Paul Johnston » Education

Have you been checked?

pauljohnston — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:05:30 +0000

Readers will have gathered from the exchange between self and Martin de Kauwe (see Recent Comments) that I am an ex-teacher. In fact I taught History to secondary age boys and sixth formers of both genders for 32 years all told.

Recently I was asked along with other councillors to volunteer to have a young person work alongside me for a short time so they could get an idea what councillors actually do. It’s part of their citizenship education, I think. I could hardly refuse, given my background.

However I was apparently unsuitable because of the absence of a recent CRB check. As it happens I had a CRB check about 5 years ago and still have the Certificate to prove it. I have served continuously as a councillor ever since, so the Council knows whether I have done anything criminal during that time. But it appears that the check was out of date and would have to be renewed – at cost, of course.

These vetting procedures sound all very well in theory but one wonders whether the supposed need to repeat them regularly is a real one or a job creation scheme wrapped up in another revenue raising scam by You Know Who.

Posted in Education, Personal

Association dinner

pauljohnston — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:38:34 +0000

Excellent attendance last night at Kingston and Surbiton Conservatives’ annual dinner.

Apart from a great meal we were treated to an amusing after dinner speech by Justine Greening MP, just coming to the end of her first term as MP for Putney. It was very appropriate as she and Helen Whately have much in common and we’re all hoping that Helen will join her as one of a growing body of young Conservative women in the House after the Election.

I was particularly heartened to meet new people from Surbiton Hill who have recently joined the Association and one of our candidates in St. Mark’s Ward who helped to organise the very successful Farmers’ Market in Maple Road last Saturday.

It really is great to see the energy and dynamism of new people coming into the party these days. For myself I am more enthusiastic about the quality of the slate of candidates we have ready for next year’s Council election than I have been since Wansdyke in 1976. I can’t wait to see what they’ll do in the Guildhall!

Posted in Conservatives, Education, Kingston, Politics, Ward

Parents petition for new school

pauljohnston — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:32:13 +0000

There’s a school place shortage in Surbiton. It’s causing considerable concern to parents with children approaching school age. I have had quite a bit of mail on the subject and visits to ward surgeries.

Now there’s an e-petition from Helen Whately and others, which I’m supporting, together with Nick Kilby.

Please see the link in the article posted on the Surbiton Hill Councillors’ ward blog and sign the petition on line. More than one person per household may sign

Posted in Education, Kingston, Ward