Driving up aspirations

Sep 11 2007 By Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM secondary school has received national recognition for its work in tackling the culture of low aspirations and academic achievement amongst black boys.

Lordswood Boys in Hagley Road, Harborne, was marked out for praise by the REACH report - an independent inquiry set up by the Department of Communities and Local Government.

The report noted that the school has experienced "significant improvements in the attainment, attendance and discipline of its black boys."

This was achieved by launching a range of projects to engage with students exhibiting disaffection and under achievement.

One of the projects singled out in the report involves the boys working with primary school pupils, listening to them read and helping them to plan and prepare lessons.

Four out of every five of the Lords-wood pupils involved in the project improved their attendance, while 95 per cent achieved their target grade in exams at the age of 14, and everyone showed a reduction in detentions.

The leadership style of head teacher Hayden Abbott was also praised by the report's authors, together with the prominence of other black men and women in senior school leadership roles.

Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Edgbaston, said: "This is a timely and well-deserved recognition of the excellent work being carried out at Lordswood Boys by Hayden Abbott and his team.

"They provide positive role models to their pupils and are focused upon driving up aspirations and attainment, delivering huge improvements to results and the culture and ethos of the school.

"I have written to Mr Abbott to personally congratulate the school. Lordswood Boys is setting an example that I know other schools will be keen to follow."