Trevor Averre-Beeson
Encyclopedia
Trevor Averre-Beeson, FRSA is a British
schoolteacher who became the youngest secondary Headteacher in the UK, when he was appointed, in 1996, Head of Mayfield School, Redbridge, London
, a post he held for 7 years.
. He obtained a BSc degree in economics at Bradford
and a DipEd
at Leeds
.
, quickly progressing to become the Head of the School's Six form College in 1988. He moved to Islington Green School
in 2002. Islington Green had a troubled past. It was the school Tony Blair refused to send his children to despite his public commitment to comprehensive education. It controversially failed its Ofsted inspection in 1997 with many saying the decision was a political one; to excuse the Blair's decision to choose another school but also as a softening-up of local education authorities to pave the way for privatisation (Islington was the first borough to be handed over to private contractors, when Cambridge Education Associates took control in April 2000) and to show the teacher unions - particularly strong in the borough - who was really in charge of nothing.
Nine months after Averre-Beeson joined the school it passed its inspection and the Registered Inspector described him as “Visionary and Transformational” – communicating his effective vision to parents, teachers and students alike. In 2004 Tony Blair
’s former speech writer Peter Hyman joined the school and wrote his book One out of ten, comparing Averre-Beeson's leadership style favourably with Blair. Hyman and Averre-Beeson worked together to start the process of Islington Green becoming an Academy in 2008. The decision for the school to become an Academy was instigated by Trevor for financial reasons and the political implications were a secondary consideration. Becoming an Academy meant handing over the power of the school governors to the private investors (who fund a fractional portion of the school compared with the government) who can then effect massive changes upon the staff and school. The decision to become an Academy was unsuccessfully resisted.
In 2007 Averre-Beeson (proper egg) was appointed Executive Head of Salisbury School in North London by the private firm Edison Schools, to effect his brand of transformation on the second poorest school in London.
Soon along with his team, he had reduced 200 exclusions to zero, doubled the key exam indicator and set the ground work to successfully pass its OFSTED inspection 5 terms after joining the school. Meanwhile the school had been refurbished in his trademark purple and changed its name to Turin Grove.
In January 2009 he founded Lilac Sky Schools with two educational partners and became its Director of Education – broadening his chance to influence underachieving schools throughout the UK.
(FRSA).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
schoolteacher who became the youngest secondary Headteacher in the UK, when he was appointed, in 1996, Head of Mayfield School, Redbridge, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, a post he held for 7 years.
Education
He attended the Sunbury Grammar SchoolSunbury manor school
Sunbury Manor School is a state-owned comprehensive secondary school in Sunbury-on-Thames, in Middlesex, England,-Admissions:The school accepts pupils in its catchment area, between the ages of 11-16 . There is a waiting list for pupils who wish to join the school after Year 7. Its current...
. He obtained a BSc degree in economics at Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
and a DipEd
Diploma of Education
The Diploma of Education, often abbreviated to DipEd or GradDipEd, is a postgraduate qualification offered in many Commonwealth countries including Australia, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom...
at Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
.
Career
A decade earlier, and within a few years of qualifying, Trevor Averre-Beeson had attained a head of year position at the Boswells Comprehensive SchoolBoswells School
The Boswells School is a large, age 11-18, neighbourhood comprehensive school which offers a seven year education for students. Situated in the town of Chelmsford, Essex, England, it offers secondary age education with qualifications up to GCSEs and A-Levels...
, quickly progressing to become the Head of the School's Six form College in 1988. He moved to Islington Green School
Islington Green School
Islington Green School was a comprehensive mixed secondary school from 1966 to 2008. The school was situated in North London and had an age range of 11 to 16. The City of London Academy in Islington replaced Islington Green School in September 2008...
in 2002. Islington Green had a troubled past. It was the school Tony Blair refused to send his children to despite his public commitment to comprehensive education. It controversially failed its Ofsted inspection in 1997 with many saying the decision was a political one; to excuse the Blair's decision to choose another school but also as a softening-up of local education authorities to pave the way for privatisation (Islington was the first borough to be handed over to private contractors, when Cambridge Education Associates took control in April 2000) and to show the teacher unions - particularly strong in the borough - who was really in charge of nothing.
Nine months after Averre-Beeson joined the school it passed its inspection and the Registered Inspector described him as “Visionary and Transformational” – communicating his effective vision to parents, teachers and students alike. In 2004 Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
’s former speech writer Peter Hyman joined the school and wrote his book One out of ten, comparing Averre-Beeson's leadership style favourably with Blair. Hyman and Averre-Beeson worked together to start the process of Islington Green becoming an Academy in 2008. The decision for the school to become an Academy was instigated by Trevor for financial reasons and the political implications were a secondary consideration. Becoming an Academy meant handing over the power of the school governors to the private investors (who fund a fractional portion of the school compared with the government) who can then effect massive changes upon the staff and school. The decision to become an Academy was unsuccessfully resisted.
In 2007 Averre-Beeson (proper egg) was appointed Executive Head of Salisbury School in North London by the private firm Edison Schools, to effect his brand of transformation on the second poorest school in London.
Soon along with his team, he had reduced 200 exclusions to zero, doubled the key exam indicator and set the ground work to successfully pass its OFSTED inspection 5 terms after joining the school. Meanwhile the school had been refurbished in his trademark purple and changed its name to Turin Grove.
In January 2009 he founded Lilac Sky Schools with two educational partners and became its Director of Education – broadening his chance to influence underachieving schools throughout the UK.
FRSA
In 2007, Trevor Averre-Beeson was named as one of the top 100 up and coming most influential people in London in the Evening Standard’s Poll and became a Fellow of the Royal Society of ArtsRoyal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(FRSA).
External links
- Trevor Averre-Beeson personal webpage
- The Guardian, Tuesday 7 August 2007
- TES, 11 May 2007