Let’s celebrate our schools’ success

I see some fantastic work being carried out with, and by, our young people and look forward to the time when we – as a whole borough – can agree education standards are rising and our schools and teachers deserve to be celebrated.

Friday will see the first Thurrock Education Awards, a chance to celebrate just some of the marvellous successes and the fulfilment of one of our education commission commitments.

Four years ago, only 33 per cent of Thurrock’s primaryage children went to a school described as “good” or “outstanding”

by Ofsted.

Today, despite a harsher inspection regime, 75 per cent of Thurrock primary pupils attend a good or outstanding school. That’s still not good enough, but it shows we are on the right road.

I am looking forward to the awards. The keynote speaker will be Bill Lucas, a respected education academic, who has worked with and praised Thurrock in the recent past and who says he is looking forward to working with us again.

I believe that in his time with us he was impressed by our determination to ensure the young people of Thurrock have the best possible chances in an area that is, and will be, creating exciting job opportunities.

The most important thing about tomorrow is that it is the first Thurrock-wide celebration of education. It shows how the old allegations of in-fighting and non-co-operation are things of the past.

I am sure the Thurrock education awards will go from strength to strength. They will become an integral part of the school year, led by schools and organised by schools.

This year, the council played a co-ordinating role, but I expect that role to become increasingly arm’s length. The council and the schools, the councillors and the whole education sector in Thurrock are now pulling in the same direction and that will ensure our joint celebrations of success piled on success will continue.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate each and every one of the 100-plus nominees.

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