on 16/06/2019.
2000 people signed this Paper petition.
This is a paper petition received by the council. It has never been available for signature online.
Council response
Thank you for your petition and other correspondence on the matter of the changes at Stepney Green Boys school.
You will be aware that Mayor John Biggs did write to the DfE acknowledging the concerns that some members of the local community had raised directly with him.
The school is an academy and the decision to agree the proposal was made by the DfE after consideration of all the evidence, including an appraisal of the trust and school’s adherence to due process. The outcomes of the consultation did demonstrate that there are members of the local community that do support the proposal.
The DfE was satisfied that due process was correctly followed.
None the
less, the headteacher of Stepney Green School and the chief
executive of the Tower Trust have actively engaged with the Local
Authority to work on addressing the concerns in parts of the
community arising from the change.
Senior LA officers met with the headteacher of Stepney Green School
and the Chief Executive of the Tower Trust in July to agree a way
forward. A senior member of staff has been identified who will lead
on community relations. A stakeholder panel is in the process of
being established and will include a senior member of the
LA’s School Admissions Team. Members of the community group
who raised concerns with you have been invited to be represented on
this panel, but have so far not responded. The stakeholder panel
will provide a formal and minuted mechanism to engage with the
wider community and address any issues. Outreach work is
being
undertaken in local primary schools with children and their
families to explain the opportunities the school will provide and
to encourage bespoke/small group visits.
Our view is that leaders in the school have demonstrated a commitment to rebuilding community relationships with the group that did not support the change and are actively engaging in this work. I hope you are able to reassure your constituents that the school and the trust are committed to listening to and taking account of a range of views, however the management decisions which they make must be what they judge to be in the best interests of the school.
These decisions, however, will not necessarily be in line with the views of all members of the community.
Christine McInnes
Divisional Director, Education and Partnerships
Children and Culture Directorate