Through schools

[Dru77]

My LEA (Leeds) are consulting on a plan to turn at least 3 secondary schools into 'through schools' i.e. catering for 4-18, one head and governing body for the lot. One of the schools affected by this is the secondary school we will end up at, it is extremely popular and rated excellent by ofsted. The other 2 are very unpopular and you'd kill your granny if it meant you could avoid sending your kids there.

The first reception classes would join in 2012 so the intake won't affect my dcs chances of getting in as they're already in yr1. Lots of local people seem concerned about the change but I have no idea whether it's good or bad. Is there any reason why this would be bad for the secondary part of the school i.e. reducing standards etc?

My LEA (Bristol) has done this for one school and it has actually increased standards (but both primary and secondary schools are in a deprived area and only "satisfactory" rating by OFSTED). It doesn't really affect chances of getting in at secondary level because primary has 2 class intake and secondary more than that (5 or 6 classes). However this is an undersubscribed school so it may be different for a popular school. Providing the admissions criteria is well drawn up so that people living close to the school are not affected if they go to a different primary school it should be OK.

There are several advantages to 'all through' schools.

1. They can ease the transition from year 6 to year 7. As the pupils are a known quantity and can be ''prepared' in advantage of the move.

1. Children are more able to stick with their friends and primary class mates (this may also be a disadvantage).

1. Primary pupils may have access to secondary teachers and resources (such as science teachers and labs, language teachers and sports facilities).

It all depends on the way it's managed. And Dru77 I'm not sure how this will effect you directly.

jackstarb - You're right, I don't think it will affect me but I couldn't understand the local opposition to it.

Apparently the primary age kids will get priority entry to the secondary part of the school so I can see that that could cause some discontent. GSAL is a through school and people pay to go there so it can't all be bad!

There are many successful 'all through' schools in the independent sector. It's also the norm in Finland.

Are the poorly performing secondary's getting new heads? If not - that could be a cause for concern.