Event: The Mayor's Education Conference 2013
Date: Friday 22 November 2013
Time: 9:30am-7pm (keynote speeches 9:30am-12pm)
Location: City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA
Website: www.london.gov.uk/priorities/young-people
Registration: For information, please email [email protected]
The Mayor's Education Conference 2013 will bring together London and national school leaders and international experts to debate what action is required to ensure schoolchildren in the capital receive a world class education that gives them the skills, knowledge and creativity needed for success.
Education is absolutely vital to London's future and the city's schools already have much to celebrate. The Mayor believes the next challenge is to make sure all young Londoners have the academic grounding required to compete with the outstanding talent London attracts from around the world.
Speakers at the conference include: • Boris Johnson, Mayor of London • Munira Mirza, Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture • Joel Klein, Chief Executive Officer, Amplify and former New York Education Commissioner • Andreas Schleicher, Deputy Director for Education and Skills at OECD and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the OECD’s Secretary-General • Professor David Hogan, former Principal Research Scientist, National Institute of Education, Singapore • Kaya Henderson, Chancellor of Washington DC Public Schools • Sander Dekker, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, the Netherlands
The conference will address priorities from the Mayor's Education Inquiry and draw on the GLA Education Programme to promote excellent teaching, including the London Schools Excellence Fund, London Schools Gold Club and London Curriculum. It will also see the launch of the Mayor's first annual report on education in London, and be followed by an evening reception at which high performing schools in the capital will be awarded membership of the new London Schools Gold Club.
Gold Club members are schools which have 'bucked the trend' by achieving exceptional outcomes for all their pupils, whatever their circumstances, and are sharing their exceptional practice with other London primary and secondary schools. With the Institute of Education/TES London Festival of Education (www.londonfestivalofeducation.com) taking place the following day, the Mayor's Education Conference 2013 forms part of an important education-focused weekend for the capital.
MEDIA ACCREDITATION: Media wishing to attend or find out more about the conference should email [email protected]. GENERAL PUBLIC/NON-MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100
Notes to editors
1. The Mayor launched the Education Inquiry in November 2011, as an independent investigation into the successes and challenges for London schools. Chaired by the education commentator, former teacher and CEO of Generating Genius, Dr Tony Sewell, the inquiry consulted widely to build a comprehensive analysis of education in the capital, as well as making a number of recommendations to promote excellent teaching in all London schools; prepare young Londoners for life and work; and ensure every London child can be given a good school place.
2. The inquiry found that London schools already perform very well against the national average. It showed that since 2004, London schools have outperformed the national average for achievement of 5 good GCSEs (including English and Maths) at Key Stage 4 (ages 14 to 16). It reported that 62 per cent of students in the capital achieve 5 GCSEs A*- C, including English and maths, compared to the national average of 58 per cent. However, 38% of London children left schools in 2012 without 5 good GCSEs and 20% of children started secondary school in September 2012 without reaching level 4 in English and Maths, at Key Stage 2.
3. The Intelligence Unit at the Greater London Authority, commissioned by the Mayor has developed the London Schools Atlas which provides a range of information about schools in London. www.london.gov.uk/london-schools-atlas.