Schools re-organisation - misleading statistics and 'research'

[roisin]

Can/should I motivate myself to get involved with this?

We have massively falling rolls, secondary schools becoming unviable, and are having consultation process about the schools re-organisation.

One of the key factors in the document is a statement that "research suggests larger schools with 1,000-1,200 students are more effective" and using this as justification to create an Academy with 1200 students (11-16 only).

But I've now found out what the research is and it doesn't say that at all! It actually says categorically the ideal is six-form entry (about 180 pupils per cohort), single-sex, with a sixth form.

For 11-16 that would therefore mean a school of 900 not 1200, which is way to big IMO.

I am hopping mad that 'research' is being used in this misleading way.

the research is here btw

But am also feeling guilty that I can hardly motivate myself to get involved in any way, as I think the plans will go ahead in any case; and we've already decided that our children will not go to any of the schools affected.

Looks interesting. I've only skimmed it quickly, I'll have anotber look later.

Have to say though, my children's secondary school is the largest school in the county (1700 including sixth form, with 280 per cohort) and is one of the best-performing comprehensive schools in the country. It also has a great 'family' and 'community' feel, so doesn't feel particularly huge.

Interesting...

If you've no intention of sending your children to any of the schools affected, I'd keep out of it. However, you might want to mention the "research" to those you know who may be affected, and leave them to decide whether they wish to challenge the decision or the misinformation.

You may find that the local position on school size is different from the national one.

We are going throught a similar process with teachers being made redundant and threatened school closure. The school I teach in has about 600 pupils and although there may be pressure nationally to get bigger the local authority recognises that in this town schools over 900 don;t work and our particular school because of its intake just could not get much bigger.

One of the reasons I am withdrawing my dd from state education is because I know that there are about to be huge changes in our schools - about the time dd starts secondary school and although the changes may benefit many of the children I teach I don;t think they will serve my dd very well.

Same here twinset. The outcome in the longterm may be good for the students, but it will be hard for those caught in the transition, and my boys would really struggle to go through that.