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!

Following Tuesday's council debate about the proposed Catholic school in Twickenham, I've heard lots of people asking "what happens next?". Well, as mentioned in the debate, the Catholic Church will need to ask Michael Gove for special permission to set up a new school without any form of competition. The fact that there is local opposition will no doubt influence his decision on that. If he waves it through, then there will still be a consultation process. If he doesn't, then the council will have the choice of either having an open competition for the site, or working with the Catholic Church to set up a Faith Academy. Academies are exempt from competition, but, as discussed earlier in this thread, the Catholic Church may not be happy about going down the academy route because of the rules that say new faith academies can only select 50% of their pupils by faith. They would need to decide between walking away from the opportunity, or setting a national precedent on admissions.

Either way, things could get very interesting!

I think the campaign needs to continue, the local paper I feel seems to be leaning towards a more sympathetic towards the Catholic option, more letter writing and more visible objection needs to be maintained imo
Last Tuesday I got the feeling there was surprise there was such strong objection and that the objection managed to organise itself sufficiently

Just following on from my last post. Another alternative for the Catholic Church would be to continue to try and change the law on Faith Academies to give them more control over admissions.

I have posted the Liberal Democrat response to the petition at: twickenhamlibdems.co.uk/en/article/2011/511916/the-inclusive-schools-petition-the-liberal-democrat-response . The Lib Dems have called a consultation before any decision: twickenhamlibdems.co.uk/en/article/2011/512958/call-for-consultation-on-new-twickenham-secondary-school

It is rumoured that some Conservatives are now having doubts about giving the site to the RCs. They are worried that there will be an uproar when it becomes known what a lot of money they have had to pay to get the site [this is secret for now]. If you oppose the scheme, live in the borough and have a Tory councillor in your ward, make sure that they know what you think.

The RCs may also have difficulty in finding their share of the £7 million+ needed to alter the site and equip it.

I just got a questionnaire from Boris asking about local issues... will be replying asking if he thinks prioritising a selective catholic school over an inclusive school is really the best use of our money at this stage.

I was totally confused by the councillor at the meeting who appeared to be arguing that they did have sufficient school spaces contrary to their own stated need for two additional secondary schools. I guess they are ignoring their own plan to put in sixth forms which would require a decrease in the number of spaces at existing secondary schools .

I assume that they will need to disclose how much they paid for the sire.

Will be emailing my counsillors to ask them.

Kewcumber, I agree that Councillor Hodgins speech wasn't very clear. He put lot of emphasis on the very real and commendable efforts that are being put into improving Twickenham Academy. My interpretation of his view is that as Twickenham Academy improves, more parents from Twickenham primaries will be happy to send their children there (or at least, not mind that it will be their only remaining choice). Currently it is undersubscribed, and is topped up by many children from Hounslow. It has a troubled past, and has a lot of prejudice to overcome in the local community. If he allows the new Clifden school to be "inclusive" then Twickenham parents will choose it in preference to TA, and disrupt those improvement plans.

Of course, local parents don't necessarily want to be deprived of choice and used in that way, and it would be preferable for Twickenham Academy to attract borough families on its own merits. In theory it should be possible for all local secondaries to be high quality and inclusive, and yet have a distinctive enough ethos for parents to select them on the basis of what is best for their own children.

Bayjay, as you know,Twickenham Academy is right on the edge of Richmond borough. It is not 'topped up' by children from Hounslow - I believe about 50% of the students come from Hounslow borough.This is because Twickenham Academy is seen to be a better choice than the other options available to them in Hounslow borough.

Sorry Corlan, I didn't mean to imply anything by the phrase 'topped up'. Just clumsy terminology.

What would be your interpretation of Councillor Hodgin's speech? I'd be interested in other opinions.

Of course we need to improve standards of existing schools (we are close to RPA so a subject close to my heart). But surely that is a separate issue to the number of places required. His speech seemed to deny that two new secondary schools were required which totally confused me!

The original Richmond education White Paper referred only to the 'equivalent' of two new secondary schools. The council have so far made no public commitment to creating a second new school. The implication from Councillor Hodgin's speech, as I see it, is that they intend to create the extra community places required through a combination of expansion, Free Schools, and the improvement of the academies such that they become a destination of choice for Richmond Borough families.

However, I'd be interested in hearing other interpretations.

Blimy aren't most of the secondaries big enough already?

And I though the capacity was going to decrease with the intention to provide sixth forms?

Thinking about it, all 3 academies are right on the edge of the borough.

I sincerely hope that those schools will improve to the point where they become 'the destination of choice for Richmond families'.However, when that happy day arrives, we will be competing with Hounslow and Wandsworth borough parents to get our kids in.

For example, if Twickenham academy improves enough, a lot of parents who currently send their children to Heathlands may well choose Twickenham instead. In that case, I wonder if there will be as many 'spare' places for Richmond borough kids as the Councillor Hodgins has calculated?

Good point Corlan. It will certainly be interesting to see Councillor Hodgin's numbers when they are eventually published.

Just for info, here are some links to articles about the Catholic School controversy in the local and national press.

There is some news about the Linked School Policy. The minutes for last night's Admission Forum meeting have been published. The forum is recommending to the council that it consults the public on removal of the Linked School Policy for 2013/2014 entry to Grey Court, Orleans Park and Teddington.

I think it'll be great if they remove the link system. What difference do you think it'll make if Grey Court, Orleans and Teddington become academies?

of course the linked system would be irrelevant if all the secondaries in the borough were reasonable. I accept that they are trying to change this but really, how on earth did a relatively affluent borough with such good primaries get into such a state with its secondaries!?

"twickenham academy seen as a better choice than other options available in Hounslow borough.."

heaven help us when twickenham academy is a better choice than other options - the entire secondary transfer game freaks me out and I wish so much that we had the money to educate our children privately when they reach that age.

kewcumber - because so many families historically tranferred to private secondaries and with the recession more families are choosing state schools, putting a squeeze on admissions

i think
don't jump on me with flashy statistic and stuff please

yes blue I'm sure thats why the pressure on secondary places but it isn't why some of the schools deteriorated so badly. In fact it was a perfect storm of different things happening at different schools at similar times.

But other affluent boroughs don't appear to have the same issue of so many failing schools in one borough.

But have they deteriorated or have they always been failing schools?
Think of where the 3 new academies are, ie widely viewed as less desirable parts of Richmond. well maybe not Richmond Academy - that's the odd one out

Well Greycourt was the school that everyone fought to get into when my neices were young then was a failing school for many years - luckily (very very recently) it seems to have picked up with the new head so that may have been solved.

Richmond Park Academy (or Sheen International school) is certainly (as you identify) not in a less desirable area but quite a cross section of housing and incomes. Though I can only speak for the schools I know near me, my knowledge of other areas of richmond eg whitton are that they may be less desirable than some parts of Richmond but hardly no-go ghettos which result in failing schools.

The irony that there was a Catholic secondary in Richmond which failed and had to be bailed out by CofE (even though it was some time ago now) doesn't escape me! If the Catholic church had stuck it out with St Edmunds instead of cutting and running when the school was "awarded" failing school status we wouldn't be having this argument debate now.

Twickenham Academy is currently being rebuilt and there is a lot of effort going in to turning it around. Plus, from current Year 7/8(?) onwards they are using the Kunskapsskolan methodology, which may be new to the UK, but is well established in Sweden. I think its fair to say the school has a strong chance of a bright future, but that is yet to be proven.

There are a lot of very nice family size houses in Whitton, that are currently much cheaper than Twickenham. They could be a smart buy right now for anyone who is prepared to take a leap of faith.

I know less about the other Academies, but as they are being run by the same Academy Sponsor, presumably they also have potential to rise high.

However, that doesn't mean that large areas of Twickenham will be prepared to accept Twickenham Academy as their only choice of Secondary School (for boys, anyway). It needs to attract pupils on its own merit.

we would move before accepting twickenham academy I have to say - it may take years to prove itself and turn things around.
I am pretty local

(richmond park is not a kunskapsskolan school btw)

anyway......it is interesting to read other's thoughts on all of this

There's a very positive Mumsnet thread about Twickenham Academy, if anyone is interested. It hasn't been posted to for a while though.