A new primary school opened in SE16 last week: John Keats Primary School

The school is based in premises on Rotherhithe New Road originally intended for the failed Southwark Free School.

The controversial development was pushed through by then Mayor of London Boris Johnson despite opposition from Southwark Council.

By 2025 the new school will have an estimated 420 pupils and 60 staff.

Open days for admission to the reception class in 2019 start on Thursday 20 September.

Cavendish School – based at Lady Gomm House in Hawkstone Road – has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

The independent school was founded in 2000 to provide broad and balanced education for children who have been excluded from mainstream schools, and has been based at its present location since 2005.

Inspectors visited the school in May this year and found that “the school provides its pupils with an
outstanding education.

“Pupils make excellent progress and many experience success for the first time in their school care.”

The Poetry School – formerly based in Lambeth – has relocated to the Dock Offices in Surrey Quays Road.

Founded in 1997, the school is a registered charity and part of the Arts Council England portfolio of funded organisations.

The Victorian Dock Offices are owned by British Land.

The Poetry School has asked us to share this job advert:

Caretaker/Cleaner required

Canada Water, SE16

£10.20 per hour (London Living Wage)

Evening and weekends – hours to vary, but working 4 hours per weekday evening during term-time, with some Saturdays, and a total of 3 hours per week outside term-time

Closing date for applications: Friday 20 April, 6pm 

Locally-based caretaker and cleaner wanted for evening and weekend work at adult education arts charity in Canada Water, SE16.

We are looking for a reliable, friendly and conscientious person to undertake our caretaking and cleaning duties in the evenings and at weekends.

Main responsibilities include cleaning, acting as keyholder and locking up the premises in the evening, preparing classrooms for teaching, greeting tutors and students on arrival and providing assistance, for example, with photocopying and general queries. 

To apply, please send a cover letter explaining why you are suitable and a copy of your CV to [email protected].

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 25 April for a start date of Tuesday 8 May.

Education watchdog Ofsted has published its latest verdict on Bacon’s College – judged ‘inadequate’ by inspectors earlier this year.

Three inspectors visited the secondary school on 15 September for a follow-up visit and their letter to principal Chris Mallaband has now been made public.

According to Ofsted inspector Mark Phillips, “leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures”.

The inspectors also deemed the college’s action plan to be “fit for purpose”.

At the end of last term Bacon’s College announced it would be joining the United Learning chain of schools.

Surrey Quays is giving 16 to 24-year-olds the chance to embark on a free five-week training programme, designed to provide them with the skills they need to build a successful career in retail or hospitality.

The ‘Bright Lights Starting Out in Retail and Hospitality’ programme gets under way in October and will combine classroom teaching alongside work placements at one of Surrey Quays’ retail, food and beverage or leisure brands. At the end of the scheme, trainees will receive their formal qualifications at an official celebration event later this year.

Throughout the course, trainees will also get access to training from industry experts, support with interviews and CV writing, as well as a personal mentor.

The new programme will be funded by Surrey Quays’ owner British Land. It will be delivered in partnership with The Source Skills Academy – a leading centre of excellence for retail and customer service training.

To take part, young people need to sign up to the taster session on 4 October, which will provide them with a flavour of what the programme will involve and an opportunity to speak to some of the course leaders.

Ian Moore, centre manager at Surrey Quays, said: “The Bright Lights Starting Out in Retail and Hospitality programme is a fantastic way for young, unemployed people in Southwark to discover their potential and gain valuable experience of what it’s like to work in the dynamic retail and hospitality sectors.

“The programme coincides with busy recruitment periods at the centre so we, together with our retailers, can’t wait to welcome the new trainees and offer them on-the-job training and support so they can really kickstart their careers.”

Dianne Wainwright, Head of Operations at The Source Skills Academy, said: “We’re giving local young people the chance to obtain nationally recognised qualifications and work experience at some of the country’s biggest retail and hospitality brands.

“We urge Southwark’s young jobseekers to sign up to attend our taster session on 4thOctober, where they’ll get the chance to learn more about the course and hear about our many success stories first-hand.”

To find out more information or sign up to the taster session, email [email protected] or call 0114 263 5619.

Tree Shepherd – Start up and thrive programme from 4 October in Surrey Quays 

This project is offering free support to local businesses through mentoring and the first ‘Start Your Own Enterprise’ programme. The programme will run every Wednesday from 4 October 2017 for eight weeks, and enable budding businesses to explore why they want to run a business, understand their target markets and learn how to price and sell. It’s for anyone with an idea who is interested in taking it further.

The course is free for residents local to the SE16 area (includes nearby SE8 postcodes). Call 0203 948 3023 or email [email protected] for more information or go straight here to register: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SYOEinSE16

Bacon’s College has announced that it is joining the United Learning group of schools.

United Learning’s schools include Paddington Academy, Lambeth Academy, Walthamstow Academy and Guildford High School.

The school – which has more than three centuries of history in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe – was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted earlier this year.

Letters to parents from the headteacher and United Learning are available to download from the college website.