In the name of raising awareness, 10 parents chose to air their grievance by putting in a petition to bring down two of the most successful educational institutes in England by ending their selection.
Instead of applauding their success and promoting the fact these schools reside in Reading. Instead of trying to emulate their success, ethos and pastoral care by helping find resources for their local schools. The 10 petitioners are bent on a path of destruction and malevolance.
Across the two schools, they have put 1600+ childrens lives into turmoil. These children now fear that their school, due to this petition, may no longer be the safe, secure educational haven they know and trust and now also have the very real fear that it may all be taken away form them.
As to the restructure of the catchment areas for Maiden Erlegh and Bulmersche whilst detrimental to some, they have in all honesty, been put in as a common sense measure. To cater for the needs of the current housing structure of Wokingham. A logical, solution that everyone knew was going to be unpopular with those that lost access to ME. I know that Wokingham Council have to ship in children, on coaches, to 4 of it?s secondary schools due to the demographics of their location. Hopefully this issue will eventually be addressed by building a new Secondary near Finchhampstead.
As to the lack of spaces in Reading schools you?ll find the facts actually say that there are over 900 surplus places in Reading secondary schools. I do find it quite surprising that the 10 petitioners find none of these 900+ surplus places a ?decent secondary school? place.
Quote from Rob Wilson?s Website ?Reading East MP wrote:
Shortage of school places in Reading? The facts:
? As at May 2010, there were 212 surplus places in John Madejski Academy in Reading. In maintained primary schools there were 1,596 surplus places and in maintained secondary schools there were 977 surplus places. (Nick Gibb, written answer, HC Deb, 11 January 2011, c291W)
? As at May 2010, there were 1,596 surplus primary places (14% of total capacity) in Reading; at secondary level there were 977 surplus places (15% of total capacity). Nick Gibb, written answer, HC Deb, 21 December 2010, c1245W)
Historically there have been surplus places at Bulmersche, Forest and Emmbrook so the complaint that Reading children can no longer go to any Wokingham schools is another myth.
Perhaps these 10 parents would be better off spending their time getting behind the proposal of building a new school in East Reading. (Perhaps on the still available Alfred Sutton Secondary school Site.)
Which was reported in GetReading; Quote...
Three of Reading?s leading educational institutions have joined forces to back a plan for a new school offering a mix of academic and technical training in East Reading.
The University of Reading, Oxford & Cherwell Valley College which runs Reading College and Reading School have along with Reading and Wokingham borough councils have pledged their support to the proposal.
The new school will be for pupils aged 11-19 and offer both traditional academic studies and technical courses
As to the Utopia so many well meaning but inexperienced people suggest Comprehensive School education is. Well, I can only speak of my experience. The point here is that I do have first hand experience. One size does not fit all. Having worked in both an Outstanding and failing Secondary school I know that it is not a utopia. Streaming in all subjects from year seven isn?t practised by all, if many schools, due to a number of reasons. Staffing costs being one of them. As to the comment that teachers should differentiate and cater for all pupils needs. How ever well meaning this utopian sentiment, the reality and trying to practise these ideals to students who in the majority are non receptive, is quite another thing. All children aren't academic and many excel in other areas. Unfortunately our measure for successful schools is based on academic results.
I am quite sure that if we suddenly removed access to specialised learning for the small percentage of SEN Pupils, it would lead to a fierce outcry. Yet why is removing specialised learning to the small percentage of able students acceptable?
All these parents are doing is changing the system from selective entry, to entry by postcode. Current Education in this country is a postcode lottery. Again it is only the well of, that can afford to move into expensive catchment areas, that will win.
The selective system doesn?t care where you live, if you are intelligent enough to pass the test they will take you. Which is quite simply, a fairer system.
If you don't like selection at 11, well then there is always the selection at 13, or 6th form entry. There is, a choice, as the previous poster advised.
Its up to you if you make it yours. Why take away the choice? What will this achieve? Removal of choice and eventually the loss of 164 oustanding schools. Do we really have such an abundance of outstanding secondary schools in this country that we can afford to lose 164 of them?
Understandably 10 Parents are angry that their postcode no longer allows access to an outstanding school. Incredibly, to raise awareness of their predicament they chose to raise a petition to end selection at two local outstanding Academies. 10 people are going to bring down two outstanding academies, ruin 1600+ current pupils needs and the future of 100s of bright children that could have been?.It is indeed a truly sad state of affairs that they sought this route to raise awareness of their loss of postcode rights.