... fair choice 'needs good schools'.
Just today, Mr Balls (our Education Secretary) promised a national plan to improve 638 schools deemed to be struggling in England. He said, "Where one school is doing well and nearby schools are struggling, that is not real choice for parents", he told head teachers. Really?
Oh good. Perhaps they'll get round to doing something about the Lafford very very quickly! Contact Ed Balls and let him know what you think :-)
Saturday, 8 March 2008
Friday, 7 March 2008
Shropshire school
I encourage you to read this Shropshire Star article 'Have lessons been learned?' looking back at a battle to save school 22 years ago. Perhaps we can look back and learn something. The Corbet School was not always the success it is today. Yes, it has increased in size and has now become very popular indeed. What can Billinghay learn from their experiences?
David Smith, a grandfather from Myddle looks back on their battle:
“We had children at the school and faced the prospect of the school being closed due to the assumption by Shropshire County Council that the falling birth rate in the school’s catchment area would result in the school not being able to meet its intake requirement. The parents, governors and the PTA fought a campaign to keep the school open and won. The fact is the council got it wrong - their ‘assumption’ on falling intake numbers was wrong.”
Could we be saying the same thing in a few years? Never give up! Let us learn from the experiences of other people and keep moving forward.
David Smith, a grandfather from Myddle looks back on their battle:
“We had children at the school and faced the prospect of the school being closed due to the assumption by Shropshire County Council that the falling birth rate in the school’s catchment area would result in the school not being able to meet its intake requirement. The parents, governors and the PTA fought a campaign to keep the school open and won. The fact is the council got it wrong - their ‘assumption’ on falling intake numbers was wrong.”
Could we be saying the same thing in a few years? Never give up! Let us learn from the experiences of other people and keep moving forward.
Friday outside the school
A good number of folk gathered together at 11.00am for a peaceful protest against the planned closure of the school. It was a lively and friendly bunch of local folk. A large number of young people came out of school at break time to swell the numbers. A 'Citizenship' lesson, but this time in real life. We complain about young people not being bothered to vote. Well, the Lafford young people certainly voted, with their feet.
Parents were talking about what was happening in their homes with their children. Hardly any of them could concentrate on normal lessons. All they could think and worry about was the closure of their school. Their worries and questions had increased. These are young people who have been creating petitions, rallying round and generally motivating themselves (and their parents) to do something.
A Lincs FM reporter arrived to do some interviews. Not sure if they have already been on air, but I think he was quite surprised at what he was witnessing. Sadie from the Sleaford Standard came along for some photographs. The young people were certainly vocal. Eventually it was time to return to school, and with a bit of encouragement all were accounted for. Phew!
Everyone knows that there is much to do. It looks like Douglas Hogg, our MP, has agreed to see parents at in Sleaford next Friday. I don't have any more details on that, so if someone does will you please post it as a comment here and I will publicise it. This is the first step in gaining some ground on being heard. At the moment that is the least we can ask. A fair hearing is what local people want. We are all reasonable people, upset, yes, but all still reasonable. We must not forget that each parent who is stepping up to the plate wants the very best for their child. Now, that is a laudable thing.
It was a pleasure to see all the parents, young people and staff at the school gate (Note: the staff were NOT protesting, they were just collecting children and returning them to their classes!). Thanks everyone for a pleasant, peaceful protest and great publicity. I am getting to know so many new folk, I love it. I knew that the people who lived here were cool, I just didn't realise how many of you are out there! So whoever organised this Friday's meeting, well done.
Have a restful and stress-free weekend :-)
Latest Lincolnshire Echo article
Parents left frustrated by school closure meeting
While I think parents were frustrated, I sensed that the Director of Children's Services and Executive head were probably more than frustrated. There was a distinct inability to communicate properly with the people. Are they really the people who are running our education?
If you want to contact one of our four elected representatives, find their details here. Just type in your postcode and you will get a list of all our elected representatives.
Write to Them
Who are they?
Member of Parliament - Douglas Hogg (Con)
Lincolnshire County Councillor - Patricia Bradwell (Con)
NK District Councillor - Mike Powell (Ind)
NK District Councillor - Fred Ambridge (Con)
Please add your comments to the echo website and here too! And don't forget to write to your elected representatives, that's what they are there for. I especially urge all our young people to get writing. This is an excellent opportunity to say something that will make a difference. It's called democracy.
While I think parents were frustrated, I sensed that the Director of Children's Services and Executive head were probably more than frustrated. There was a distinct inability to communicate properly with the people. Are they really the people who are running our education?
If you want to contact one of our four elected representatives, find their details here. Just type in your postcode and you will get a list of all our elected representatives.
Write to Them
Who are they?
Member of Parliament - Douglas Hogg (Con)
Lincolnshire County Councillor - Patricia Bradwell (Con)
NK District Councillor - Mike Powell (Ind)
NK District Councillor - Fred Ambridge (Con)
Please add your comments to the echo website and here too! And don't forget to write to your elected representatives, that's what they are there for. I especially urge all our young people to get writing. This is an excellent opportunity to say something that will make a difference. It's called democracy.
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Thursday meeting
Well, well, well! What can I say after the meeting at the Lafford High School! Full house, loads of questions (most of which remained unanswered), very very cross parents, eloquent young people, emboldened young people. They were incredible. Billinghay should be proud of these young people, and we are. Perhaps a couple of you would like to join the Parish Council soon (you need to be 18).
There were so many questions, it was quite unbelievable. The truth was that the bodies in place did not satisfy the questions the people asked. There were just not listening to what people had to say. No county councillor spoke up or defended the management they had put in authority. It was embarrassing to watch a head and director crumble with no real or substantial answers. There were criticisms of management, of the difficult situations they had put their employees in. Still no result.
At the start we were reassured that no decision had been made. But, sadly, every sentence they said revealed their decision. No matter what the people said! It was as if there were totally hard of hearing.
Every Child Matters. Hmmmm.... Make your own mind up on that one. Young people spoke from their hearts, citing examples of bullying, poor options choices, excellent teachers who cared for them.... All the talk of 'Every Child Matters' really did not add up, all empty words. The arithmetic clearly did not add up.
The teachers were praised, the SENCo was singled out, another was voted in as an alternative head teacher. It was phenomenal. Eventually, people sloped off, discouraged and ready to give up.
Questions remains...
In the league tables of unsustainable schools across the fair county of Lincolnshire, where does the Lafford High School lie? Are we at the top, middle or at the bottom? In a county filled with schools, why did they pick Billinghay? We would still like to know!
There were so many questions, it was quite unbelievable. The truth was that the bodies in place did not satisfy the questions the people asked. There were just not listening to what people had to say. No county councillor spoke up or defended the management they had put in authority. It was embarrassing to watch a head and director crumble with no real or substantial answers. There were criticisms of management, of the difficult situations they had put their employees in. Still no result.
At the start we were reassured that no decision had been made. But, sadly, every sentence they said revealed their decision. No matter what the people said! It was as if there were totally hard of hearing.
Every Child Matters. Hmmmm.... Make your own mind up on that one. Young people spoke from their hearts, citing examples of bullying, poor options choices, excellent teachers who cared for them.... All the talk of 'Every Child Matters' really did not add up, all empty words. The arithmetic clearly did not add up.
The teachers were praised, the SENCo was singled out, another was voted in as an alternative head teacher. It was phenomenal. Eventually, people sloped off, discouraged and ready to give up.
Questions remains...
In the league tables of unsustainable schools across the fair county of Lincolnshire, where does the Lafford High School lie? Are we at the top, middle or at the bottom? In a county filled with schools, why did they pick Billinghay? We would still like to know!
What did I learn?
The clear message was:
WE WANT AND NEED THE LAFFORD SCHOOL IN BILLINGHAY.
Not sure if they heard that!
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Not all it appears to be....
It appears that the County Council's version of events isn't strictly as reported. I have it on good authority that some Governors of the Lafford High School deny that they determined the closure of the school. So who did? Cllr Christine Talbot was interviewed by Rodders last Thursday and said it was the Governors of the Lafford. Is it true? Will we ever find out? Do you care?
So, what is to be done? Meet at the school on Thursday at 6.00pm, please. Come and see for yourself, ask questions, talk to the Governors and others, whoever is there. Don't take my word for it. This is a decision that will affect generations in the village.
National Association for Small Schools
The NASS (National Association for Small Schools) wrote this letter to support the parents and concerned community members in Billinghay.
What do you think about what they have to say? Is is as clear cut as the governors and authorities have made it out to be?
__
Though the Association largely deals with primary schools we find ourselves increasingly involved with secondary school cases such as Billinghay Lafford. We despair when governors accept the often flawed arguments about future prospects and educational viability (Explanation: This is based on all the reports that the Governors decided to close the school. No other reports have been received. This is the only evidence that exists so far.) Just now birth-rate is rising and back where it started to fall. DEFRA and the Commission for Rural Communities predict a significant migration from town to country which we see already happening in Cornwall, Cumbria and Somerset. Meanwhile surplus space can be very productively used or, as the Government has suggested, mothballed. The test of any school of any size is its performance. We believe Lincolnshire generally well-served by its rural secondaries, not least where selection still creams off higher ability pupils. Fairfield Community School in Herefordshire serves a very rural area and has an average roll a little over 300. It has twice won glowing praise from OFSTED and the last time, in 2007, was told it was “outstanding in everything it does.” That includes providing a broad and balanced curriculum. Currently it is the second best secondary school in the country in maths and English attainment and Value Added. US and Australian evidence argues that smaller schools are better for pupils, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that as school becomes larger the gap between rich and poor widens. The Scottish Government in 2006 reported that pupils in its smallest primary schools (far from being havens of privilege) had a 25% higher chance of entering higher education while children in those schools from disadvantaged backgrounds actually make progress where their urban counterparts remain under-performing and disaffected, often expensively. Rural poverty is again a headline today. Small schools are the answer, especially when children are young. Parents in Morayshire rejected the LEA plan to close two small secondary schools and build a new super-school. The Council accepted their wishes. NASS knows parents can have confidence in small-scale education. A good small school knows its parents well and exploits their interest and loyalty creatively and effectively. The impact on students can be highly positive.
The potential for a professionally well-managed small school to succeed is high. Finance is often a factor behind closure, not least of small primary schools. However, the LEA should be worried at the significant escalation in transport costs in recent years. Scottish Councils agree £1500 per pupil per year per five-mile journey. One of our Shropshire members confirms this figure as they argue against closure. That figure is rising rapidly, predicted to increase 30% just in 2008. The cost of heating, lighting, cleaning and repair of a small village school building is now on average less than the cost of a bus to take them elsewhere and the cost of a newly-qualified teacher. Long journeys for 250 pupils for six years will be prohibitively expensive. We need more creative vision and financing from local authorities and more respect from the profession for the humanity of scale that small size offers. Why is the Gulbenkian Federation funding £3m of research into making secondary schools smaller in scale? Why are US authorities so rapidly trying to make their elementary and high schools smaller? Fairfield succeeds through very flexible approaches to the way teaching and learning are organised. Selected science lessons are in classes of 60-75 pupils and praised by OFSTED. Smaller schools are often very good at flexibility. The impact of closure on primary schools and pupils is important. Local jobs and other important economic factors remain central to rural sustainability. The test for Billinghay will be the assessment as parents, pupils and governors of the professional qualities currently represented and reflected in future planning. Only if on that assessment do all see no hope should closure be contemplated. Otherwise the school better serves its own distinctive communities and needs by remaining open and taking its own work forward perhaps extended where appropriate through local collaboration with other smaller rural schools.
Mervyn Benford
Information Officer
National Association for Small Schools
Let us know what you think, please, and join the meeting on Thursday 6th March at 6.00pm.
What do you think about what they have to say? Is is as clear cut as the governors and authorities have made it out to be?
__
Though the Association largely deals with primary schools we find ourselves increasingly involved with secondary school cases such as Billinghay Lafford. We despair when governors accept the often flawed arguments about future prospects and educational viability (Explanation: This is based on all the reports that the Governors decided to close the school. No other reports have been received. This is the only evidence that exists so far.) Just now birth-rate is rising and back where it started to fall. DEFRA and the Commission for Rural Communities predict a significant migration from town to country which we see already happening in Cornwall, Cumbria and Somerset. Meanwhile surplus space can be very productively used or, as the Government has suggested, mothballed. The test of any school of any size is its performance. We believe Lincolnshire generally well-served by its rural secondaries, not least where selection still creams off higher ability pupils. Fairfield Community School in Herefordshire serves a very rural area and has an average roll a little over 300. It has twice won glowing praise from OFSTED and the last time, in 2007, was told it was “outstanding in everything it does.” That includes providing a broad and balanced curriculum. Currently it is the second best secondary school in the country in maths and English attainment and Value Added. US and Australian evidence argues that smaller schools are better for pupils, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that as school becomes larger the gap between rich and poor widens. The Scottish Government in 2006 reported that pupils in its smallest primary schools (far from being havens of privilege) had a 25% higher chance of entering higher education while children in those schools from disadvantaged backgrounds actually make progress where their urban counterparts remain under-performing and disaffected, often expensively. Rural poverty is again a headline today. Small schools are the answer, especially when children are young. Parents in Morayshire rejected the LEA plan to close two small secondary schools and build a new super-school. The Council accepted their wishes. NASS knows parents can have confidence in small-scale education. A good small school knows its parents well and exploits their interest and loyalty creatively and effectively. The impact on students can be highly positive.
The potential for a professionally well-managed small school to succeed is high. Finance is often a factor behind closure, not least of small primary schools. However, the LEA should be worried at the significant escalation in transport costs in recent years. Scottish Councils agree £1500 per pupil per year per five-mile journey. One of our Shropshire members confirms this figure as they argue against closure. That figure is rising rapidly, predicted to increase 30% just in 2008. The cost of heating, lighting, cleaning and repair of a small village school building is now on average less than the cost of a bus to take them elsewhere and the cost of a newly-qualified teacher. Long journeys for 250 pupils for six years will be prohibitively expensive. We need more creative vision and financing from local authorities and more respect from the profession for the humanity of scale that small size offers. Why is the Gulbenkian Federation funding £3m of research into making secondary schools smaller in scale? Why are US authorities so rapidly trying to make their elementary and high schools smaller? Fairfield succeeds through very flexible approaches to the way teaching and learning are organised. Selected science lessons are in classes of 60-75 pupils and praised by OFSTED. Smaller schools are often very good at flexibility. The impact of closure on primary schools and pupils is important. Local jobs and other important economic factors remain central to rural sustainability. The test for Billinghay will be the assessment as parents, pupils and governors of the professional qualities currently represented and reflected in future planning. Only if on that assessment do all see no hope should closure be contemplated. Otherwise the school better serves its own distinctive communities and needs by remaining open and taking its own work forward perhaps extended where appropriate through local collaboration with other smaller rural schools.
Mervyn Benford
Information Officer
National Association for Small Schools
Let us know what you think, please, and join the meeting on Thursday 6th March at 6.00pm.
Monday, 3 March 2008
Government reminder to rural authorities
Please read on BBC Online News:
Yet again, rural communities are at the mercy of our councils. When will it stop?
Comments from Caring Parents
I have decided to move these excellent comments to the front page to be read by all. Thank you 'Caring Parents'. Really appreciate your time to respond. Please email me (profile page) if I can support you in any way.
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Tony Blair set out his priorities for office “ Education, education, education”. Gordon Brown pledged to eradicate failure from England’s schools by saying those which let children down will be taken over or closed. He said local authorities would be encouraged to use new powers to intervene in failing schools. Minimum standards in England’s schools would be raised with all schools needing to have 30% of their pupils achieving five high grade GCSEs by 2012-13. Schools which failed to meet that target could face being taken over by interim management boards, or by other successful schools including independent schools, or being turned into academies. "No more toleration of second best in Britain - no more toleration of second best for Britain.", "No longer acceptable for any school to fail its pupils”. Mr. Brookes, the general secretary of the NAHT said as quoted on the BBC news web site October 2007: "We call on parents, children and young people to unite in getting behind their school to maintain their right to a good education which is crucial to life chances. Children must insist on their right to a learning environment that promotes success, and have zero tolerance of peers who try to take away that right by constant disruption."
This week the Lafford High School Governors agreed to seek a phased closure. The Lafford High School is NOT a failing school. Our child joined this school and we have had no regrets. The teachers are exceptional; the standards of teaching are very high. The teachers and staff know each child individually giving a great advantage for excellent teaching and excellent child /parent/s relations. In March 2007 The Lafford High School became the most improved school in the whole country.
The school has formed a partnership with St.Georges college. Parents were told that the Lafford was entering into an academy status which would save the school and give greater opportunities for all children. The last school meeting told parents the school was entering into exciting times with fantastic opportunities ahead. The Lafford high school news letter of Dec 07 stated “last years year 11’s achieved the best GCSE results ever, in the history of the school 59% of students gained 5 or more GCSE A*-C grades”, and this “places us in the top 5% of schools nationally”
So it’s down to numbers! The letter to parents states 19 children have indicated that the Lafford is their school of first preference. The letter does not give statement or indications as to the amount of children that would have been attending the Lafford high school in September 2008. The Lafford high school is a small school in pupil numbers it seems. Was it not Ofsted that argued the quality of teaching in small schools is generally better than in large schools giving an important place in the community, in short ticking all the ECM boxes. (Every Child Matters) . The letter states numbers in the local primary schools are also declining, so there is little prospect of any significant upturn at the Lafford high school.
Does this mean that Billinghay primary school is next on the list of closures? Have parents there been informed? The letter states, to seek a phased closure of the Lafford High school by the local council as it could no longer offer a broad curriculum that meets the needs of all children and that this proposal was supported by a senior member of the local authority.
We understood that the broad curriculum was part of the increasing opportunities as being in partnership with St. Georges College or by entering into the governments school academies programme, are we no longer in partnership?
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