- Copland Science Specialist College
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Copland Community School Motto E Liberate Virtus Type Foundation secondary school Religion mixed Headteacher Mr Graeme Plunkett Chair vacant pending reorganisation[1] Specialisms Science Location Cecil Avenue
Wembley
Middlesex
HA9 7DX
EnglandLocal authority Brent LEA DfE URN 101558 Ofsted Reports Students 1,905[2] Gender Mixed Ages 11–19 Also called Copland Community School Also called Copland Community College (A Specialist Science College) Website Copland Community College Coordinates: 51°33′10″N 0°17′24″W / 51.5527°N 0.2899°W
Copland Science Specialist College is a secondary school located in Wembley, northwest London, in London Borough of Brent, England.
Contents
Description of Copland
Copland is multi-cultural secondary school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 19
92% of students are of minority ethnic origin, 36% qualify for free school meals, over 50 different languages are spoken by students Copland recently received recognition as being one of the fastest improving schools in the country. Copland has been accepted as a Beacon school. Teachers and students alike speak many languages including Tamil (Thamizh), Arabic, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Punjabi, Russian, Shona, Somalian, Spanish and Urdu.[3]
From year 7 to year 9 all students study and Construction, Personal, Social and Health Education and Information Technology. There is also a support faculty. The Support Faculty tries to makes sure that children with Special Educational Needs achieve success and that students who have English as an additional language receive individual support. In Years 10 and 11 students, on the whole, continue to study in mixed ability groups with setting only in Mathematics and Science. Students study up to nine GCSE subjects from a wide range of options and can drop subjects like Design Technology, Drama, Music, Art etc if they wish.
Governors
The basic function of the Governing Body is to determine the school's main policies. These policies are then implemented by the Headteacher who is in charge of the day-to-day running of the school and answerable to the Governors. The full Governing Body meets termly, with sub-committees meeting more frequently. Visits to the school take place throughout the year.
Recognition by the Queen
In 2003, D Richard Evans, one of the deputy heads of Copland, received an MBE for services to education. He has been a teacher for more than 1[clarification needed] years.[4] In January 2000, Copland headteacher Mr Alan Davies was knighted in the Queen's birthday list. Mr Alan Davies sought to individualise the school, transforming exam results and attracting more parents. Copland was threatened with closure a year after Alan Davies took over as head in 1988. However he transformed the school and 12 years later got his knighthood[5]
Sir Alan and his bonus
Sir Alan Davies, the headteacher, was rewarded with £130,960 bonus in two years on top of his salary.[6] Sir Alan received a bonus of £50,000 two years ago and £80,000 last year to reward extra work done on top of his job as the school's head. This took his annual salary to more than £160,000. As a result, the teachers at Copland declared a vote of no confidence in a head teacher's bonuses.[7] Also nearly 100 staff at Copland have vowed to strike after three teachers were suspended after being a whistleblower to the media.[8] The story wasn't just in the local media, it was in the national media as well [8] from the Daily Mail [9] the Daily Telegraph and [10] The Guardian.
Staff suspensions
In 2009, head teacher Sir Alan Davies, deputy head Dr Richard Evans and school bursar Columbus Udokoro were all suspended due to the "serious" allegations about pay and bonuses.[11] The suspensions come after former Copland teacher and union representative claimed that almost £1m had been paid in bonuses to the senior management team at the school over the past seven years. Children's Secretary Ed Balls spoke of his "grave concerns" about the allegations and said he was pleased officials had acted "swiftly and decisively". Dr IP Patel MBE, chair of governors at the school, who had strongly supported and justified this "illegal" bonus culture was sacked by Ed Balls in order to save the school from further embarrassment.[1]
Philip O’Hear, headteacher of Capital City Academy, in Doyle Gardens, Willesden, has been appointed acting headteacher while the investigation is carried out to make sure the school continues to operate without affecting the pupils.[12]
The Headteacher has since resigned his post and Dr Richard Evans was dismissed. Both of their cases have been referred to the General Teaching Council.
Notable former students
- Kerrea Gilbert, Arsenal footballer
- Raheem Sterling, Liverpool FC and England national under-19 football team footballer
References
- ^ a b Richard Garner (24 June 2009). "Balls sacks governors over £1.6m bonus payments". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/balls-sacks-governors-over-16316m-bonus-payments-1715979.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ Copland - A Specialist Science Community College. Ofsted (29 March 2006). Retrieved on 2008-03-30.[dead link]
- ^ "Black pupils given learning boost". BBC News. 7 October 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4319908.stm. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/search/383643.Queen_honours_two_linked_with_Kenton_school/
- ^ http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=329513
- ^ http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/4274063.Headteacher_attacked_for___130_000_bonuses/
- ^ "No confidence in bonus row head". BBC News. 23 April 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8012799.stm. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ a b http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-news/local-harrow-news/2009/04/23/wembley-school-staff-set-to-strike-116451-23455690/
- ^ Paton, Graeme (6 April 2009). "Bonus culture 'banking sickness' spreading to state schools, ATL conference told The bonus culture "sickness" in banking is spreading to state schools as senior staff are paid thousands of pounds in performance-related payments, a teaching activist has claimed.". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/5115832/Bonus-culture-banking-sickness-spreading-to-state-schools-ATL-conference-told.html. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ Lipsett, Anthea (7 April 2009). "City greed and bonus culture 'infecting state schools'". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/apr/07/education-ed-balls-bonuses-management. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ "Bonus secondary head suspended". BBC News. 13 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8047700.stm. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-news/local-harrow-news/2009/05/13/headteacher-suspended-after-bonus-controversy-116451-23614383/
External links
- School website[[Category:Comprehensive schools in London
The copland community school's uniform is white shirt,black skirt or trouser,black and orange tie with copland logoed jumper,cardigan or blazer.Students can does not have to wear blazer all the time.However,students are only allowed to wear other jackets then copland jacket.
Categories:- Science Colleges in London
- Education in Brent
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