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The Charter School

East Dulwich

Secretary of State for Education

Education Secretary visits TCSED

The Secretary of State for Education, the Right Honourable Damian Hinds MP, visited The Charter School East Dulwich on Wednesday and met with a group of students from Year 9.

Jason-Derrecce quizzed the Secretary of State on the key features of an effective education system. “Teachers,” he responded, rather reassuringly. Anu asked Mr. Hinds how students could best cope with the mounting pressures of examinations. Mr. Hinds said that schools were much more humane places than when he was a student and much better at looking after student wellbeing. He acknowledged that exams were “stressy” but pointed out that managing stress was an important life skill.

Pia asked the Secretary of State for his views on fairness in the education sector, in particular the greater representation of students from independent schools at top universities. Mr. Hinds said that the current system was not yet as fair as it should be but that universities were getting better at spotting excellent students from all types of schools. “From the nature of this conversation,” he said, “I expect that to include many of you.”

The Secretary of State also met with the Headteacher, Mr. Crossman, and with Simon Tucker, the Chair of Governors, to talk about the school’s experience of opening as part of the Free Schools Programme.