Page 13 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • July 2002 13
Tribal gets to grips with turning round education
Swindon's education department should not fall into the failed category any longer, now that private company Tribal Group has taken over
its management and direction.
The company won a three year Mr Simpson said his team would
contract to run the department af- be applying their wide range of
ter Swindon LEA failed its Ofsted experience to help weak schools
inspection in September 2001. But improve and give good schools
rather than turn over education to the freedom to progress. "Schools
private enterprise, a unique aspect have responsibility for delivering
of the arrangement is that the com- education; we want each one to
pany has to appoint and develop a grasp the benefits of autonomy and
senior management team em- develop to their full potential. We
ployed by Swindon Council to take need to build the trust of all the
over once the contract ends. stakeholders in the education serv-
Both Tribal and the new senior ice so that parents are confident in
officers are now answerable to an Swindon's schools."
Education Partnership Board made The Government has allocated a
up of teachers, governors, council- small amount of money to support
The Tribal team get down to work with Swindon's education officers. Centre
lors and church representatives, John Simpson, director of education, standing from left, Michael Daniels, Jean the new management structures,
rather than a council committee. Samuel, Martin Grant. Sitting, Sue Stockwell, head of lifelong learning, Chris but Tribal will have to work within
Tribal staff bring a wide range Swindon's existing education
of experience to the town. Interim Wilson, finance group manager, Kim Burgess, support services manager budget— long criticised as the low-
director of education John Simpson Michael Daniels spent seven and Hackney. Martin Grant is head est of any unitary authority.
comes with long experience and years running school management of school improvement and used Mr Simpson said the challenge
positive performance reports when support services in Hammersmith to work for the London Borough is to look at existing spending pat-
he was in charge of North Somer- and Fulham before working for of Camden. Jean Samuel is a former terns and to match them with the
set and the London Borough of Tribal to turn round failing educa- assistant director of education in needs of the future whilst bidding
Brent. tion authorities in Waltham Forest Portsmouth. for maximum financial support.

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