Issue - meetings

For Cabinet to note and comment on the recommendations produced by the Teaching Commission. The Teaching Commission report is attached as Appendix A.

The Leader invited Ms Denise Fox, Chair of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham’s (LBHF) Teaching Commission, and a lifelong Fulham resident who taught in the borough for 42 years and was a former Headteacher of Fulham Cross Girls School.

She stated that the commission was launched in 2020 and their recommendations followed extensive research and engagement with stakeholders.  Ms Fox discussed the findings and recommendations of the LBHF Teaching Commission. Their findings concluded that the key issues could be broken down into national (teacher pay) and local factors. The local recommendations fell into six main key areas: Teacher Training and Personal Development, Health and Wellbeing, Flexible Working, Housing, Childcare and Parking. Their evidence had shown that focusing on recruitment and retention was crucial. She hoped that the Council would be able to take forward these recommendations. Ms Fox concluded by thanking the members of the commission, and the other people who contributed to it.

Councillor Alex Sanderson thanked the important work done by Ms Denise Fox and the commissioners to support the school community. She added that some of the recommendations in the report had already been implemented and the Council would be considering the others.

In reply to a question from Councillor Coleman, Ms Fox stated that it was difficult to say which of the recommendations were more important as schools were all very different, therefore they were all equally important.

The Leader acknowledged that to work 42 years in education in the Borough and still come back to help other teachers was heroic. And to nurture young minds was fundamental in a good society. He thanked Ms Denise Fox and the commissioners for this very solid piece of work. He added that the Council was working hard to provide affordable homes for teachers, which was also critical to help with teacher recruitment and retention.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

For Cabinet to note and comment on the recommendations produced by the Teaching Commission. The Teaching Commission report is attached as Appendix A.