My local authority is going through something of a change at the moment. There are surplus places throughout the city within their schools.
The LEA is merging and closing schools area by area .
Tonight I went to a 'consulation' meeting to discuss the latest round of 'proposals' for change in 2008.
Apparently, according to the city, pupil numbers are falling rapidly.
I guess that they haven't been talking to the schools then, who are all at, or close to capacity within their early years classes. These are the classes that will be at school age come 2008.
Maybe, not being a councillor, I have missed out here, but if early years classes are rising, this will pass through Key Stage 1 and 2 in due course.
Excess places now there may be. Excess places in the future will be less likely. Closing many of the schools will then cause larger class sizes when these pupils work there way through the system.
The council also quoted government advice that Key Stage 2 children can walk a maximum of 3 miles to school.
Maybe, but 3 miles for a child could take up to an hour. If a school starts at 8.45 that means they must leave the house before 8am. In the dark in the winter, and cross several major roads during their trek to school. Glad to see that the council is thinking of child safety.
And what happens to the teachers in the schools that are closing?
(you will have noticed I said 'are' and not 'might' because everyone is aware that the decisions have already been made. The 'consulation' is just a legal annoyance for the council that they have to go through)
Well, the council is looking at - very kindly - letting teachers know a term before the closures of opportunities elsewhere.
Such a caring authority, I'm sure you will agree.
And to prove how caring, one of the panellists at the meeting when asked about staff futures said (and I quote) "The heads and deputies aren't important!"
Well, I'd like to see the schools run without them.
The best way to raise standards and morale throughtout an authority is to respect your employees. The best way to alienate them is to treat them like the council is currently doing.
