Islington News: Education | John Foster / Derek Sawyer/ Pat Haynes

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 25 July 2008

New Islington chief executive John Foster, centre, with ex-Labour council leader Derek Sawyer, left, and Pat Haynes secretary of Islington Fabians

Education a high priority

NEW “hands-on” chief executive John Foster told a meeting of Labour activists this week that a big priority would be to improve the borough’s flagging secondary schools.
Mr Foster, who is being paid at least £194,000 with bonuses and has been in the job just seven weeks, said the image of a desk-bound chief executive was seriously out of date.
He saw his role in Islington as getting out of the town hall as much as possible, meeting people, and listening to what they had to say.
Addressing Islington Fabian Society at the town hall on Wednesday, he added that his aim was to help the council deliver its services as effectively as possible.
He said: “I’m interested in looking at specific programmes and making sure that they work and are value for money.”
Mr Foster, who recently received the CBE for services to local government (he was previously chief executive of Wakefield council) said secondary schools needed to improve more quickly.
“There have been good steady improvements in primary education and improvements in secondary schools, but from a very low base.
“I’m not saying secondary schools are not improving but they need to do so at a faster rate.”
He wants additional support in schools to provide children who need it with additional coaching, mentoring and tuition.
“We need to make sure that young people are using the whole of the school timetable to full effect. That includes weekends.”
Referring to Islington’s large areas of social deprivation, he added: “It’s essential to address poverty and family support. The government has introduced many new support schemes to tackle child poverty and provide support for single parents, and we need to ensure that they are implemented.”
Asked about the sell-off of hundreds of council-owned properties, Mr Foster said he sympathised with the small businesses who had to bid for their council-owned premises against large developers.
He added: “The council needs to raise money for projects and improvements.
“It has chosen to sell off property it doesn’t need to own. I know that this has been contentious but it was a judgment call and the only way I believe they were able to raise the significant amount of money they need.”

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