swanageview: Education Swanage come along on Saturday 17th

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Education Swanage come along on Saturday 17th

23 comments:

Anonymous said...: This article in the Independent is an interesting counter to the local is always better view which has tended to dominate the approach of advocates of a secondary school in Swanage. Of course we do not have the problems of clapped out American industrial cities, but it is a perspective to be aware of.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-from-north-carolina-a-model-of-how-to-transform-education-1803563.html; 16/10/09 12:04 pm
Anonymous said...: The article reports that the mix of children was the important factor, not removing them from their neighbourhood.

They didn't bus children out of one area to create a large school but swapped kids about between local schools. Interestingly they created a choice of specialisms at schools to make them attractive. This is what Education Swanage proposes. Find out more at the drop-in tomorrow!

I'd say Purbeck and Swanage have a good mix of children so the main point doesn't really apply.; 16/10/09 2:18 pm
Anonymous said...: The reason I posted the link is that the supporters of having a school in Swanage seem to be fixated on nearness as the only criterion that matters.The point is that it is not particularity important and there can be other factors. I have seen nothing as yet that suggests outcomes would be any better.

Parents who are concerend about education when faced with a choice between a very small secondary school locally with a restricted range of subjects, and a full size one 10 miles away will make the obvious decision leaving the Swanage school with children whose parents either can't read the form or don't care, plus the handful who think the bus ride is too awful to contemplate. In a competitive market for schools you will need more than proximity as an inducement when the other considerations are factored in.; 16/10/09 2:39 pm
Anonymous said...: By the way I think you will find the distances covered moving children from US suburbs to city schools dwarf the 10 miles to Wareham. It is not just a case of moving them short distances within the city.; 16/10/09 2:42 pm
Anonymous said...: 2:39 PM
Parents who are concerend about education when faced with a choice between a very small secondary school locally with a restricted range of subjects, and a full size one 10 miles away will make the obvious decision leaving the Swanage school with children whose parents either can't read the form or don't care, plus the handful who think the bus ride is too awful to contemplate.

I can't imagine anyone reading your view, would be encouraged by it at all. Which is a shame, because you have some valid points to make. But, you are extremely rude, judgemental and arrogant. I have an 'open mind' with regards to a Secondary for Swanage.
If a new Secondary School in Swanage promotes good manners as a high priority then good!; 16/10/09 8:44 pm
Anonymous said...: As well as being unnecessarily rude, you are wrong that the arguments concentrate on the distances involved, or that outcomes would be better (though they may be).

The main argument, among many, is that Swanage would benefit from a secondary to keep it viable for the future, just like villages need a primary to keep them viable. Small schools in Sturminster and Beaminster are seen as a necessity by Dorset, yet they have fewer children.

Planning and regeneration experts agree that a school is the best way to attract and retain families - and businesses - in a town. This is why Purbeck planning and Swanage Town Council support the plan - as do Jim Knight, Richard Drax and Ros Kayes, who will all be doing their best to attend the drop-in tomorrow.; 16/10/09 10:06 pm
Anonymous said...: Rude? Can you elaborate on that. I am afraid there is a proportion of parents who cannot understand official forms or simply do not think choice of school matters. Should I keep quiet about this? Should we ignore their existence? I am afraid I was pointing to an unfortunate and unpalatable truth.

I do not see why I have to encourage anybody. Why should I?

Can someone explain the point about viability. What do they think is going to happen? The Swanage population has continued to grow in the decades since Purbeck school was built. There is nothing demonstrating that this is about to reverse. In any case the same amount spent on affordable housing here as a new school would be a better investment.

This is something that must be settled on the simple question of whether a local school would result in better educational outcomes not by looking at side-effects. If I was a parent of school age children I would object to my children's education being jeopardised in the name of hoped for economic regeneration.; 16/10/09 11:08 pm
Anonymous said...: If I was a parent of school age children I would object to my children's education being jeopardised in the name of hoped for economic regeneration.

So I assume, by this comment that you are not a parent of school age children. Many of the people wanting a Secondary School for Swanage are parents of very young and school aged children, they are intelligent parents that do care about the future education of their childen, and as it has been said before, it is not only parents, but teachers, governors, educationalists, councillors, MP's and community that also are supportive of this and do care. They not only care for childrens education but they also care, very deeply about the future of Swanage as a vibrant and sustainable community. So if you don't have young children, and you don't care deeply about the future of children's education or the future of Swanage then maybe you should let these people that do, get on with it. Perhaps you are living in the past, do not try to control the present or the future, its fine to offer your wisdom, but do not try to control others, especially if they are 'intelligently' trying to do their best. Also I'm sure most would agree with you that, it goes without saying that affordable housing is also a priority.; 17/10/09 2:07 am
Anonymous said...: Although I do not have young children I do have offspring who went to Purbeck school a few years ago. I really do not think they would have been better educated had they attended a school in Swanage. Our experience of first and middle schools here was not entirely positive and at the tome Swanage middle was widely regarded as inferior to Wareham and Sandford middles. This may no longer be the case but it is something that can and does happen. We had a situation where teachers living over here were sending their children to Sandford because of their inside knowledge of our school.

Is it seriously suggested that fewer people would move/return here because of a 10 mile bus ride? I find this hard to accept. I am sure they are concerned about the standard of the schools their children will attend but I do not think the 10 miles is a vital concern. If a Swanage school was perceived as worse than Purbeck then they would be deterred from coming here of course.; 17/10/09 10:55 am
Anonymous said...: Conversly I have had children who have attended local first schools, Swanage Middle School and Purbeck School. All 3 have obtained admirable qualifications 2 with degrees. One chose a different path with outstanding achievement. That said, a split site or stand alone school in Swanage would be ideal and even better than Purbeck because it would be 'human scale', would support local cohesion, and would be good for the environment. Considering that educationalists with expert knowledge in timetabling a curriculum for a 21st C School have been involved with the process of presenting a Secondary school option for Swanage, I personally feel that all aspects of support for a Swanage Secondary have been covered. Support for the idea of this school has not been taken lightly, it inludes,parents, teachers, TA's governors, town,parish, county councillors and MP's.

I see nothing negative at all about local education for local children. Not in the 'small, narrow minded' sense of the debate but in considering holistically the positive aspects of this argument.
Over 90% of the comments returned today at K's 'drop in' have been in support of a Swanage Secondary. The community have asked searching and intelligent questions. Richard Drax, Ros Kayes and a representative for Jim Knight attended in support, so all 3 political parties are supporting.; 17/10/09 3:54 pm
Anonymous said...: In London they are putting schools at the centre of regeneration schemes and the research I read (http://www.daviesbell.co.uk/documents/LTDGC.pdf) says that investment in affordable housing and other schemes without investmnent in schools is largely a waste of money.

The District Council planning bloke I spoke to at the Mowlem agrees.

If Swanage does become less attractive to families it will decline. Businesses will close and more jobs will be lost. The kids that are left here will be living in a poor town with few facilities and everyone knows that poverty and disenchantment leads to lower educational outcomes. Meanwhile, Purbeck School could carry on as it is with parents fleeing to other state schools nearby, and Wareham's children will suffer too.

I think to hope for a school is to hope for a better Swanage, and if Swanage is strong then all of Purbeck will be better.

I never thought I'd live in a town that was so badly done by for services. At the moment I seem to be paying for schools in Wimborne and Blandford according to my council tax bill!; 22/10/09 11:52 am
Anonymous said...: While I wholeheartedly support a local secondary school, I have begun to realise that, through reading some of the comments on this blog, there is a certain insularity in the minds of some Swanagers (look at some of the comments in the Second Home Thread, for example). This trait is not positive IMHO.

For that reason only, a side of me sees benefit in our teens being exposed to a world larger and less insular than Swanage. They will then have a chance to decide to leave Swanage, or remain but work to develop the town for a more vibrant future, once they finish school.; 10/11/09 6:55 pm
Anonymous said...: Here here!; 11/11/09 6:04 pm
Anonymous said...: there! there!; 12/11/09 12:20 am
Anonymous said...: While I wholeheartedly support a local secondary school, I have begun to realise that, through reading some of the comments on this blog, there is a certain insularity in the minds of some Swanagers (look at some of the comments in the Second Home Thread, for example). This trait is not positive IMHO.

This 'trait' is very positive, the most positive thing of all would be for every house in Purbeck to be lived in all year round ie become 'a home'. No one is saying that new families are not welcome! It would be great to have even more people move here to live here all the year round, to create vibrant and cohesive communities.
Perhaps PDC planning policy could encourage builiding developers to build small (ish) family homes not housing that is between 4,000 - 5,000, completely out of reach for most families working around here.; 13/11/09 2:22 pm
Anonymous said...: Insularity a popular trait???; 13/11/09 8:14 pm
Anonymous said...: positive even?; 13/11/09 8:15 pm
Anonymous said...: Seems as though quite a few are supporting the 'insular' view. Not in the narrow sense but in a way that could create a more vibrant and sustainable Swanage.
Re housing, education, local economy and environment.

If you think that trying to find ways of achieving this is negative then of course you are entitled to your view. Perhaps you could suggest some alternative ways of helping to achieve the above.; 14/11/09 6:00 pm
Anonymous said...: It seems that anyone who raises any questions or concerns about the idea of a secondary school in Swanage is accused of negativity by you. Perhaps they don't want an alternative to the Purbeck school because they do not have any issues with it or with children being educated in Wareham. Can you not accept that there are some people who disagree with your point of view? Even if they support the general principle of a secondary school, as the person above did, they are entitled to have reservations. You must be aware that whilst there are many people supporting the concept in our community, there are also many who are unsure. At least you admit that they are entitled to an opinion. They are equally as entitled to state it publicly as you are.; 15/11/09 7:03 pm
Anonymous said...: Hear hear!; 15/11/09 8:32 pm
Anonymous said...: Is the main purpose of the school to 'bolster' the town, or to educate its children?

It's sometimes hard to tell from the people posting on the Education Swanage thread.

Of course these are not mutually exclusive, but they could be if the people proposing / running the school are more focussed on what it has to offer to the future of the town, than the future of its students.

There is, on the other hand, a danger that a mediocre school could put families off. Ultimately, parents will choose quality of education.
Wherever that is.; 15/11/09 8:50 pm
Anonymous said...: Read the report which is going to councillors next week at:
http://www1.dorsetforyou.com/council/commis2009.nsf/MIN/630DE82B70A4847480257672003104DF?OpenDocument; 18/11/09 6:48 pm
The Postman said...: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=394180

18/11/09:
Councillors to discuss new proposals for schools in Swanage and Wool

Councillors will discuss fresh proposals for schools in Swanage and Wool as part of the education review in Purbeck next week.

In July, Dorset County Council's cabinet agreed in principle to replace Purbeck's current three-tier set-up with a two-tier system to reduce 1000 surplus places - but said further talks were needed to address issues in these two areas.

As a result, drop-in sessions were held for local people to discuss how a primary and secondary school model could work in these areas.

Forums - made up of a cross-section of representatives from Swanage and Wool - were created to consider feedback from these sessions and help council officers plan the way forward.

And on Tuesday (24 November 2009), the council's Community Overview Committee will receive recommendations for the council to consult on the following proposals:

* Both St Mary's Catholic in Wool and Wool CE VA First school become primary schools
* There are two new options for Swanage:

1. Both St Mary's RC and Swanage First become primary schools, and St Mark's CE and St George's CE amalgamate to create a new primary on the middle school site
2. All four first schools become primaries, with St Mark's moving to the middle school site

Dorset County Council's head of learning and school improvement John England said:

"We have said before that we have a serious problem on our hands with pupil numbers in Purbeck falling and the probability of schools being forced to close because they will not have enough pupils to survive.

"There are many changes being made to children and young people's education - particularly for 14 to 19 year olds. Purbeck needs a school system that gives all children in the area the same experiences and opportunities to make the most of their lives as the rest of Dorset.

"During the first round of consultation earlier this year, a number of concerns were raised by residents in Swanage and Wool - particularly around parental preference. We believe the new proposals address many of these concerns and reduce the majority of surplus places - giving the whole of Purbeck a school system that will thrive for many years to come."

Councillors will also be asked to recommend that the authority continues with its proposal to create a single secondary school (11 to 19) in Wareham, as well as to publicly consult on which pyramid of schools Bere Regis School should reside in.

The committee's comments will then go to the council's cabinet on 2 December 2009 when a final decision will be made on the recommendations.

If given the go-ahead, the council will hold public consultation on the new options in the new year.; 19/11/09 3:58 pm

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)