Wow, time really does fly. Incredibly it’s almost five years since I launched this website. I’ve written thirty-odd blogs in that time, but one in particular will always stand out.
I’ve never sought to build a narrative through this blog, but reading over past articles two themes stand out: the importance of social justice and the power of education to build a better world. These two themes really fused in “every so often you meet someone special.”
Just drop me an email if you’d like to receive my monthly newsletter by email: cllr.michael.pavey@brent.gov.uk
I delivered this speech to the Brent School Governors’ Conference yesterday. It received a warm response, so I thought I’d share it online…
This Conference is about “The challenge of being challenging.”
But what do we really mean by challenge?
Scrutinising data, driving progress, pushing improvement. These all matter hugely.
But for me, the ultimate challenge is to uphold values in education.
Education is the most powerful force in the world. It can solve all our greatest problems: poverty, discrimination, cynicism, despair.
Education is vital for everyone, but it is those at the very bottom who need it the most. Those without wealth, connections or privilege. Those from broken homes or devastated countries.
Education is how the down-trodden can achieve a better future.
I went to school in Lincolnshire where we still have the traditional Eleven Plus.
One of my friends at Primary School always wanted to work in TV. She failed the Eleven Plus. The next day I overheard in the Post Office: “She’ll never be able to work in TV now, she’s failed the Eleven Plus” – to murmurs of agreement.
This is what the Eleven Plus does. It carves society into winners and losers; it emburdens children with social judgement – and all before they’re old enough to watch a Bond film at the cinema.
My old Primary School
As a Councillor you meet new people every day. Some are fun, some are interesting, quite frankly some are a pain.
But every so often you meet someone really special. Someone with a special gift.
Meet Jasmin Taylor of Class 5w at Wembley Primary School.
Michael Pavey 