Statement on 11-14 Lower Secondary Schools
We have just been sent in the following statement courtesy of Standards-Not-Tiers.
Councillor Alan Wells, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for children and young people has reportedly said:
“The details regarding the location of secondary schools form part of an area by area discussion which the council will be holding with head teachers and chairs of governors later this month.
The motion agreed at Full Council on March 19 said that secondary schools would be established with lower (11-14) and upper (14-19) sections. These schools would be established on the same site wherever possible and would provide a focused learning environment for pupils.
The intention is not to divide the secondary schools but to break them down into manageable sections on the chosen sites and is not a junior high (Middle School) model.
Instead, under our proposed set up, there would be single management, leadership and governance of the secondary schools across the upper and lower sections – a situation which is not uncommon on the mainland.”
We understand that throughout April and May there will be a series of area by area meetings held for Headteachers, representatives of governing bodies, pre-school leaders, and union representatives.
These meetings will consider the original proposals under option 3 for school organisation in the area, as published in the consultation document, any alternatives as a result of submissions made by governors of schools in that area or further work by officers in the light of the consultation responses.
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April 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Don’t you just love politicians?
‘on the same site wherever possible’
- what could make it not possible? Space? Money? a will?
‘into manageable sections’
- but without their own management, thereby saving 16 salaries
- it may take more that a common uniform for the children to consider it a single school. Will the majority of teachers work across both sites?
‘not uncommon’
- there are at least a few amongst thousands of schools
Sorry Alan 4/10 Must try harder
April 4th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I would give two_and_a_half out of three.
1. He has recognised this is a major concern.
2. He has issued a statement.
3. He has identified the issues to address …but then realised he is unable to offer the commitment and reassurance needed.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Why can they not build the new Cowes High School (sorry Centre for Learning) able to cope with their new structure? Their are no plans for this school as yet drawn up so I don’t understand why there should be any rumour of having to use the present unfit for purpose building for use as a lower school. A new school should be able to be built to fit in with the new structure. This upper school / lower school business sounds very suspect and unclear to me. If they are going to be using middle school sites then we mightbas well just stayed with what we have now!
April 5th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Danny, I don’t know the answer but am told that plans are being drawn-up by a firm of consultants working with Keith Simmonds from the IW Council.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:46 am
The beginnings of the Cowes Pathfinder school project pre-dated the new council plans and are presumably tailored to lower pupil numbers. Nothing is yet built, and you suggest the plans are not yet firm Danny, so can it be changed? I don’t know.
The school had a presentation from the consultants Mouchel last November, but by the look of it that wasn’t about specific plans, more about “visions” or whatever consultants call them.
http://www.coweshigh.org.uk/?_id=780
April 12th, 2008 at 12:53 am
(3-5 above) Cowes High
County Press page 15.
If now 11-14 (3 years) rather than 11-19 or 14-19, then it is my opinion that there could be a high number of children per year. Is this suggesting a major Island town will not have a high school provision, or that two Cowes sites will be used? (’Satelitte’ to what? A site with both 11-14 and 14-19, or just the 14-19 bit?)