A SIXTH form college in south London has come up with a unique way of improving students' work.
The Archbishop, Michael Ramsey Technology College in Camberwell allows them to sit on interview panels when hiring teachers.
And teachers at the college, where 95 per cent of the 1,000-strong student body is from an African-Caribbean background, say the unique idea has led to a boost in levels of academic achievement.
Andrew Barker, acting head teacher, told The Voice: "They [the students] know what makes a good teacher; they know what equates to good learning ... their contribution in the recruitment process is vital since they are the ones who will experience the teacher."
He added: "We like to listen to our students. They have an input in the hiring of teaching staff, they get the chance to speak to the board [of governors] and overall it gives them a sense of responsibility,"
Boosting self-esteem
The unique idea came as part of the school's commitment to looking at ways of boosting the self-esteem of its students and getting them involved in the life of the college.
Already, Archbishop Michael Ramsey has a 25-strong college cabinet comprising head boys, head girls and senior prefects where they get the chance to meet with the head teacher every half term to speak about issues affecting the student body and the implication of decisions taken by the school's leadership.
The school's head boy, Olakunle Afolabi, agrees.
He said: "Good teachers know what they are doing, they know their subject and in the process makes learning fun and interactive."
According to Afolabi, a good teacher-student relationship cannot be overemphasised as this will determine how well a student performs.
"We look for someone we think is approachable and who will have a student's interests at heart," said Afolabi.
And it is an approach that has been praised by school inspector Ofsted.
OFSTED REPORT
The school's most recent Ofsted report said: "The college's outstanding care, guidance and support have a significant impact on students' personal development. Students are appreciative of the support and guidance they receive and the systematic mentoring programme. They have a sense that teachers want them to achieve their best. Parents and tutors discuss academic targets with students so they set personal goals mutually; these targets are then monitored systematically."
According to the report, no group of students underachieved in the 2004 and 2005 GCSE exams, and concluded that the overall teaching and learning strategies are satisfactory.
Barker told The Voice that there was a positive attitude towards learning and self-confidence among the pupils.
"There is an effective shift not just in terms of behaviour but how they represent the ethos of the institution."
He said the school, which attracts students from the surrounding areas of Lewisham, Catford and Brixton, recorded a 94 per cent attendance rate, higher than the national average.
For Barker, who will be taking up a new post in September as head teacher of the Bishops Ford Comprehensive in Merton, the aim is to create "a powerful school where students and staff understand their rights and responsibilities".
Elaine Murphy, a press officer at the Department for Education and Skills, welcomed the school's innovation and said she was not aware of other schools using the same techniques to recruit its teachers.
"We won't dictate to schools how they should recruit teachers nor will we say who they should use on their interview panels. It's all down to the individual school," she said.
The Voice is a British newspaper owned by the Gleaner Company.
