Spa & cola

Today was a day for two school visits - both in St Anne's parish - as part of the process of getting to know  the community here in Bermondsey and in attempt to forge links with local schools. 

The City of London Academy (Southwark), locally known as COLA ( but not to be confused with the fizzy drink) has 1200 girls and boys in the school, including a growing sixth form.

I was impressed with the very well-appointed  building and also with the quiet orderly atmosphere of the school  - quite an achievement with 1200 teenagers moving about on a relatively small site.

As a former science teacher I found it very nostalgic to visit the science labs, with their very distinctive school science lab smell (what is that smell?). I don't know if teenage boys still like to light gas taps or connect Bunsen Burners to the water taps but there was no evidence of that today. Perhaps the presence of girls is a civilising influence (I taught in an all boys school).

I enjoyed visiting the City of  London Academy and look forward to going back.

Later, to Spa School in Monnow Road, a special school for secondary school children with autism or Asperger's syndrome. There are 90 young people aged 11-19 in the school and nearly as many staff. About 90 per cent of the students are boys, reflecting the gender distribution of autism in the general population.

It was fascinating to be shown around the school and to see how the special educational needs of the children are met. The young people are in small classes of 7-8 and there may be 3-4 adults with each class.

Shortly we will be welcoming a class in a visit to St Anne's.

The school has a beautifully tranquil garden, very important for the young people, and a cafe, the School House Cafe (the former house of the schoolkeeper), which is open to the public and partly run by the students. I particularly recommend the cappucinos.

On the school website some formers pupils share their memories of their time at Spa:

'I'm travelling independantly out of London and I travelled to France.'
'I've developed a sense of humour and learned to laugh at my mistakes'
'I learned how to relax'
'In year 7, I was afraid to try new things and wanted things to be predictable, but nowadays I'm alright with change and trying new things'
'I thought I would never travel on my own or do work outside school, but now because I have tried and experienced both, I enjoy working and travelling.'

I  somehow think these comments are worth a dozen OfSted reports.

Spa School