swanageview: Schools

Monday, January 18, 2010

Schools

"We feel it would be wrong to consult on an option that is costly, both financially and to young people's education, and which defeats the point of the review".

Our Schools are back on the agenda.

http://www.wessexfm.com/news/review.php?article=110508

Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 3:09 PM

59 comments:

The Postman said...: This is the Press Release issued by Dorset County Council, relating to the meeting to be held on Weds 20 Jan, where COUNCILLORS should decide whether or not to accept the proposals made by Officers.

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=394689; 18/1/10 3:47 pm
Anonymous said...: The Echo received the press release from DCC last week. Funny that this can be all decided before the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Democracy for Purbeck ??; 18/1/10 7:51 pm
Anonymous said...: Jim Knight

http://www.jimknightmp.com/purbeck_schools_review

Ros Kayes

http://www.wessexfm.com/news/review.php?article=112344

DCC

um, er, nothing

Richard Drax

http://www.richarddrax.com/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=124

Based on that, no 2nd School for Swanage.

Well tried and bad luck to Education Swanage.

Does anyone have any further details?; 20/1/10 6:43 pm
The Postman said...: What happened at the County Council meeting today (Weds)?; 20/1/10 7:00 pm
Anonymous said...: The Jim Knight link is a year old (Jan 2009) and a lot has changed since then. Any news on today's decision?; 20/1/10 7:09 pm
Anonymous said...: From Dorsetforyou website -
Update on progress
Dorset County Council's Cabinet met on 20th January concerning the Purbeck Review. They have adopted the following recommendations:

•Cabinet should implement the outcome of the original consultation that secondary provision in the Purbeck pyramid should be provided in Wareham at the Purbeck School, and;
•Officers should include a clear summary of why this decision has been taken in the preamble to the primary consultation papers.
Public consultation will now take place during February and March 2010 concerning fresh proposals for primary provision in Wool and Swanage. These proposals will include:

•Retaining both first schools in Wool as primary (aged 4-11) schools;
•Retaining the four first schools in the Swanage and Langton Matravers areas as primary (aged 4-11) schools.
Public consultation documents will be made available after half term.; 20/1/10 7:12 pm
Anonymous said...: Sorry if giving 3 links has confused you all, read the Drax link.

Dated today.; 20/1/10 7:12 pm
Anonymous said...: OK, no need to now!; 20/1/10 7:13 pm
The Postman said...: Latest (Echo Weds 20 Jan)

http://tinyurl.com/y9cdzmj; 21/1/10 8:40 am
Anonymous said...: Comments on the most recent Echo article.

Have Dorset county council thought about transportation of students from Swanage as there is only one number 40 Wilts & Dorset bus per hour. Are the county council going to subsidise extra buses, to move all the students to and from school ??? Also bearing in mind student will have to pay a full fare as it is before
9:30am

Have Dorset county council thought about transportation of students from Swanage as there is only one number 40 Wilts & Dorset bus per hour. Are the county council going to subsidise extra buses, to move all the students to and from school ??? Also bearing in mind student will have to pay a full fare as it is before
9:30am

As with Townsend School in Bournemouth, this decision has already been made by the Council and the proceedure is just going to go through the motions.

My sympathies to the parents and children involved.
As with Townsend School in Bournemouth, this decision has already been made by the Council and the proceedure is just going to go through the motions. My sympathies to the parents and children involved.

What a total disgrace ! having been to Swanage Secondary School as it was known back in the early Seventies and then bused into Wareham ,an hour long journey each way, I know how very important it is to have a local Secondary School .So how come a small town like Verwood has a Secondary School and larger Swanage has to go without ? There is no sense in it at all and the whole community will lose out .A vital resource is going ..please reconsider or resign and let us vote for a new local caring council with a bit of common sense.
What a total disgrace ! having been to Swanage Secondary School as it was known back in the early Seventies and then bused into Wareham ,an hour long journey each way, I know how very important it is to have a local Secondary School .So how come a small town like Verwood has a Secondary School and larger Swanage has to go without ? There is no sense in it at all and the whole community will lose out .A vital resource is going ..please reconsider or resign and let us vote for a new local caring council with a bit of common sense.

DCC say the cost of busing all the Swanange children to Wareham and back 20 miles every day will be £209,000 per year - at today's fuel prices. (This comes from council tax).

The cost of running a similar split-site school in Buckinghamshire to the one proposed costs around £150,000 per year.

Yet from the start DCC officers - led by John Nash, whose pay scale is £109,430 - £123,793 per year - have fudged the figures to try to prove that a split site school would be more expensive.

Parents and councillors in Swanage have tried to make DCC Cabinet see sense but they prefer to spend taxpayer's money on fuel than on decent education officers and the future of our children.
DCC say the cost of busing all the Swanange children to Wareham and back 20 miles every day will be £209,000 per year - at today's fuel prices. (This comes from council tax). The cost of running a similar split-site school in Buckinghamshire to the one proposed costs around £150,000 per year. Yet from the start DCC officers - led by John Nash, whose pay scale is £109,430 - £123,793 per year - have fudged the figures to try to prove that a split site school would be more expensive. Parents and councillors in Swanage have tried to make DCC Cabinet see sense but they prefer to spend taxpayer's money on fuel than on decent education officers and the future of our children.; 21/1/10 7:58 pm
Anonymous said...: Swanage should be consulted and their feeling considered. If an 11 year old child is ill at Wareham, and the parents are at work or do not have a car, how will this child be able to cope ?

The drop ins at the Co op and K's showed hundreds of people showing support a secondary education in Swanage.
Did DCC Cabinet members know about this?

Do any of the Cabinet members live in Purbeck ?

Col GJ Brierley, Gulls Flight, Charberry Rise, Charmouth, Bridport, Dorset. DT6 6BN

g.j.brierley@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Clr Angus Campbell, Preston Hill Farm, Iwerne Minster, Blandford, Dorset DT11 8NL

i.a.Campbell@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Hilary Cox, Downside, Lower Farm, Hilton, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 ODQ

h.a.cox@dorset.gov.uk

Cllr Toni Coombs, 5 Aggis Farm, Verwood, Dorset BH31 6QD

t.b.coombs@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Cllr AR Cattaway, Marvins Farm, West Bourton Road, Bourton, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 5PQ

a.r.cattaway@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Cllr SG Flower, 5 Aggis Farm, Verwood, Dorset BH31 6QD

s.g.flower@dorsetcc.gov.uk; 21/1/10 8:05 pm
Anonymous said...: Some residents equally agree that the council has made the right decision.; 21/1/10 9:27 pm
Anonymous said...: As do many Dorset headteachers (indicated in the Cabinet Report) and school staff. A Secondary School for Swanage in these trying economic times is simply unworkable.; 21/1/10 9:30 pm
Anonymous said...: 8.05 They will cope the same way as any age child at a school in Swanage when their parents are at work in Wareham, Poole or Bournemouth as many of us do.; 21/1/10 9:34 pm
Anonymous said...: 'Some residents equally agree that the council has made the right decision'

That Swanage First and St George's School should close ?; 22/1/10 12:54 am
Anonymous said...: A Secondary School for Swanage in these trying economic times is simply unworkable.

led by John Nash, whose pay scale is £109,430 - £123,793 per year !

There is a presumption against the closure of rural schools. This does not mean that no rural school
should ever close, but the case for closure should be strong and the proposals clearly in the best
interests of the children and young people in the area. The DCSF recognises the importance of local
schools to their community and produces an annual list of schools, which appear under the category of
designated rural primary schools. Many of the village schools in the Purbeck area appear on this list.
The needs of rural locations and the potential isolation should a village school close are a key driving
force in the review; the LA is clear on the need for local schools for local communities. Further work
relating to this will be taking place post the public consultation period where concerns around this issue
were highlighted.
http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media/pdf/h/p/Dorset_County_Council's_Impact_Assessment.pdf; 22/1/10 1:10 am
Anonymous said...: Education Swanage has tried to work with DCC but they refuse to listen. They have paid lip service to the idea of exploring a secondary option but in reality they have just spent the time building their arguments against us.

DCC have manipulated the figures by costing for two schools offering a a huge curriculum in each.
They say we'd need separate specialist teachers for each school rather than sharing them between campuses. They came up with a figure of an extra £800,000-odd per year when in Bucks a similar school costs an extra £150,000-odd (ie less than our fuel bill). DCC's figures are nonsense.

They say they plan to have all 14 Diplomas at Purbeck, something no school is expected to do. They then say it would be unfair for Swanage children not to have these. But under Diploma rules all children must be offered all of them - by schools working together and sharing children. So those of our children who choose to do a certain Diploma could be bused happily to Wareham - or to Kingston Marwaud to do animal care or to Poole college etc. A Swanage campus could offer say art, music or language specialisms and attract children from all over. In any case, take up of Diplomas is tiny. This should not be used as an excuse to deny children the right to a normal curriculum in their own town.

As for the capital costs, they are based on the idea that St Mark's is taking the MIddle School site and there is no room for both, so you would need to buy land and build a big school (to do all those specialisms).
The officers' excuse is there is no room to build a new school on the side of the current middle school (because of 'drainage culverts') and if you rebuild it where would you put the children in the meantime? They refused to say how they are going to manage this in Wareham where they plan to remodel both the Purbeck school and the middle school.

Even if you don't agree with the idea of a secondary in Swanage, so far DCC have refused to give any detail of their plans for what they are going to do (primary or secondary). How much it will cost, when will the schools get their money and how will it be organised? Yet they expect us to agree to it in the consultation. Everyone should demand answers in the next round of consultations.; 22/1/10 10:03 am
Anonymous said...: Their plans for primary are clearly stated in the consultation

"Retaining the four first schools in the Swanage and Langton Matravers areas as primary (aged 4-11) schools."

Surely that's their compromise.; 22/1/10 10:45 am
Anonymous said...: But HOW are they going to change them from first schools into primaries? When will the money and the new buildings arrive? How will our children be disrupted? No one knows.

St Mary's and St George's need new classrooms for the two extra year groups, Mount Scar has the room but may need a bit of remodelling.

What will St Mark's end up with? They are not building them a new school, as promised, they are knocking down bits of the middle school. The Options Forum learned this was the plan whether we had three schools or four.; 22/1/10 11:34 am
Anonymous said...: Well, the answer to this conundrum is to do nothing.

It's been going to be two tier for ages and so this question would've arisen no matter which 2ndary option was chosen.; 22/1/10 3:36 pm
Anonymous said...: Their plans for primary are clearly stated in the consultation
"Retaining the four first schools in the Swanage and Langton Matravers areas as primary (aged 4-11) schools."
Surely that's their compromise.

The officers have been employed by Dorset County Council, and presumably have been paid with tax payers money. (our money).

The role of the Dorset County Council Cabinet Members is to represent its community. County Councillors are elected every four years and are democratically accountable to residents in their electoral division. Their overriding duty is to the whole community of Dorset but they have a special duty to their constituents, including those who did not vote for them.'

The definition of 'consultation': 1.'to seek information or advice from someone. 2. to confer with someone. Consultation 'to take advice or counsel'.

If everyone in Swanage is happy that they have been consulted in this way, then fine end of story. But on the other hand, if like me, you feel that we, the people of Swanage have not been consulted then we should do something about it.

A compromise, you say. (previous poster)

DCC's plans were to close Swanage First so we owe a huge thank you to the campaigners that fought on behalf of this school. You are stars! Similarly with St George's, when it was threatened with closure there was an action team that also fought long and hard for the school. If these campaign groups had not existed and spent hours and hours of their time, then either of these schools could have been closed. These outcomes were not easily achieved.
Remember it was not supposed to be a fight, it was supposed to be a CONSULTATION.

Was it really fair that whilst these DCC officers were being paid vast sums of tax payers money, that the campaigners, on the other hand, spent so much of their free time and energy fighting for their schools? Researching and providing evidence to support and provide a case to keep each school should not have been necessary.

I do not see that keeping two successful schools as a compromise, it was deserved. If Swanage First had closed there would have been a loss of a non denominational school, and if St George's had closed it would have had a negative impact on the village of Langton.

So now we have the case of a Secondary for Swanage. Should we have a fair and 'open' consultation for a Secondary School in Swanage?

I believe that we should. Swanage has campaigned to keep its hospital, day centre and recycling centre. If we are able to campaign successfully to keep these amenities, surely we should ask to be consulted upon whether to keep something as important as secondary education.; 22/1/10 4:26 pm
Anonymous said...: Why are DCC saying there is no building or land available for a secondary school? There is an enormous building and acres of land, at Herston, it was previously called Swanage Secondary Modern School.

What is their problem ?; 22/1/10 4:50 pm
Anonymous said...: Dear 4.26

"Should we have a fair and 'open' consultation for a Secondary School in Swanage?

I believe that we should."

Good, cuz we've had it!

As for land Dear 4.50

you're right, but in effect it would mean one 4 to 16 yr old school on one site, I'm not sure that would be a good idea.; 22/1/10 5:07 pm
Anonymous said...: "Should we have a fair and 'open' consultation for a Secondary School in Swanage?

I believe that we should."

Good, cuz we've had it!

When did that happen then? I'm not attached to a school, have no children, and moved here 2 years ago. I've not heard much about all this at all. Were there open meetings for the residents of Swanage, and an opportunity for businesses in Swanage to respond. I didn't see any information in the library. Can anyone else comment about what happened.; 23/1/10 11:44 am
Anonymous said...: Carl here

There has never been and there is not going to be a consultation on secondary education, that's the whole point of the Cabinet's decision.

The only reason it has come up at all is because

a) a lot of people asked for a secondary school in the first consultation (which was about the first schools and closing the middle) even though it wasn't on the table. Officers ridiculed the very idea in their first report to Cabinet.

b) The mess with the first schools meant DCC were looking again at Swanage. They were forming an 'Options Group' to come up with new proposals for a second round of consultations. By this they meant just for the first schools. But a group of us campaigned to get DCC to look at secondary education. The 'Options Forum' was a series of closed meetings held over the summer between local councillors, head, chairs of governors and education officers. Bill Trite campaigned to get secondary education on the agenda and we managed to get a rep of Education Swanage on the forum, Paul Angel.

c) The Options Forum came up with the proposal of keeping all four first schools as primaries and having St Mark's and a new secondary sharing the middle school site.

d) The Education Officers ignored this and recommended not to consult on a secondary option in their report to DCC.

e) However DCC's Community Overview Committee, whose job is to look at the impact of such decisions on the whole community, voted almost unanimously to change this so that a secondary option would be included.

f) At the end of last year the Cabinet changed this again and asked their officers to look again at the idea of a secondary option 'in the light of not getting BSF funding'. This meant that, as expected, the officers could pretend to look at it properly, and then insist that it wasn't viable. We met the officers in December and they started the meeting by saying why it wasn't going to happen. They said they wouldn't do it 'even if it cost a pound'. They said it was not in their remit to assess the impact on the community.

Last week Cabinet decided not to consult on a secondary option for Purbeck.

The only reason anyone knows about it is because Education Swanage got a few stories in the press, on TV and on this blog. We also did a few leaflets and a drop-in session explaining our worries and ideas one Saturday at Kay's.; 23/1/10 1:04 pm
Anonymous said...: They said they wouldn't do it 'even if it cost a pound'. They said it was not in their remit to assess the impact on the community.

The role of the Dorset County Council Cabinet Members is to represent its community. County Councillors are elected every four years and are democratically accountable to residents in their electoral division. Their overriding duty is to the whole community of Dorset but they have a special duty to their constituents, including those who did not vote for them.'

Perhaps the cabinet members should be reminded of their responsibilities to their consituents.

Thank you Carl for updating Swanage. DCC seem to be saying that the Middle School Site is not available. Does Swanage Town Council or Purbeck District Council know what the plans are for this building and land?; 23/1/10 4:42 pm
Anonymous said...: Carl again

They are going to put St Mark's there and are apparently knocking down the two-storey bits and remodelling what's left. Rick Perry was at pains to stress that it would look completely different to what is there now. (He didn't say better, just different.)

St Mark's can't stay put because they say its current site is too small. They didn't look at other council land available in Herston.

DCC said most of the middle school grounds are unusable because of drainage pipes - it does flood. They argued that you couldn't fit a primary and a secondary there.

And they said although in theory you put a secondary in the current buildings they would need a lot of work and it was impossible because where would the children go in the meantime. It's the type of logic we met again and again.

Remember the Purbeck is going to be so large that they need to build a split-site school in Wareham using the middle school there.; 23/1/10 5:33 pm
Anonymous said...: "Their overriding duty is to the whole community of Dorset"

On a pretty much fixed budget.

Educating the future tax payers is one of the main reasons for having a Gov't, but they have many other responsibilities as well.

Gov't is always a matter of compromise.

The various groups have ensured that the Swanage (ish) kids will be educated in C of E, Catholic or secular schools up to the age of 11. That should be enough to ensure that a sound footing is established.

That's what parenting is all about, from 11 (ish) these kids are going to go through what are probably the biggest changes of their lives, and parents are going to have to start 'letting go' of their kids.

I think that one huge school will be able to meet these needs, both educationally and emotionally (Hardyes) better than two poorly resourced, but 'local' schools.

I'd suggest that those involved give themselves a much deserved pat on the back for what they've achieved and now put their energies into ensuring that the Purbeck school does everything possible to ensure a complete and satisfying education for their kids.

l; 23/1/10 6:07 pm
Anonymous said...: As a former headteacher who has been through school amalgamations on two previous occasions, I tend to agree with the previous post. For those who are committed to their ideal, continue to work to achieve the best compromise, work to find solutions to the many problems that will arise, and place the onus on the council to make the new school at Purbeck the best possible. Many of you have done sterling work on this, but there is a point where reality has to trump idealism. Don't become discouraged - a great deal of improvement can, and will, be achieved!; 24/1/10 8:57 pm
Anonymous said...: I am a bit tired of sitting back and watching DCC trying to take away all of our amenities in Swanage. It would save DCC a lot of funding if we all disappeared into the sea. Perhaps that's why they're not too bothered about hundreds of extra children travelling by bus each day. It will hasten climate change and the sea levels will rise.

DCC you can't pick and choose, either you believe in climate change or you don't.

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=387626

Sustainable development explained
Over the last few decades it has become increasingly clear that mankind is having an enormous impact on the world's environment.

Global problems such as climate change, the damage to the ozone layer and the extinction of wildlife species, are now well known and are increasingly seen as threats to our very survival. All of these problems are clearly linked to human activity.

People need development to provide them with decent housing, meaningful and rewarding jobs, education and to meet other basic needs. However, we need to develop in a way that does not over burden natural systems or squander natural resources. In other words there must be sustainable development to enable us to hand a better world to the next generation.

The Government's goal for sustainable development is defined as 'enabling all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality of life of future generations'.

Key to achieving sustainable development is the integration of social, economic and environmental goals, as success in one is totally reliant on the others. Good social conditions require strong economies, strong economies rely on environmental resources, and environmental conditions are inseparable from our quality of life. Despite this, each goal has often been pursued independently and success in one area has worked against others.

The mission of sustainable development is therefore to find ways of pursuing each goal so that it also supports all of the others. This involves recognising that there are potential conflicts and searching for means to reduce these, challenging traditional ideas, considering alternative solutions and finding innovative ways of doing things.; 24/1/10 11:32 pm
Anonymous said...: Sustainable modes of travel to school strategy

As part of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 Dorset County Council has a duty to promote the use of sustainable travel to and from schools.

The most sustainable ways to travel are walking and cycling.

Central Government needs to acknowledge and act on policies that, however unintentionally, increase the distances travelled by car
We need to build an accurate picture of travel within and beyond our area to allow us to develop policies that will make a real difference to the way we travel to school

Parents need to start considering the 'Child Miles' involved when choosing a school

Work undertaken so far shows that:

If you live close enough to your school you are far more likely to walk or cycle

DCC Sustainable Transport coordinator says that a secondary school in Swanage would be rated 'green' with regards to healthy children (child obesity), carbon footprint.
'School Travel Health Check'; 24/1/10 11:46 pm
Anonymous said...: Sadly, they're not making their judgement based on green issues.; 25/1/10 7:28 pm
Anonymous said...: Sadly, they're not making their judgement based on green issues.

Sadly they don't seem to be taking a holistic approach at all.; 26/1/10 2:24 pm
Anonymous said...: Sadly, they're strapped for cash and seem to have set that as their priority.; 26/1/10 4:10 pm
Anonymous said...: Should advice be taken from elsewhere. There seems to be lots of information in the press recently about parents starting up their own 'small scale' schools.

www.hse.org.uk

Could this be something Swanage could do ?; 26/1/10 4:49 pm
Anonymous said...: Can anyone explain why there is going to be another consultation, if it only includes the 4 first schools. It seems that the decision has already been made and agreed by Cabinet to keep all first schools. Is there intended to be further drop ins, what is the point of repeating this again?

Does anyone know?; 26/1/10 4:54 pm
Anonymous said...: This is what is says on the Dorset For You Website.

Update on progress

Dorset County Council's Cabinet met on 20th January concerning the Purbeck Review. They have adopted the following recommendations:

Cabinet should implement the outcome of the original consultation that secondary provision in the Purbeck pyramid should be provided in Wareham at the Purbeck School, and;
Officers should include a clear summary of why this decision has been taken in the preamble to the primary consultation papers.
Public consultation will now take place during February and March 2010 concerning fresh proposals for primary provision in Wool and Swanage. These proposals will include:

Retaining both first schools in Wool as primary (aged 4-11) schools;
Retaining the four first schools in the Swanage and Langton Matravers areas as primary (aged 4-11) schools.
Public consultation documents will be made available after half term.

I've personally 'lost the plot' with all of this. Its been a labyrinth, a complicated network of paths and passage ways, to duck and dive over and under.

In the Gazette, it says that St Marks are going to have a 21st State of the Art new school at Herston. On their own. Is this the case ?

It says on DFY website that 'Cabinet' have adopted the following recommendations: These were the officers recommendations, not the recommendations from the Community and Overview Committee.

Swanage Town Council (Bill Trite), Richard Drax, Jim Knight, Ros Kayes and representatives from St George's all spoke in support of removing the option to close St George's School. The COC committee made the recommendation to Cabinet to remove the option to close St George's School.

The above councillors, Jim Knight (representative)and Education Swanage spoke in support and asked that the COC make a recommendation to Cabinet to include the option to consult on a secondary for Swanage. The COC unanimously (bar 1) voted in support of this. This recommendation was made to Cabinet.

So two differnet recommendations were presented to cabinet, the officers' and the COC recommendation.

Cabinet agreed to remove the option to close St George's and gave Education Swanage a month to openly discuss the option of a secondary for Swanage. This was not alot of time, considering the Christmas holiday fell during this time and the people of Swanage have not had the opportunity to be consulted.; 26/1/10 5:42 pm
Dorsetboy said...: Unfortunately, the die was cast back in 1974 when Swanage Grammar and Swanage Secondary Modern Schools were closed and all 13+ education centralised at the Purbeck School in Wareham. It’s easy to be wise looking back 35 years later but the prospects of a move to a two tier system resulting in the Purbeck School age range being lowered by two years to 11 was always likely to be high.

As a parent of two primary school aged children in Swanage I have never found Education Swanage’s arguments compelling. Yes, it would have been potentially possible to establish some secondary education provision in Swanage. But would it really have been of a suitably high standard, i.e. comparable to the likes of Lytchett Minster and Thomas Hardye schools? Like many I don’t think so and feel that whatever limited money is available should be invested in raising the standards and facilities at Purbeck School.; 26/1/10 9:02 pm
Jimbo said...: With reference to the 5:42 PM posting (two above), I fully sympathise with the contributor’s position that they have “lost the plot” here. The County’s proposals as they now stand just do not add up, either financially or in terms of quality of future education.

Assuming that the Swanage Secondary School argument is lost, then the question of what is to become of the Swanage Middle School site I think warrants further scrutiny. St Marks School (established in 1855 making it I believe the oldest school in the area?) have consistently stated that they do not have sufficient room to become a primary school and have made no secret of their wish to develop a replacement school. The Gazette is right that the plan is now to provide them with a new school on the Middle School site. But whether or not this will be “state of the art” remains to be seen – it is difficult to picture this in view of the overall economic backdrop and the fact that none of the other first schools have been interested in joining with them in this vision. A modified middle school is much more likely and far less desirable.

Personally I think that it’s a great shame that so much negativity has surrounded the primary school debate. Outright closure is a very different scenario to relocation and merger but in many quarters this option was not given a chance, being completely overwhelmed by a subjective bunker attitude of “what we have we keep”. I’m sorry but looked at dispassionately it simply just doesn’t make sense to lose the Middle School and retain all four first schools as primary schools. Swanage First can probably argue that they have sufficient space and facilities to establish a good quality primary school but do the others? I don’t think so and the prospect of a primary school having at best only one class per year and in a worst case scenario more than one year per class is a giant step backwards in my book. Years 5 and 6 at Swanage Middle School currently benefit from three classes per year allowing differing abilities to be suitably grouped and the pupils to receive the help and support they need. This scenario disappears in the latest proposals.

Unfortunately, DCC have not helped matters in any way by initially proposing to merge Swanage First with St Marks only to abandon this and follow up with a proposal to merge St. Marks and St Georges. This was always going to look like a second best option and was bound to rattle some cages. However, looked at objectively it actually makes more sense than the original proposal. The Middle School site is located approximately a third of a mile from the Langton Matravers boundary (incidentally about the same distance as Swanage First’s playing field is from their school). The option to build a brand new Church of England Primary School here should have been looked at in much more detail.

So what benefit is to be gained from another round of consultations? Good question. The ‘proposals’ as they now stand have all the hallmarks of having been designed by committee and should be comprehensively rejected by the community. Three tier may be more expensive but it is infinitely more preferable to what DCC now want to impose on us!; 27/1/10 4:36 pm
Anonymous said...: Dorsetboy, you don't make a school better by making it bigger. DCC have it the wrong way round.

Purbeck is already bigger than Lytchett but is losing more and pupils to them. Sandford and Bere Regis have both voted to jump ship.

Schools become bigger, like Lytchett and Thomas Hardye, if they attract parents, or they become smaller, like Purbeck, if parents choose elsewhere.; 27/1/10 9:47 pm
Anonymous said...: "So what benefit is to be gained from another round of consultations? Good question. The ‘proposals’ as they now stand have all the hallmarks of having been designed by committee and should be comprehensively rejected by the community. Three tier may be more expensive but it is infinitely more preferable to what DCC now want to impose on us!"

Well said! If anything, it is vital that the community fights this more vocally than the last round. Without the money to make a change for the better, DCC should not cause upheaval that will change things for the worse. The argument about whether or not to consult on a Swanage secondary is not the main issue here. The issue is why they are consulting at all on plans which are a 'botch job' because they don't have the money.; 27/1/10 10:55 pm
Anonymous said...: So does anyone know what is happening? The consultation will be in March. What happens if there is a change in government. Will this mean that the Middle Schools will be saved and that all first schools will stay the same?

Do we need a crystal ball ?; 28/1/10 2:40 pm
Anonymous said...: I think that we need to bear in mind that DCC have to provide education across the whole of the County.

The rebuild of QE went over-budget, the re-structure at Blandford went over-budget - remember if County gets hit financially, so do we.

What is working in Dorset? Hardyes, a BIG secondary, surrounded by a very rural area. Perhaps they feel that they can recreate that in Wareham?

There comes a time when you have to stop fighting - and spending thin resources - and start co-operating to ensure that those resources go as far as possible.

Personally, I think that time has come.; 28/1/10 5:23 pm
Anonymous said...: If the people of Swanage always agreed with the last poster's view that:

There comes a time when you have to stop fighting - and spending thin resources - and start co-operating to ensure that those resources go as far as possible.

There would be no Hospital, no Day Centre, no recycling centre etc.
Is it time to let the people of Swanage decide?; 29/1/10 2:35 pm
Anonymous said...: Dear 2.35

not true.

In the matters you mention DCC backed down once they saw the resitance.

As generalisation, you fight until it becomes destructive, then you co-operate to achieve the best possible outcome.

Yours 5.23; 29/1/10 4:02 pm
Dorsetboy said...: I agree that the size of a secondary school should not necessarily be the most significant factor – in fact I don’t mention this in my previous comment. My main concern, and that of other parents I have spoken to, is that a split site Purbeck School would risk diluting available resources. As a result overall standards and results will fall – not rise as Education Swanage aspire to.

If the current standards at Purbeck School compare poorly with other secondary schools in the region then everyone concerned should actively strive to improve them. I’ve seen nothing to convince me that a Swanage-Wareham split school will help to achieve this.; 30/1/10 11:46 am
Anonymous said...: If you have a look at the recent Ofsted then it seems that Purbeck is doing a pretty good job.

I know that it's easy to criticise Ofsted, but it's about the only way compare schools.

Outstanding in Care,guidance and support.

Pass rates are rising.

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/display/%28id%29/109355; 30/1/10 12:37 pm
Anonymous said...: Sorry, the link above is wrong, so here's the correct one.

2009

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/display/(id)/109355

If you want to see how Purbeck has improved then

2006

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_reports/display/(id)/61629; 30/1/10 2:59 pm
Anonymous said...: That's very annoying!

The links work until I publish them.

Let's see if this works.

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxedu_providers/full/(urn)/113855/(type)/8192/(typename)/Secondary%20schools

If not then Google: ofsted purbeck 2009

If you can be bothered, that is!; 30/1/10 3:02 pm
Anonymous said...: There's no reason why Purbeck couldn't remain a good school for the catchment of Wareham. Especially if parents and governors from Wareham got behind this school.

Similarly in Swanage, if the community of Swanage supported a Secondary in Swanage then this would be a good school too.

Bigger is not always better.; 30/1/10 8:39 pm
Anonymous said...: The Middle School site is located approximately a third of a mile from the Langton Matravers boundary (incidentally about the same distance as Swanage First’s playing field is from their school). The option to build a brand new Church of England Primary School here should have been looked at in much more detail.

Three tier may be more expensive but it is infinitely more preferable to what DCC now want to impose on us!

Are you supporting 2 tier or 3 tier. Is three tier still up for discussion?; 30/1/10 8:47 pm
Anonymous said...: "Especially if parents and governors from Wareham got behind this school."

If you read the Ofsted - they do.

"Bigger is not always better."

I quite agree, but Hardyes shows that bigger is not always worse.

"Is three tier still up for discussion?"

No, hasn't been for ages.; 31/1/10 9:50 am
The Postman said...: This resolution was passed by Swanage Town Council at
its meeting on 1st February:

Swanage Town Council deplores the recent decision of Dorset County Council's Cabinet (1) to conduct no consultation with the residents of Swanage on the County Council's intentions towards the future of Secondary school education
in the town; and (2) to carry out no Economic Impact Assessment of the
likely economic and social effects of the planned withdrawal of Secondary education from Swanage.; 2/2/10 1:59 pm
Anonymous said...: 1st Feb 1974 - I assume!; 2/2/10 7:31 pm
dray said...: How much consultation was carried out with Swanage about the change from 2 tier to 3 tier in 1974 ??

How did Swanage respond to this?; 3/2/10 12:27 am
Anonymous said...: 'Swanage Town Council deplores the recent decision of Dorset County Council's Cabinet (1) to conduct no consultation with the residents of Swanage on the County Council's intentions towards the future of Secondary school education
in the town; and (2) to carry out no Economic Impact Assessment of the
likely economic and social effects of the planned withdrawal of Secondary education from Swanage.'
-----------------------------------
Correct me if I am wrong, but at present SMS covers the first three years of secondary education; the pupils leave at 14 to attend Purbeck. If so, the objection is not clear as it implies that Swanage provides secondary education, which would imply 11-16 at least. It doesn't; Swanage will lose its middle school (hence education for 11-rising 14s - only part of the secondary years).

Didn't full secondary education leave Swanage in back in 1974?; 3/2/10 1:19 pm
Anonymous said...: Close but no cigar. Swanage Middle School is currently responsible for educating years 5 to 8. In a two tier model years 5 and 6 will remain at primary school (i.e. the newly expanded first schools) and years 7 and 8 will be educated at the Purbeck School. Currently years nine and above go to Purbeck.

So at present Swanage Middle covers the first two years of secondary education not three.

I have to agree with several of the earlier postings that the more significant loss of secondary education in Swanage occurred back in 1974.; 3/2/10 4:58 pm
Anonymous said...: There is a lively conversation happening on this subject in a more recent thread.; 6/2/10 6:01 pm
Anonymous said...: Yes, it seems the whole idea is being ripped apart!; 6/2/10 10:26 pm

swanageview

Pages

Monday, January 18, 2010

Schools

59 comments:

ShareThis

Blog Archive

Links

Search This Blog

Labels

Unique visits

swanageview

Pages

Monday, January 18, 2010

Schools

59 comments:

ShareThis

Blog Archive

Subscribe to Swanageview

Links

Search This Blog

Labels

Unique visits