Concern that new Bucks academy schools could lose grammar status (From Bucks Free Press)
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Concern that new Bucks academy schools could lose grammar status
10:28am Friday 23rd July 2010 in
CONCERNS have been raised about whether schools gaining academy status could be forced to become a comprehensive under a future Government.
Five grammar schools in south Buckinghamshire have expressed an interest in becoming an academy - a move which would give them freedom from the National Curriculum and the ability to change the length of school terms and times.
They would no longer be run by Conservative-dominated Buckinghamshire County Council, instead being controlled by central Government.
Councillor David Watson, Conservative member for Thames, raised concerns at a full county council meeting yesterday.
He said: “Should a grammar school become an academy? Is there really a long term guarantee that a future Government could not come along and say 'you're no longer under local authority control, you cannot any longer remain a grammar school'?”
Steven Adams, cabinet member for Education, said: “I don't think it's for me to say whether they should or shouldn't – they have to make the decision for themselves.”
He said he was trying to give schools as much information as possible about the move, adding that a group of MPs are currently trying to amend the bill to ensure schools could safeguard their future as grammars.
Secondary schools to show interest in becoming academies are: Royal Grammar School and John Hampden Grammar School in High Wycombe, Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham, Highcrest Community School, Wycombe High School and Chesham High School.
Primaries Seer Green C of E Combined, Chalfont C of E School and Coleshill Church of England Infant School have also shown interest.
Comments(19)
Blueberry
says...
12:06pm Fri 23 Jul 10
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The problem is, that no one knows.
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There is too little firm information and schools are being pushed to make a quick decision.
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Whether grammar, upper or primary, they should hold off till it's more certain.
towncryer
says...
12:21pm Fri 23 Jul 10
towncryer
says...
12:23pm Fri 23 Jul 10
miccles
says...
12:45pm Fri 23 Jul 10
This certainly isn't being done for the benefit of the schools and pupils.
Blueberry
says...
12:59pm Fri 23 Jul 10
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It's possible (not advisable, but possible) to make patients wait, but if there are school age children, the state is obliged to offer them schooling.
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Funding could be cut, class sizes increase etc but suggesting widespread closures is alarmist and distracts from the realistic fears.
Laneender
says...
1:11pm Fri 23 Jul 10
towncryer wrote:Since when has it been snobbery to allow the brighter kids from poorer backgrounds the means to go to a school that better suits their academic abilities?
Seems Bucks Grammar snobbery and elitism is coming to an end
Chukka
says...
5:43pm Fri 23 Jul 10
Blueberry
says...
7:11pm Fri 23 Jul 10
deecee01
says...
7:27pm Fri 23 Jul 10
Blueberry
says...
7:36pm Fri 23 Jul 10
towncryer
says...
12:41am Sat 24 Jul 10
Laneender wrote:The snobbery and elitism is with Tory Bucks council who persist with Grammar schools
towncryer wrote:Since when has it been snobbery to allow the brighter kids from poorer backgrounds the means to go to a school that better suits their academic abilities?
Seems Bucks Grammar snobbery and elitism is coming to an end
Its time all schools were same standard as the Grammar schools
Blueberry
says...
6:48am Sat 24 Jul 10
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Can ALL schools get over 95% of their pupils getting at least 8 A-C GCSEs, or whatever stat you want to pick?
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And if you don't mean exam results, what do you mean?
Plus ça change...
says...
8:53am Sat 24 Jul 10
It's more rewarding that watching soap operas and reality TV.
I can understand that some schools in the future will want to be free of some of the restraints they are under and it probably means us paying fees. Seems inevitable to me.
Doesn't matter what you call them then.
Plus ça change...
says...
8:56am Sat 24 Jul 10
deecee01
says...
10:15am Sat 24 Jul 10
Of course sharing knowledge with your children is being a good parent.
Being a bad parent is forcing your child to go to paid 11+ coaching lessons from about Year 3, just to make sure they get into a Grammar School, so the parents can boast to everyone which school their little darling is at.
As I said earlier, if the child can sit the 11+ plus exam having just done a handful of practice papers, and pass the exam, then they are an ideal candidate for a grammar school. A child who has been coached to pass an 11+ paper may not necessarily cope in a grammar school once they get there. They could then face 5 years of misery trying to keep up with the other students, but continually scared of their overpowering parents refusing to realise that they are in the wrong school.
Make no mistake, there are plenty of those types of families in this area.
educationbod
says...
6:21pm Sat 24 Jul 10
So not only are they taking money away from other schools services but they are increasing selection.
Which would seem to fit what the guardian reported, that eventually the admissions code could be dimished. a bit like what happens to teachers protected working conditions a few years after being in an academy.. diminished.. its all very well heads wanting 'independent school freedoms'... well they certainly wont have the independent school class sizes.....
I also dont see the new academies suddenyl giving their staff the 2 month long summer break that independent schools get.
guesswork
says...
10:20pm Sun 25 Jul 10
I've met people from in Bucks who thought it was a girls school and outside Bucks who thought it was in the United States. There is a competitive element toward grammar pupils which is not always helpful. As is vice versa I guess. If the strength of grammar is in languages and literature then I guess academies may be more technically biased. However, I guess it depends on what is offered and what pupils choose.
demoness
says...
7:18am Mon 26 Jul 10
deecee01 wrote:Spot on Deecee. Both my daughters went to the High School and they would come home and say it was obvious which girls had been coached to pass because they were struggling big time to cope with the work load.
In response to your quote - "If parents share their academic knowledge with their kids, it's not 'coaching'. It's just being a good parent. " Of course sharing knowledge with your children is being a good parent. Being a bad parent is forcing your child to go to paid 11+ coaching lessons from about Year 3, just to make sure they get into a Grammar School, so the parents can boast to everyone which school their little darling is at. As I said earlier, if the child can sit the 11+ plus exam having just done a handful of practice papers, and pass the exam, then they are an ideal candidate for a grammar school. A child who has been coached to pass an 11+ paper may not necessarily cope in a grammar school once they get there. They could then face 5 years of misery trying to keep up with the other students, but continually scared of their overpowering parents refusing to realise that they are in the wrong school. Make no mistake, there are plenty of those types of families in this area.
It has always been about the parents - it is them that make the kids feel they are second best - not the system. I can remember with my 2, there were stupid parents at their primary school promising the children computers and all sorts if they passed.
Far better to be top at an Upper school and happy and confident, than bottom at a Grammar.
And the chances are you would come out with better results that way..
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yog says...
11:54am Fri 23 Jul 10