All Items here have been received through our e-mail system. If you wish to have anything posted in support of GO2 then please send it via e-mail to:-

admin@go2northumberland.org.uk - your e-mail will be acknowledged.

Dear Colleagues

The Go2 Committee would like to thank the many people from First, Middle and High Schools  who have written in support of what we are doing. 

We have met with the executive committee of the County Council and are arranging others with the Liberal and Conservative groups.  We are not claiming to represent everyone - but we are claiming to represent the silent majority.  Our aim is to make that majority view known to the councillors so that when they come to make their decision  it will have been done by getting a balanced view. 

What we are saying is that changes must be made to the educational structure in Northumberland whatever the outcome of the Putting the Learner First debate.

We shall highlight the main areas where changes need to be made.  In our efforts to keep the debate objective and open we are inviting all schools to contribute by visiting Baldrick's Cyberspace Cafe and sending him cyber space post-its at the above address.

So if you have any thought on this issues then post it to the above e-mail address and the Go2 committee will make sure that the County Councillors receive them.

Don't worry no names or schools will be mentioned when they are sent on to the councillors, or posted to other schools. 

If the majority don't make their views known then the councillors will think they don't have any and, therefore, will only take account of the views that they have heard.

19th March 2005

As a Northumberland High School governor and a parent whose children have progressed through the current “three tier” system, I have followed the debate into the rights and wrongs of the proposed re-organisation with a mixture of incredulity and anger.  Threats of legal action and political challenges by self-obsessed special interest groups do nothing to improve the quality of discussion that at the root of it is only concerned with providing the best possible education for Northumberland children.  Whilst I am a person that usually has little time for party politics, the elected members of Northumberland County Council are to be commended for, in the main, setting aside political differences and agreeing to the proposals put forward in “Putting The Learner First”.

While I will leave others better qualified than me to debate the educational benefits of a two tier system over those of a three tier, I feel that as a governor I am able to comment on the so-called “business case”.  My fifteen years as a governor in both first and high schools have been spent in a time of extreme budgetary pressure, with the commonly held view that Northumberland LEA is chronically under-funded.  It is only comparatively recently that I have realised that this is only a partial truth.  When the schools budget is divided by the total number of pupils, funding on a per-pupil basis compares very favourably with most other LEAs. Northumberland schools are only under-funded because of the expense of providing a three tier system, an excess of some forty four schools with their associated management and premises costs. Consequently, first and high schools are smaller than need be with the associated extra expense that goes with that. The closure of the middle school sector will move two extra year groups and their associated funding to both first and high schools, thus saving many small first schools that are becoming unviable under the current system, and relieving the financial pressure that all high schools are under.

The biggest assets that the LEA possesses are its fifteen high schools.  These are the establishments that provide Northumberland children with the life skills and qualifications that they need to enter the world of work or academia.  While in no way demeaning the work of the first and middle schools, their objective is to provide their pupils with the necessary skills to enter the high schools.  This role can be just as effectively provided in a primary school with a transfer at age eleven, and I know from personal experience that this is the case!  If the high schools cannot function properly due to an increasingly difficult financial climate caused by the inefficient use of resources, then I would suggest that there is little point in either myself or my governor colleagues continuing to face up to an increasingly impossible situation.   As things stand, if the system of provision of education is not addressed now, most if not all Northumberland high schools will be operating with either a deficit budget or with insufficient staff with which to provide an effective curriculum within the next two years. Is that what those middle school supporters, who marched through Morpeth last summer with their banners and twirling streamers, wish their children to face?    Five good GCSE grades are what those children need to maximise their opportunities in life, as I’ve never known an employer yet ask for SAT scores.  I’m afraid that their chances of achieving that are diminished with every year that passes without this opportunity to re-organise being grasped.

My children are now finished their school careers, and I feel that I am able to take a step back from the heat and light that is being generated by the current debate, and thus view matters a little more dispassionately than I may have done a few years ago.  I can only sympathise with those parents who feel uncertain about their children’s future, but I would commend the LEA’s proposals to them as being the only logical way forward.  It is a scheme that looks at the bigger picture of educational delivery in Northumberland, rather than the piecemeal closure of about fifty first and middle schools that will follow otherwise.  Schools will close whichever way the county council decides to go as there will be some six thousand surplus places by 2009 if nothing is done. Let us go with a plan that demonstrates a strategic long term view that will be to the benefit of all Northumberland children, rather than the short-termism that has been the council’s policy on school closures up to now.

Bill Dodd: Chair of Governors, Coquet High School  

10th March 2005

Here are my views on the PTLF   issue.

Neil Richmond

8th March 2005

The meeting was abandoned after complaints from the public.

I did notice Jackie Stong talking to Ed Brown and she didn't seem happy with

the paper he'd handed out.

The meeting is going to be rearranged for next Thursday - can we get

responses to his questions to throw back at him?

8th March 2005

FAO ALL HEADTEACHERS

As you are aware the Council is currently consulting on the Stage 1 'Putting the Learner First' initiative.

For the benefit of parents, the public and other stakeholders the consultation period has been extended to 9.00pm Tuesday, 8 March 2005.

The professional views of headteachers are valued by Members. If you would send me your views, by return email, I will ensure they are included in the consultation analysis.

Many thanks

Freda Whyte Consultation Manager, Communications & Marketing Team, Chief Executive's Directorate, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

Telephone: 01670 533990 Fax: 01670 534117 email: fwhyte@northumberland.gov.uk

28th February 2005

Sorry I can't attend your meeting tonight but I'd like to register my

support for your campaign. I sent out a questionnaire to parents at my

school months ago and 99% have indicated they are in favour of 2 Tier.

Hope everything goes ok tonight - please pass on my best wishes to your action group - I'll try to attend your next event.

Brian Johnson

23rd February 2005

TO:

ALL FIRST SCHOOL CHAIRS OF GOVERNORS

ALL FIRST SCHOOL HEADTEACHERS

Dear Colleague,

PUTTING THE LEARNER FIRST

I am writing to invite you to a Forum for First School Heads and Chairs of Governors which will take place in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Morpeth on Monday 28^th February at 7.30pm.

Due to the increasing amount of negative press coverage, and the negative feedback County Councillors are receiving at the Area Consultation Meetings, I think it is now an appropriate time for those of us, who are in support of the switch from three tier to two tier, to make our voices heard.

The purpose of the Forum will be to discuss any issues, to clarify our opinions and to demonstrate the strength of support for this project.  It is hoped that the outcome of the Forum will be a statement from all First School Heads and Chairs of support for the Putting the Learner First project, which will be released to the press.

I do hope you will be able to attend the Forum, this is, as you are aware, a huge issue for all of us and if we genuinely want this project to go ahead, then we will have to publicly declare our support and demonstrate the strength of feeling behind this issue.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the Forum.

Yours sincerely,

E.L. Freeman (Mrs.) Chair of Governors Malvins Close First School, Blyth

The Editor

Hexham Courant

Monday 21^st February 2005 

Dear Sir

Schools’ Reorganisation

http://www.go2northumberland.org.uk   GO2 – a voice for change

The tone of the public meetings held to discuss the County Council’s proposals to reorganise the education service in Northumberland has caused dismay amongst first and high school headteachers.  Along with seven other headteachers from first schools across the county, I was recently invited to attend a meeting in County Hall with an education consultant Jackie Strong, who is trying to find out what everyone thinks, not just middle schools.  We explained to Mrs Strong that it is not the style of first schools to enter into a damaging public row but that no one should mistake that for weakness or indifference.

It is a fact that ever since the three-tier system was introduced in Northumberland first schools have been significantly under funded and middle schools have gained from that.  I have been a headteacher in Northumberland since 1985 and during that time I have always been an advocate for a change in the system to ensure equality of opportunity for all pupils whatever phase they are in. 

Do you realise for instance, that historically in Northumberland children in Key Stage 2 classes (Years 3 and 4) have received considerably less money per year than Key Stage 2 children (Years 5 and 6) in middle schools?  No one has provided an answer as to why this necessary.  There is no difference in the programmes of study taught by the two schools – indeed at Prudhoe West we are already teach Year 5 work to some of our Year 4 children who, as some of you are aware are working at a level above what is expected of them. 

There is no good reason for money to be allocated in this way and I am pleased that over the next few years, the County Council is now considering ways in which to address this inherent inequality for your children.  There are not as many children living in Northumberland these days and the number is still falling, so we cannot afford to keep so many schools.  We are fortunate that after much hard work by the Governing Body we have a multi-purpose sports facility, which is the envy of many of my first school colleagues.  However, when you look around the remainder of the school we are trying to provide a quality start for the youngsters in our care in decrepit buildings, which were constructed at the end of the Victorian era. 

If the re-organisation goes ahead, Prudhoe West would move into a purpose built school on the Highfield Middle School site, which would give lots of room for our popular school to spread out.  The children would not have to leave us at the very young age of nine and we should be able to see them right through their Key Stage 2 work without interruption, finishing off with their National tests at eleven.  We believe this would help them.  Our teachers want to do this to enable us to build upon the very good pupil progress that is evident throughout our school.  Our governors want to do this and parents tell me they are not concerned about structures.  What concerns them is that their children get the best opportunities possible.  We believe that the change is necessary and that it will be beneficial for your children.  It is time now for first schools to join in the discussion.

Yours sincerely

A Keenleyside

11 February 2005

Dear Mr Beith

I have just come back from a meeting with councillors in County Hall to discuss the proposed reorganisation of the education service in Northumberland.  We were disappointed that the Liberal Group chose not to meet us.

We, a group of first school headteachers, had requested this meeting because we have felt increasingly frustrated by the behaviour of the middle schools campaign and their increasingly unprofessional comments.  At the public consultation in my working town of Cramlington for example, I was horrified when a middle school teacher accused first school teachers of cheating when marking SATs papers and of over estimating the children’s level of attainment at Year 4.  A chairman of Governors from one of the town’s middle schools then spoke stating that children in Cramlington make only two terms progress between the end of Year 3 and the end of Year 4 and that, if he were a parent in the town, he would not want his children in Year 3 or year 4 in those schools never mind Years 5 and 6.  Clearly comments such as these serve only to inflame the situation and force first and high school heads to respond in order to reassure parents.

We believe that it is not the nature of first school headteachers to become involved in a public row but that their restraint should not be mistaken either for weakness nor for indifference.

We strongly believe that, for years, children in Northumberland have been failed by successive senior officers and elected members and that this opportunity to put things right must be taken.

Children are twice interrupted in the middle of key stages.  It is as though we are trying to make things difficult for them.  Children from different schools cover different elements of the curriculum and so it is not surprising that, when they get to middle school, their teachers start again – from the beginning.  At high school, the children are required to choose options after only a couple of months in their new school.  They are obviously in a weak position to make the best choices.

Liaison between schools has proved to be ineffective and has done nothing to remove the negative impact of transition.

Children at the very young age of nine are put into taxis and on to unsupervised school buses and sent round the county for an hour or more before they get to school.  Bullying and bad behaviour is commonplace on these buses and children’s self esteem and confidence is damaged as a result.

The way first schools are funded has been a source of dissatisfaction and debate for years. Children in Key Stage 2 in first schools, for example, are significantly worse off than children in Key Stage 2 in middle schools even though many first schools are already teaching Year 5 work.  Many first schools are now successfully teaching French demonstrating that the issue of so called specialist teaching and resourcing has been show to have been overhyped.

We know that the recruitment of teachers in Northumberland is becoming more difficult.  Worryingly, 50% of the county’s teachers are over fifty.  Applications for posts have fallen as primary trained teachers fear becoming ‘trapped’ in the last two years of Key Stage 2 and similarly worry that if they choose to teach in first schools they do not get the chance to teach the top end of the Key Stage 2 work, thus reducing their promotion prospects.

Because three schools share the responsibility for two key stages there is no real accountability for the end of the key stage results.  It is possible for blame to be passed back and forth with no school taking responsibility for the outcomes.

We favour a return to the two tier system because we believe it makes sense for the children.

We believe that the two tier system supports the framework of the National Curriculum and makes the children’s passage through school more effective.  We also believe that a return to this system would drive up standards in the county because the children’s learning would not be interrupted.  The children would be working in an environment where their strengths and weaknesses are known and understood and that they would complete their Key Stage 2 course at eleven with externally verified test results.

We believe that the recruitment of teachers to the county’s workforce would be helped by this change and that the scarce resources would be more efficiently utilised.

The latest report from Ofsted’s Chief Inspector indicates that 291 primary schools were ‘particularly successful’ last year but that only 2 middle schools fell into that category.  Even allowing for the fact that there are many more primary schools than middle schools, the proportion is what counts.

Primary schools are where families first invest in education and where the society’s future is established.

Jonathan Sacks says that;

‘Schools are where we learn the grammar of togetherness, the give and take of rights and responsibilities; where we pass our collective wisdom from one generation to another’.

What should have been an educational debate about the future of education in our county has been hijacked by a media savvy, articulate group who have employed a lawyer who makes her living from opposing educational change.  There is little togetherness left amongst our schools and wisdom is in short supply.  Instead we have discussion at the level of a daytime television programme.  The rights we should be debating are the rights of our children and future generations of children to a first class education.  The responsibility to deliver that belongs to us all.

We urge you to consider our views and to take account of them in any future discussions you may have with those involved with this debate.

Yours sincerely

Jill Dove Headteacher Burnside First School

Peter Ayres Headteacher Wooler First School

Peter Tincombe Headteacher Beaconhill First School

Diane Greenwood Headteacher Abbeyfields First School

Kevin Vardy Headteacher Ellington First School

Julie Bowman Headteacher Malvins Close First School

Michael Bell Headteacher Morpeth Road First School

Charles Ellis Headteacher Croftway First School

I read the article in the Journal on 10 February and I confirm that I am in full agreement with your proposals to actively promote the benefits of the 2-tier system. It would be a crying shame if kids in the future had to continue their education against the odds in decrepit old buildings that are completely unsuitable as a learning environment. A modern purpose built state of the art education facility has to be the way forward.

I have daughters in years 4 & 7 and so the younger one in particular will have to battle through the change if current timings are correct. Despite this I still think the change should take place. I in fact went through the change in the system to comprehensive back in the mid seventies and so I do know from experience what it's like and how disruptive it can be. I think it is the management of the change that you have to convince people will be effective - at the end of the day all parents just want to ensure that their kids won't suffer emotionally or educationally.

Regards

Ranald Harris (Partner, Knight Frank LLP, Quayside House, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne,NE1 3DX.

All of these points about PWS performing well may be down to teaching, and high standards and expectations. We all could do with more funding and that is why the 2 tier must happen. And yes it is unfair that Middle schools get the 'Lion's Share'. I am wondering is it going to be effective to present your case now? Most people that support the 2 tier system (including me) know it is time for change and is necessary if schools are to recieve the necessary budgets. (I know this only too well working in the LEA. ) The main supporters for the 3 tier system is the parents who are going or think their children are to be affected. They are blinkered and only interested in their child.I approve whole heartedly with what you say but do you feel you need to make this statement? Has the argument for change not already been presented?

Ray

Congratulations on your intervention in the debate.

gareth

URGENT -  PLEASE BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE HEADTEACHER

Dear Colleague

I am writing on behalf of the GO2 Northumberland Focus Group to make you aware that a meeting has been arranged for Heads and Chairs of Governors on Monday 28th February 2005 at 7.30pm at County Hall in the Council Chambers.  To date the debate has largely been one sided and it is important that, as the first period of consultation comes to an end, a more balanced view is made known.    At this meeting we will outline our proposed way forward to facilitate this. We hope that as many Heads and Chairs of Governors are able to attend this meeting.

Yours sincerely

Alan Keenleyside

Prudhoe West First School