New Secondary schools for Richmond!

[BayJay]

Richmond Council recently published a White Paper outlining plans for Secondary education in the borough (cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=23719). They want new 6th forms in every school, and would need to decrease current Yr7 intakes to accomodate that. To offset those decreases they are talking about creating two new secondary schools. One of those new schools would be a Roman Catholic school.

The Roman Catholic community in the borough are currently disadvantaged by the "link" system (www.st-marys.richmond.sch.uk/Newsletter%20Link%20letter%20for%202011%20links%20(2).pdf). Because the Catholic primaries are not linked to any secondaries in the borough, their children tend to go to a combination of out-of-borough Catholic secondaries (which are mostly rated as Outstanding), grammar schools and private schools, though some of the girls do go to Waldegrave, which is not part of the link system. Note that there is no reason, in principle, why the Catholic Secondaries couldn't be linked to local community schools, but because many of their children have other options, they simply don't meet the "25% rule" required to form a link. (See an example set of transfer figures at www.st-james.richmond.sch.uk/Admin/Uploads/Docs/StJamesSchool_Parents_NewsLetter_270910.pdf).

This raises several questions in my mind:

1. Does the problem necessarily need to be solved by providing a Catholic Secondary, or are there alternative solutions that would benefit the community as a whole (e.g. reforming the link system)?
2. Does the majority of the Catholic community specifically want to be educated separately from the rest of us, or is it the case that, like everyone else, they simply want an outstanding education for their children, and find that the Catholic route is often the best way of achieving that?
3. If Catholics had more options for transferring to outstanding community schools locally (as many already do, to Waldegrave), would they choose those options over travelling to a single-faith school in a neighbouring borough?
4. I accept that there will always be very religious people who want to segregate themselves, but would I be right in asserting that there are also large numbers of Catholics who would be happy to attend community schools, provided that gave them the same level of academic excellence that can be found in many Catholic options?
5. If a new Catholic secondary school is created, it is likely to have an entrance policy that requires a priest's reference (as per the majority of existing Catholic schools). How do people feel about that?
6. If a state-funded Catholic School is created in the borough, would non-Catholic parents also like the option of sending their children there, provided they weren't barred by the admission system?

I'd be interested to hear your opinions!

Suzihaha, in answer to your point about admissions, the type of Catholic school that the council is proposing is Voluntary Aided (VA), which means that it will set its own admissions policy, and the council will have no influence on it. VA schools control their own admissions, following national guidelines set by the church. Church of England VA Schools are moving towards increasing the number of "open" places, in order to serve the wider community, however the Catholic Education Service vigorously opposes any suggestion that it might do the same.

It is very interesting that the council is proposing a VA school rather than an Academy, despite the fact that it is actively encouraging all existing borough schools to become academies. The Richmond Inclusive Schools Campaign think that this is because the Government's policy on academies says that all NEW faith-based academies need to have 50% open admissions, whereas schools that convert from VA to Academy status further down the line will be able to keep their existing admissions policy.

Also, answering Suzihaha's question about the Linked School Policy, paragraph 4 of these minutes indicates that it is going to be reviewed in September by the Admissions Forum.

Note that the borough's school admissions policies are open to consultation each December. In the meantime if people want to comment on the Linked School Policy then I suggest they contact either their own councillor or one of the councillors on the Admssions Forum.

No doubt it's been said above, but it's worth remembering that the linked school policy also affects children who go to smaller primary schools, not just faith schools. My DD is going to a local one-form entry school and they have a variety of school destinations, none enough to establish a link, and it seems a few people missed out on places at the oversubscribed richmond schools.

The new faith school will not help her form as they will not get a place at that school unless they meet religious criteria, nor will it free up places in the other richmond schools, unless it's untrue that most go outside the borough (and that seems to be a central plank of the call for a richmond catholic school).

It'll be interesting to see what the council says in September.

I have just written to my councillor about the link system and the Catholic School admissions criteria.

How can they decide on a Catholic VA school when there is so much opposition? I still don't understand. Will the Catholic Church contribute funding towards the cost of the building/land or to the running of the school?

The Clifden site is being purchased by the council. To qualify for VA status the church would need to contribute 10% of any capital (i.e. building) costs that would be required, but as there is already a viable school building on the site these will presumably be minimal. The running costs of VA schools are 100% funded by the Local Authority.

Sign the online ePetition proposing that all new borough schools should be inclusive tinyurl.com/riscpetition1
Support the right for all our children to be able to attend any new state-funded Secondary schools, regardless of religion.

The ePetition now has 940 signatures & so needs just 60 more by September 3 to make it onto the agenda for the September 13 meeting of full Council: if you know anyone who hasn't signed yet but is sympathetic to the cause please nag them to sign pronto!

We now have the 1000 signatures necessary to trigger a short Council debate, but need as many as we can to strengthen our case as the campaign progresses.

Just heard the application for the Richmond Free School was rejected by central government (they are considering whether to reapply). So the faith school plan is the only current prospect for a new secondary.

Richmond Inclusive School petition now has over 1100 signatures - a fantastic result. It's only been running 4 weeks, and that's in the middle of the holiday period. A big "thank you" to everyone who's helped so far - you've really made a difference.
If you're just back from holiday, please sign it: tinyurl.com/riscpetition1. (You must have a home, work or study address in Richmond borough.

The 'Inclusive Schools' petition opposing this plan will be submitted to Council on the 13th and briefly debated.

Just going back to what some people (e.g. Kora Sun 21-Aug-11 15:01:20) have been saying about the existing linked school policy adversely affects small schools, as well as Catholic ones, it's worth noting that the <a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218204125/www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk/upload/ADA001083%20-Teddington.doc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">judgement made by the Schools Adjudicator in the Sacred Heart Case (June 2007) could arguably be extended to any primary school in the borough that does not currently have a linked secondary. In paragraph 14 he says "...the issue is less the principle of linked schools than the mechanism used to establish links.... In general it is unfortunate that the outcome of applications are in part determined by choices and decisions made by the parents of previous cohorts of pupils. More particularly, the system as operated has the effect of preventing the admission of small number of children to a school serving the community in which they live"

For those Mumsnetters affected by the problem, perhaps it is worth mentioning this judgement in letters to your councillors or members of the Admissions Forum.

The latest news on the Catholic School debate is that the Richmond Inclusive Schools Campaign are inviting people down to York House from 5.30pm on Tuesday 13th Sept, to show their support ahead of the Council debate that will start at 7pm. It sounds like a child-friendly event with balloons and t-shirts and the like. I expect more details will be posted on their Facebook Page or website over the coming days for anyone thinking of going along.

I am going with DS at 6-6.30 nfortunately can;t stay for the debate.

I'm hoping to be there too - but for the 'other side'

I will convert you all mmmwwhahahahaha!

There is a new petition for those in support of a Catholic school which has over 200 signatures in only three days.
www.richmond.gov.uk/epetitions?mgl=mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx&ID=48&RPID=8290821&HPID=8290821

Ineresting that the catholic church seem to be planning to "picket" the non-catholic viewpoint. I would have thought that was a bit counter productive when we didn't do it when the catholic petition was heard.

You won't convert me (I know you were joking).

I fundamentally disagree in principle with the state supporting religious schools. Personally I'd have them all banned (even the CofE ones but at least there is some argument for them being the state sponsored religion) but in an area where there is insufficient provision for all pupils with a need, I can see no argument at all for a faith based school to take priority other than "we want one".

My son goes to a primary school with no linked secondary and the provision for boys in the borough is abysmal as it is. That there may be council money spent on a school because no other school is good enough (when it is expected to be for my son to which he will not be admitted makes my blood boil.

How weak does your catholic faith have to be that it cannot sustain itself in a school that does not specifically teach Catholicism? How do other religions cope?

everything that KewC said with bells on ( not church one mind)

There is a very obvious compromise that would satisfy most (but not all) people on both sides of the Catholic School debate. The new school could be a Catholic Faith Academy, rather than a Voluntary Aided school. Then it could reserve 50% of its places for practising Catholics, and provide the rest as open community places.

SeenButNotHeard, I'd be interested in your view on that.

I'm not sure that there is actually any organised 'picket'. I am going along as a fair and balanced person I would like to hear both sides of the debate, as well as having my say if the opportunity arises.

At the last council debate, there were actually representatives from both sides.

I would remind everyone again that there are more than enough Catholic children, in borough, to fill a Catholic secondary school.

I think that the idea of a Catholic Faith Academy is an interesting one. I guess I would worry a bit that a 50% dilution of attendees of the Catholic faith may undermine its ethos, but I would be willing to find out more.

I actually think that this is something that the Wesminster Diocese would support given that it is trying to change the admissions criteria for Cardinal Vaughan at the moment (this is however not supported by the majority of parents at the moment AFAIK)

There are more than enough non-catholics to fill two more secondary schools and despite being the majority, they are not being considered as the priority.

Starting with a Catholic secondary school won't don't anything to address the lack of spaces for the majority of children of any religion in the borough and as the building that is being mooted is already partially suitable at the monet the rebuild costs will be minimal, added to which it is in cetnral Richmond with easy bus and train links throughout the borough which would make it an ideal all inclusive school.

There are Catholic schools (which are currently being attended by Richmond residents) which are closer to some parts of richmond than the state secondary schools in Richmond and given Catholics get priority to them I don;t see the problem for putting yourself out a bit to get the additional Catholic tuition you require as it isn;t something the state is compelled to provide.

My son has NO priority at any school - not one, inside the borough or outside. He goes to a small state school that has no link and as a result in a single class moving to secondary last year the children were attending 10 differnt secondary schools spread across the borough.

I'd take any half way decent school, really any at all. Even a Catholic one. I still really don't see why an all inclusive school isn't prioritised. If there is the money/premises left when the schools accomodating the whole borough (including Catholics) have been supplied then more than happy for the council to start asking who wants what and allocating the money in descending population order.

I get that you want a catholic school I just don't get why you need one more than I do.

It's all a bit moot point as I strongly suspect the deal was done a long time ago behind closed doors as Lord True has openly stated links as a trustee of a catholic charity.

Oh my understanding was that there was a couple of people from the all inclusive schools campaign present at the reading of Catholic petition. I will be interested to see if the Catholics campaign is more high profile than that (not that I'm suggesting there is an orchestrated protest) - I hope not as it wouldn't be very polite! I must say am a bit alarmed at the idea of having to run the gamut of Catholics to hear a petition I signed being read - sfx will you come and hold my hand?

No need to fear - I doubt there will be public flogging and burning at the stake (well, unless you all get really out of hand )

What kew said. I will get along there on Tuesday if I can.

I will try to be there might have to bring child or work out some kind of childcare

As I have said before, in terms of attendance, actually, a Catholic Secondary would serve more of the borough, as a whole, than a non-denominational school, as it will hopefully mean that Catholic children living on the other side of Richmond will also have an opportunity to attend, not just children living in the Twickenham area.

We are not talking about the LA providing a school that will not be filled by LBRUT children, these children just happen to be Catholic.