Day 61 – Debate

Last night at Beauchamp Middle School, a calm, sensible, but open and honest debate was heard for the first time. Mike Berrill (Principal of Biddenham College) spoke of his vision for the future of his campus and for why we should embrace transformational change, and Tony Dadd spoke on behalf of the Save Middle Schools campaign.

We all agreed that we would like to gain BSF funding to improve Bedford Borough schools, that we would like to see a Full Council vote, and that a Judicial Review would mean that the money is lost.

We also agreed that everyone should fill in the consultation document and, whatever the outcome, everyone would need to collaborate fully to improve education in Bedford. We, of course, differed in the outcome we would like to see.

SMS is holding further meetings this week at Woodside Middle School (Tue 20 June at 7pm), Harrold Village Hall (Wed 1 July at 7pm) and Bromham Village Hall (Thu 2 July at 8:15pm). So far we have failed to find anyone as courageous as Mike to stand up and speak for two-tier, but would welcome offers, especially from Heads of upper or lower schools in favour of change.

Would it be too much to ask that the mayor attend one public meeting before the consultation period ends?

Come on Frank…come and debate with us…

Day 60 – The Key Stage 1 SATs Myth

Don’t forget to come to our meetings this week…Beauchamp 7pm Mon, Woodside 7pm Tue, Harrold Village Hall 7pm Wed, Bromham Village Hall 8:15pm Thu…

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Another one of the great myths that the Education mafia is allowing to become “truth” is that Bedford performs poorly at GCSE despite brilliant Key Stage 1 SATs results which outperform everyone else…and the official consultation meetings showed some incredibly poor graphs to demonstrate this (in Excel – and no professional statistician uses Excel for plots, believe me)…

Beware of complex problems that are shown to have simple solutions – somebody is trying to mislead you.

The problem is that they do not compare like with like. Apples and pears yet again, although I am tempted to call this apples and avocados (like our statistical neighbours mostly having grammar schools). What they should be doing of course is following individual children through the educational system from age 4 (baseline tests) to age 18 (A-levels or equivalent). By comparing one cohort of children at Key Stage 1 with another at Key Stage 4, any comparison is confused (confounded we in the stats world call it) with the cohort effect.

One of the reasons why this is particularly bad in Bedford is that many children attend state lower schools before going on to the independent sector – around a quarter of all GCSE candidates in Bedford are at private schools. Nobody knows how many pupils take KS1 tests in Bedford Borough state schools but are not present in Bedford Borough’s state GCSE results. NOBODY KNOWS.

Another reason is that, especially in the Sandy and Wootton pyramids, some of our pupils cross over into Central Bedfordshire’s school system at some point – the school systems are intertwined. So, yet again, we are not comparing like with like.

There is also an argument that some lower schools, having no responsibility for progress after KS1, are encouraged by their school improvement partners (SIPs) to ensure that their teacher-assessed KS1 SATs are representative of what their pupils would achieve “on a good day”. This is an entirely positive process for all involved, and no implied criticism is intended of teachers, heads or SIPs. However, it does, then make it difficult for middle school teachers at KS2 to show the progress required by their SIPs.

The really important point here is that pupils’ results “recover” over time and our children do no worse, and probably better, than truly similar authorities such as Milton Keynes and Swindon once they get to GCSE.

Hmm…the bureaucrats said at the Biddenham open meeting that they have a professional statistician working for them…maybe they’d like to run these figures by an independent and properly qualified educational statistician for comment…SMS could put them in touch with a few via the Royal Statistical Society.

Day 59 – Integrity

On Sundays SMS takes a slightly different view of affairs which is a little more philosophical.

When someone has integrity, their actions are true to their beliefs, they make decisions that can be tough but are also right according to them.

Unfortunately, integrity can turn into rigid adherence to one side of an argument even when all the evidence points the other way.

SMS believes that this is now the position with the two and three tier debate in Bedford Borough. The very few individuals who support two tier are dogmatically sticking to their view of the world, even when their arguments have been dismantled one by one.

Anybody who attended one of the official consultation evenings will have observed this as, time after time, evidence was swept aside by unsupported statements such as “We believe that…”, “It may be true…”, “I know that…”

During the coming week, SMS are holding 4 meetings of their own (bringing to 10 the number we have held so far). Our meetings will have addressed more individuals than the official consultation evenings by the end of the consultation process and accessed more communities.

Why not come to one of our meetings and listen to the other side of the story? We even invite any members of the two-tier side of the debate to come and speak in favour of change. We are much more open to honest debate than the official consultation evenings…

Mon 29th June 7pm at Beauchamp Middle School in Brickhill
Tue 30th June 7pm at Woodside Middle School in Bedford
Wed 1st July 7pm at Harrold Village Hall
Thu 2nd July 8:15pm at Bromham Village Hall

Let all your friends know too – we only have word of mouth and the wonders of the interweb to spread our news…

Day 58 – Dear Phil

Yesterday we broke the 15000 hit barrier – thank you for all your supportive emails – and thank you for the less supportive ones too – all we want is an open and honest debate in public with both sides of the argument presented. That is what democracy is about…and on that note…

Here is an open letter from SMS to Phil Simpkins, Chief Executive of Bedford Borough and veteran of all 6 official consultation evenings (only a select few got the certificate!)

Dear Mr Simpkins,

As you are aware Bedford Borough Council’s decision whether its school system remains 3 tier or changes to 2 tier will be enormous and far reaching. It will impact on the Borough’s children, their families, the school staff, the tax payers, essentially on everyone living in the Borough in some way. Accordingly it is fundamental that the decision is made, and seen to be made, democratically.

At the consultation meeting at Mark Rutherford on 15 June the question was raised as to whether this vital decision will be made solely by the Executive or by the full Council. It was stated that legal advice was being sought on this issue. We write to enquire if the legal advice has now been received. If so what final decision has been reached? If you have been advised that the Borough legally has the discretion to choose the manner in which the decision is made please confirm this.

If the legal advice has not yet been received will you please advise when you anticipate you will receive it.

We are concerned that if this crucial decision is not put to a full council vote it will leave the Borough open to Judicial Review.

Save Middle Schools – the Parents’ Action Group Against Change

Next week we have 4 open meetings on Mon-Thu where we hope to present both sides of the debate, if someone from the opposition volunteers to speak…and why wouldn’t they?

Beauchamp 7pm Monday
Woodside 7pm Tuesday
Harrold Village Hall, 7pm Wednesday
Bromham Village Hall, 8:15 Thursday

Please come along and hear our presentation

Day 57 – The Money Game

A Friday afternoon task for you to participate in: each lower school has approx £1.2M to spend on upgrading itself to a primary school. Each extra classroom costs, say £0.6M in total building costs, but remember we have to employ consultants and central bods to administrate this huge capital programme, and they don’t come cheap…not even Bob the Builder comes cheap…

OK, now work out where these classrooms are going to be built, and how each new primary school is going to provide for science, music, arts, technology, sport as the middles do now.

Now add in the effect on the local community.

Interesting game isn’t it.

SMS will start with Sharnbrook John Gibbard Lower School. Built using funds raised by a local man in the Victorian era, it is sited in the centre of a busy village where Sharnbrook Upper School and Coilworth Science Park are located. Traffic is a massive problem for local residents in the morning and afternoon and the local parish council has this as one of its main issues with any development in the village.

Classrooms could be built on its large playing field to the rear of the partially-listed building. Another 60 pupils, though, would mean at least 30 cars more at the start and the end of the day, and there isn’t enough car parking for staff already.

Or they could move the whole school to the edge of the village, knock down the historic building, build lots of new houses (hurrah, more houses in the villages…), and increase car movements even more !

And this is going to be better than improving the condition of Margaret Beaufort Middle School?

We don’t think so.

If you’d like to contribute please add a comment below about your local school.

Day 56 – Freedom of Speech

Interesting isn’t it…we think we live in a democracy…yet when important decisions like changing school system are being suggested…the information flow seems to be very one-sided.

What evidence do we have?

First, there is a non-consultation document that purports to give a genuine choice between two and three tiers, yet only contains 18 words about three tier, mentioning none of the advantages of three tier and none of the disadvantages of two tier.

Secondly, the consultation document is misleading and on occasion inaccurate. Assertions are made rather than evidence being given. Phrases such as “we believe” or “it may” are used as substitutes for evidence. Where statistics are used, they mislead and do not shine light on the complex problem that educational achievement certainly is. Beware of simplistic solutions to complex problems. That is how big mistakes are made.

Thirdly, the consultation evenings did not allow an alternative view to be put forward. They were also hijacked by Head teachers in favour of change, individuals who are hardly impartial. The overwhelming feeling from parents in those meetings was that this massive disruptive change was unnecessary and potentially very damaging to our children.

Fourthly, the upper school Heads have stifled debate within their own pyramids by making their position known in the press. How on earth can ordinary teachers, whose careers are dependent on being well regarded by their managers, make any genuine comment? How must parents feel when they have to speak against influential people who have control over their children? What can children do except follow the example set to them by their Head? Freedom of speech doesn’t exist any more apparently.

Fifthly, some lower school Heads have refused to pass on information about meetings held at middle schools – and why on earth would they do that? One governor even told SMS “Don’t believe what the middle school are saying. They’re only giving you one side of the story” ! What irony…

All we want at SMS is to have a proper and open debate so that BOTH sides of the story can be heard…and then everyone can make up their own mind what they believe. And next week, we have 4 meetings (see the meetings tab above or click here)…Beauchamp on Monday night at 7pm should be good as Mike Berrill (Principal of Biddenham International College) will speak pro two-tier. So come along and listen to a real open and honest debate.

Day 55 – The Transition Myth

TAKE ACTION NOW

The central myth of the two-tier dogma is that two school transfers are bad and this causes terrible disruption to our children’s education.

Hmm…SMS wonders why in the last OFSTED report for each of the 7 upper schools, negative effects of transition were not mentioned once? Isn’t that interesting ! OFSTED doesn’t see fit to comment yet Geoff Bent (Educational Official with responsibility for School Improvement) believes that these transitional dips are worth changing a whole school system for.

What complete and utter nonsense. There is no evidence that two transitions are any worse than one transition ultimately in pupils’ lives.

Two transitions managed well from small lowers to medium-sized middles to human-sized uppers are much less damaging than one harsh change from a small primary to a massive secondary of around 2000 pupils. That is precisely why the Plowden Report (1967) encouraged school system change to three-tier education in the first place: the sizes of schools match pupils’ development stage.

The second myth being propagated is that GCSE choices are terribly difficult as Year 9s are in a new school. This again, has no evidence to support it. GCSE choices are always tricky whatever system you have. They are dependent on school, teacher, pupil, the time of the day you ask a 14 year old what they want to do with their lives…

Show us the evidence that this is any worse in three-tier than two-tier.

SMS says focus resources on communication between schools to manage transitions well. If they can’t manage this now, how on earth are they going to manage the advanced communication needed during the massive disruption that our school system will face should we decide unwisely to change to two-tier.

If you want to have an impact, TAKE ACTION NOW. Spread the word. Blog on everyday. Email save.middle.schools@googlemail.com. Do something, not nothing. And do it today.

Day 54 – Dear Frank…

This letter was emailed to frank.branston@bedford.gov.uk at 6:30am on Tuesday 23rd June.

Dear Frank,

The official consultation meetings are now over, we at SMS are sorely disappointed that our elected mayor did not not attend any. In fact, when interviewed by Stephen Rhodes on Monday 15th June (click here to listen – Frank is the YouTube SMS logo on the right), you seemed unaware of how many meetings had already taken place. Furthermore, in the interview, you apparently had an open mind on the future of schools structure, despite being on record as supporting a change to two-tier.

By the way, why is it that, in a council of 36 elected representatives plus a mayor, the only one who has not been elected by the voters to have responsibility over Education is you? Two years ago we elected you as mayor of Bedford Borough Council but Bedfordshire County Council had responsibility for Education. Nobody elected you as mayor of Bedford Borough Unitary Authority.

So some questions for you to ponder – perhaps you would be so good as to reply to us publically via a comment to this blog.

1. Will you now ask Jane Walker (portfolio holder for Children’s Services) to arrange a debate where all councillors and you are present and representations are made in the form of short presentations by SMS and any other significant group (Heads pro-change and Heads anti-change perhaps). This could be chaired by Phil Simpkins (Borough Chief Exec) then questions taken from the floor as in “Question Time”. Surely this is the most efficient way to allow councillors to hear all organised groups.

2. Will you also meet now in private with members of SMS to hear our concerns about the consultation and decision-making process?

3. Will you assure us that, whatever the legal advice concerning your powers, you will allow a simple majority of Full Council to decide this issue?

Please don’t leave a legacy of educational disruption Frank. That would subtract from all the good work you have done in 7 years as our mayor.

Love to Fred,

SMS

Day 53 – The Pot of Gold

An open letter to all lower schools

On behalf of the Save Middle Schools (SMS) campaign here in Bedford Borough, we want to underline to you our support for all 3 tiers in the current system.

We know that our name may not make that clear to people inside the education sector. However, we hope that you will understand the campaign name was chosen because it represents the most outwardly visible aspect of the change to parents and the wider community and avoids slipping into education jargon.

We want to say how the excellent work done in lower schools, and the key stage 1 SATs results in particular, is something the whole education sector in the Borough should be proud of.

We know from our own experience that an enormous amount of work has gone into developing the facilities and educational experience at the Borough’s lower schools. We don’t want to see this lost in the proposed change.

We are sure you are aware of the financial situation outlined in the consultation. It is proposed that £340m is spent on 8 Secondary schools, funded by BSF money. Yet only £40-£60m is proposed to create 52 primary schools. Yet the primary sector will have as many pupils as the secondary sector. The lower schools would have to accommodate two extra years, as would the upper schools.

So the first question is whether this would be enough to create primary schools that are at least as well equipped and provided for as the existing lower Schools.

As you will know, for most lower schools it is not simply a case of building an extra classroom for each extra class. All other facilities would need to be improved. For instance would school halls be sufficient? Would the current ICT provision be enough for two extra year groups? You will know of what specific needs there would be for your school.

The second question is whether even this amount will eventually be forthcoming?

Some of the £40-£60m is to come from the Primary Capital Programme, but we understand that this programme is not confirmed yet. Some is also to come from the sale of middle school sites and some from council taxpayers.

The first challenge is the new era of tighter public sector finance we are entering. How much will the Primary Capital Programme actually be? This will have an impact on the council’s contribution as well – estimated at between 0 and £30m long term. The zero would result from maximum primary capital and maximum sale of surplus sites.

However, until the surplus sites are sold, which we imagine could be some considerable time in the current climate, the council taxpayer will have to finance the borrowing. The mid-point of their figures would mean a 4.8% rise in council tax to fund the borrowing. This would reduce as sites are sold.

If the £30m ultimately is needed from taxpayers (as mentioned above) this would need an approximate 3.5% on council tax for 25 years.

As you can see these are considerable sums for the council to find, particularly in a time when their budget is likely to be under more pressure than for many, many years.

These figures all come from page 8 of the consultation document. We have converted the borrowing figures into the council tax rises needed to fund the borrowing (using the council’s own method) so that they can be seen in context.

From this financial examination, we are concerned that the real danger is that this change will start and the council will then run out of money.

If this happens it will be the lower/primary schools that are most at risk of losing out.

In conclusion, in the SMS campaign we don’t want to see the great work at lower schools being thrown away by an underfunded change that is secondary school focused. We don’t wish to scaremonger – but it is important that the realities of what is being proposed is seen in the clear light of the current economic climate.

SMS

Day 52 – The Y Chromosome

SMS has been known to use the words “Evolution not Revolution” to describe how we think school buildings should be upgraded gradually. This is financially prudent in these times of uncertainty and far less educationally disruptive – it even gives a chance for Bob the Builder to get children involved with the projects too!

Evolution provides the link to our Fathers’ Day blog through Genetics…

Fathers’ Day has been accused of being a commercial invention; where the card companies spotted a gap in their calendar; an excuse to buy the old man a pint and slap him on the back.

But, as a wise man once said…”Fathers’ Day is not about the presents….it’s about the presence”…being there for your children as a positive male role model.

This matters in schools too, where middle schools provide positive male role models aplenty. If we changed to two-tier, how many of our male middle school teachers would choose to work in primary? Maybe male middle school teachers reading this blog would like to comment on that. If SMS are right, then male influence would be reduced and in some cases eliminated until our children reached 11. How can this be a good thing? Oh well, at least Bob the Builder will show our children what the boys of the future are expected to do…

And now, this father is off to remind his children who is he…have a good day everyone, it’s going to be sunny I think…

By the way, here’s a great site for fathers – dadtalk – why not sign their pledge?

Day 51 – Decisions, decisions

Don’t forget to fill in the consultation document
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So, who has the decision over our children’s education? Nobody seems to know at present. Phil Simpkins, the Borough’s new Chief Executive (£165K a year – nice little earner if you can get it), has said in the 5 official consultation evenings so far that the Borough is taking legal advice and that whatever the decision is, nobody can change it as “it’s the law” as enshrined in the Local Government Act.

Fine.

So what are the options? Well, confusion seems to reign supreme over Bedford Borough. If the mayor has powers over education then it might be that he can make the decision in cabinet with the 9 members of his executive and only need 33% of them to agree with him – that is, 3 of the 9 – and, remember, the mayor appointed these 9 councillors to his executive so it shouldn’t be difficult to find 3 of them to agree with him !

However, unlike the 36 councillors who we have just elected to the new Unitary Authority, the mayor has never been elected with any direct powers over Education. When he was elected in 2007, the County Council had responsibility for Education…and the mayor’s term of office has extended through the period of the handover of this to Bedford Borough.

Common sense dictates that, whatever the law actually says, the mayor should listen to the people of Bedford Borough and allow the decision to be made through a Full Council vote, with a simple majority of the 36 councillors. Each councillor should then be allowed by their political parties to vote with their conscience and according to the wishes of their electorate. They at least would understand the consequences of their actions, potentially at the ballot box in May 2011.

To do anything else would lead to massive resentment and public protest.

SMS calls upon Phil Simpkins to make the legal advice known now so that everyone is clear about the rules of this strange and worrying game in local politics.

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Don’t forget to fill in the consultation document

Day 50 – An Upper School Teacher Speaks

SMS received this email a few days ago and thought it demonstrated why upper schools are excellent within the 3-tier system too – constructive and positive comments are welcomed – click on the comment link below the story and follow the instructions – your email will be invisible to everyone and you can choose a pseudonym if you wish.

We always check with the authors of emails to us if they wish to be “blogged” and anonymity is preserved as far as possible – so if you would like to contribute, then please email your 200-300 word piece to save.middle.schools@googlemail.com. A bottle of wine for the best blog !

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I have just read your site and its blogs and wonder exactly how altruistic you really are? Should we not be fighting to keep the three tier system alive – not just the middle schools? Your site causes the very division you aim to correct. Not only is there open setting of middle school professionals against colleagues in lower and upper schools but also you allow various myths about upper schools to perpetuate. We are not huge soulless places! Many students and parents also see Upper schools as advantageous, reinvigorating pupils and giving them a fresh start. The children are not all dating (horror!) and snogging/ truanting/ dossing! Students increasingly come to us from middle school with these issues (a problem often put on the back burner during transition!) – it’s 21st century life and I feel like some are almost hankering after ye olden dayes. There is a huge diet of unusual A Levels and vocational subjects on offer at Upper Schools, in contrast to many 11 – 18 schools.

In seeking to preserve the middle schools , you are doing down the other ends of the three tier system – this is crazy! Focus , too, on the fact that several upper schools are rated outstanding for their pastoral care and guidance and are proper focuses of the academic work in the upper ends of education. There are people who want to save upper schools, too!!! yes, there is work to be done on effective liaison between schools (despite what heads may tell you…) and recruitment of specialist teachers for year 8 and 7 in some middle schools – but, on the whole, standards are rising in the upper and middle schools – and have always been high in lower schools. Stop bleating on about the Harpur Trust. They’re not going away – and the more you make us appear to be in a mess, the more affluent, middle class parents will compromise Bedford’s efforts by putting their children in BMS, BHS etc etc.

Yours,

A disgruntled upper school teacher

Day 49 – D-Day September 2015

The D here stands for Destruction of the education of a generation of children. It is when 3 year groups move from middle school to the new secondary schools, more or less doubling their size.

So, what evidence does SMS have that this might happen? (remember evidence, that’s the thing missing from the non-consultation document)

Firstly, Northampton(shire). This is the last authority to change from three-tier to two-tier, and now has the most schools in special measures or on notices to improve of any authority in the country.

SMS spoke to a School Improvement Partner who said that they moved all the y6/7/8 together in Northampton and it was one of the major causes of the plummeting results. They said that the y7 looked to y8’s for how to behave and y8’s to y9 but as none of them had any understanding of the ethos of their new school there was no benchmark and poor behaviour and as a consequence lack of achievement ensued. In Milton Keynes they did it with 2 year groups and even then they underestimated the difficulties it created.

Secondly, the experience of the Peers School Oxford (see Day 30 blog) where nearly 700 pupils joined the school on one day in three year groups, many of whom were from underprivileged backgrounds. That school, already struggling to improve, collapsed and its results at GCSE 2 years later were appalling (10%). It limped along for 3 more years before being closed last summer and replaced by a brand new shiny academy with shiny happy pupils. The dream of a seamless changeover period for The Peers School Oxford turned into a nightmare of devastated education for a generation of children.

If you want to stop this happening, you need to TAKE ACTION

Day 48 – A Year 9 Pupil Speaks

SMS received an email with some eloquently expressed opinions from a Year 9 pupil. We have extracted parts of the email to represent their views but protect their identity.

“At the start of year 9 and still now, we are covering work we’ve already done in year 8. These lessons are French, Geography and others and even in science even though we are meant to be doing GCSE work. This easily makes up your mind not to choose these subjects for GCSE.”

“I don’t have fun any more in lessons like I did in middle school, apart from the teachers who used to teach in middle school. I don’t want 2 important years to be ruined or boring when I actually need to be learning in a fun way. Why is it that middle school teachers made learning fun yet my upper school teachers think that fun lessons are giving out a text book and saying do this page?”

“I didn’t need the amount of time to decide what GCSEs I chose that is being said that I need. After all in years 7 and 8 we would be doing key stage 3 work wouldn’t we, not planning for our GCSE work? I chose the options that I found interesting and enjoyable. I don’t know what I want to do when I leave school so I chose options that I might do well in.”

“Lots of my friends that were lovely at middle school have changed and are acting more grown up than they are. This has caused many more falling outs than in middle school. At middle school our teachers would help us deal with these things. At upper school we are often left to deal with it by ourselves. An 11 year old shouldn’t feel that they have to suddenly grow up and lose out on being a child. And who would look after them if problems happen?”

“At my school I haven’t been asked what my view is on the 2 tier system even though teachers and even my head teacher has said that they have asked all the pupils their views. I would like to have the opportunity to say what I think about it. I believe that there is really no point in changing it to 2 tier, as I felt happy and safe at middle school.”

“If my teachers at upper actually taught us in year 9 rather than just going over year 8 work then GCSE results might actually go up and be better.”

“Closing down schools that cost a lot of money to build would be a waste of money. And in a recession there would be lots of complaints.”

That says it all really…

Day 47 – The End (of the National Curriculum) is Nigh?

On Sunday, while SMS was relaxing in the sun, the Conservative’s Shadow School’s Secretary, Michael Gove, announced proposals to scrap all Sats taken by 11-year-olds in England at the end of their primary schooling. The Tories want pupils to sit national tests in the first year of secondary school, marked by their teachers. They believe that is in the best interests of pupils.

The full article may be read here.

Interesting. So the National Curriculum testing framework would more or less be fully dismantled by then. Teacher assessment at the end of KS1 and the beginning of KS2, KS3 SATs more or less irrelevant now…and remind me why we have to change school structure again?

Oh I remember now, because “they” say so, “they” being a small group of education officials, some Headteachers (many of whom do not have the full support of their staff now), and the mayor.

What happened to democracy and free speech in Bedford?

Email us at save.middle.schools@googlemail.com if you want to help us stop this damaging and ill-thought change.

PS We passed the 10,000 hit mark yesterday…with about 500 hits per day, around 300 unique hits per day…

Day 46 – Sharnbrook & Suffolk

REMEMBER TO FILL IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

Last Thursday at the Sharnbrook Consultation meeting, Brian Glover, the Chief Education Officer and Chris Hilliard’s assistant, said that data from Suffolk when both school systems existed side-by-side showed that two-tier produces better results than three-tier.

This is shameful.

The data in the Suffolk County Council report have been criticised by three sets of researchers and this was pointed out to Brian (eventually) by SMS after waiting patiently and stretching our legs (these meetings do go on a bit when officers insist on repeating themselves slowly as if talking to the retarded).

Jenny Symonds (Cambridge University) showed that, by reanalysing the Suffolk data using CVA (contextually value-added – basically how much pupils improve but also taking into account how good they are when they start), three-tier can actually be shown to produce better results than two-tier.

Professor Richard Webber (University College London) showed that school performance is highly linked to the socioeconomic status of the pupils it takes, and that if a reanalysis of Suffolk is undertaken, then no significant difference between the systems is shown, and furthermore the best school in Suffolk was demonstrated to be three-tier.

Professor Peter Tymms (Durham University) who was one of the Suffolk Report’s own referees (!) showed clearly that results are driven by pupils themselves first (their socio-economic and home background) and the quality of teaching second; the effect of local authorities was very weak – in fact his research could be used to support getting rid of educational bureaucrats and giving more money to schools !

Brian’s response was – you can show anything with statistics.

Yes Brian, but we don’t want to change a whole school system. The onus is on you to provide the evidence for change. You haven’t.

See you at Mark Rutherford tonight – there are some very worried parents coming to see you.

REMEMBER TO FILL IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

Day 45 – Friendship

Those who regularly blog on will know that Sundays are a day of reflection for SMS, where we ponder life. Thought for this Week is about Friendship.

Nobody can survive in life without friends of one form or another; they can provide emotional support, help us to see things from another perspective, or just allow us to “be ourselves”. A close friend will tell us when we are about to make a bad decision, or to tell us the home truths that acquaintances would be afraid to mention. Governors are instructed to act as the “Critical Friend” to their Heads and, although this is a difficult act to carry off, many are successful in doing so. But above all, friends are there so we can laugh and cry together, celebrate and commiserate, to live life to the full.

In business or politics (or even quasi-politics which is what some people in this strange world think that SMS constitutes) friendships are sometimes real and sometimes for the mutual benefit of the individuals involved. Political alliances, professional networks, the old school tie – these are all friendships in a sense, although occasionally they develop into close and meaningful personal connections.

Friendships can also cut across fundamental life views. In Parliament for example, it isn’t uncommon after a rowdy and frank exchange of views between opposing political hues, for the belligerents to pop off for a nice cup of tea or a glass of wine and chat about their families. Long may that continue, as it is a sign of a civilised society where debate can be open and honest.

Friendships are currently being damaged by the non-consultation process that Bedford Borough has instigated. There is a lot of anger amongst our supporters about how the document and meetings present a one-sided, misleading and inaccurate picture and education is being divided into “fors” and “againsts”.

When all this is over, a lot of forgiveness is going to be necessary as we work together for the future of Bedford Borough’s Education system.

Day 44 – Legal Challenge in Sheppey

Don’t forget to TAKE ACTION including filling in the CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

Sheppey Academy
Leigh Day was instructed by a mother of six whose children attend schools on the Isle of Sheppey regarding a proposal to reorganise education on the island from three-tier to two-tier system, with an academy being set up as the secondary school.

She was extremely concerned about this proposal and in particular the manner in which Kent County Council (KCC) was trying to implement it without listening to and considering parents’ views.

Late last year, she issued proceedings challenging the decision taken by the Council to close the first schools and one of the middle schools. The decision had been taken without providing parents and children with any proper information about the proposed academy. Given the link between the closure of the primary and middle schools and the proposed academy, this information was required by parents so they could properly assess the proposal. Without it, they were unable to meaningfully respond to the proposal.

This challenge was successful and the Council conceded the claim. They agreed to withdraw their decision and undertake proper consultation with the local population before deciding whether to go ahead with the reorganisation programme.

Should an undemocratic decision be made to go two-tier, then SMS is willing to take Bedford Borough to a Judicial Review.

Day 43 – The real cost of BSF

From the Daily Mail, Thursday 11 June 2009

A consultant cost £ 1.35million for three years’ work on the Government’s troubled school rebuilding programme, a report reveals today. The adviser from accountants KPMG charged on average £450,000 a year for providing ‘corporate finance services’ on the Building Schools for the Future scheme (BSF).

The programme began in 2003 with the aim to rebuild half of all secondary schools, re-model just over a third and refurbish the rest.
But today’s report, by the Commons public accounts committee, reveals how its costs have spiralled from £45billion to £55billion because of delays and inappropriate spending on outside ‘experts’.

More than £11million has been spent on private consultants just to establish the programme – despite the fact the department had set up a quango to run it, Partnerships for Schools.

KPMG’s £450,000 annual fee alone would have been enough to hire 65 new teachers and staff an entire secondary school.

Just 42 of the planned 200 schools were rebuilt in the first four years of the scheme, up to December 2008, putting it three years behind schedule.

The report said ministers had ‘wasted public money by relying on consultants to make up for shortfalls in its own skills and resources’. ‘Poor planning has heightened expectations and created disappointment,’ it added. ‘Instead of employing someone directly on a fulltime basis, it became dependent on a single consultant, and ended up paying £1.35million to KPMG over three years for this person.’

Schools minister Vernon Coaker said: ‘We’ve never been complacent about BSF. BSF is a completely unprecedented project, not a race to spend money.’ Tory schools spokesman Nick Gibb said: ‘We need a Government that gets proper value for taxpayers’ money, not one that squanders public money through its incompetence.’

When “readiness to deliver” has been spoken of (see Day 37 of this blog) perhaps we should remember that improving an existing system is immediately ready to deliver, assuming the guys in suits have a Plan B ready…

Day 42 – A Concerned Parent

This was posted as a comment yesterday. As not everyone reads the comments, SMS thought it deserved a blog of its own.
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I just wanted to say that my children were in primary schools until 2002 so I have had my children in two and three tier schooling, so please bear with me with my long comment.

When my son was in primary school he was very disruptive and was diagnosed with ADHD. My son was about to start his final year at primary school and to be honest he was a little devil, nearly getting expelled for his behavior. When we moved to Bedford he was in his 2nd year of middle school. He settled in quicker than I could imagine and when we went to union street clinic for follow up on the ADHD on numerous occasions and they said he didn’t have ADHD, WHY because for the first time in months he was interested in school, he was not bored even though he was behind in some lessons…mainly science as primary schools don’t have science labs and they only start French in the last year before going to secondary school so when my son went to middle school his peers had been speaking French for 2 years, this didn’t bother him and he soon caught up and came home very excited especially when he used a Bunsen burner for the first time.

My son’s behavior totally changed, he is amazing and is now doing his GCSE in upper school, if it wasn’t for moving here I don’t think my son would have had the opportunities that he has had and going to have, it could have been that he a very different future.

I was also fortunate to go through the three tier system and I believe that children learn more this way, I remember when I went to upper school, I didn’t want to learn I wanted to start dating boys and along came the attitude with it but while I was in middle school I wanted to learn and do after school activities. Primary schools means this attitude come quicker and lasts longer, I believe this when I look at my nephews and nieces, they are more street wise and grown up than my daughter and all her friends of the same age in middle schools. I want my children to learn, be excited to learn and to be children, I fear that moving to a two tier will cause more difficulties in the long run than any one could realize. The three tier system does not cause more disruption for our children it helps them gradually grow up into responsible adults rather than forcing this upon them at an earlier age when most are not ready.

If you decide on going ahead with coverting to a two tier system it will cost more money than the government BSF in the long run as you will need to invest in an huge amount towards behaviour difficulties/truancy(from children having to leave one school to go to another class in another school as there is noway the current schooling will cope with the extra students) that this will cause. That is a fact.

The way forward is not to go back to a two tier system, the way forward is three and many councils should revert to this system as it’s clearly the better one!!!

Thanks for taking your time in reading this, if you gave my son the choice of schooling he would go for the three tier system every time, surely our children need to be listened too as it’s their future.

from a very concerned parent

Day 41 – Real Consultation

There have now been two non-consultation evenings. Biddenham on Monday nearly turned into a riot and Harrowden last night was entertaining for other reasons – they were laughing in the aisles. But really you guys on the stage, you need to improve your timing…it’s all about timing…

The 2-tier argument seems to be built entirely on transition and the disruption it causes, which is a bit rich considering the massive disruption to a generation of children. They are even putting together some evidence on this – hurrah – some evidence ! Unfortunately, all the evidence in this area is equivocal and can be argued both ways. And, of course, is not contained within the official consultation document that most parents will make their decision on…it’s too late now…the consultation process has already been biased by that one-sided, misleading and inaccurate document.

This is not OVERWHELMING evidence that the massive disruption will result in a STEP-CHANGE in educational provision.

A real positive from yesterday though – our correspondent Fred Bagnall (see comments on previous posts) who is new to this arena appears to have become an expert in statistics overnight ! Congratulations Fred ! We would like to invite you to present at Maggie B on Thursday 18th June to discuss your findings with us…or Westfield on the 17th June…or Beauchamp on the 29th…or Woodside on the 30th. Because nobody else seems to want to debate on fair and democratic terms. You know how to get in touch with us.

These are very sad days for local democracy...and the politicians out there wonder why Joe Bloggs doesn’t participate or even vote?!

If you agree with us, you really need to do something to help. The consultation evenings need real people standing up giving real opinions, not those with vested interests defending their positions.

Day 40 – Disruption

The quickest easiest way to destabilise a child’s development is to disrupt something major in their lives and this usually means home or school issues. SMS knows – we have heard many tales from individuals who lived through the change in Beds and Northants thirty years ago from two tier to three tier. It was an awful experience which affected their lives permanently.

All of us in SMS believe passionately in education, and gradual change helping to support our three tier system to evolve is our strong desire. This is also financially much more sensible, as should “funding envelopes” (whatever that means) change, then individual projects can be cut without leaving a chaos of half-finished buildings, demoralised teachers, and confused children.

Actually, SMS would not support a change from two tier to three tier either, despite believing that three tier is advantageous. It is a complete nonsense to suggest that because no authority is changing to three tier then three tier must be inferior in some way. It is the massive disruptive change that is going to damage our children.

That is why we at SMS are calling for “Evolution not Revolution”.

Why not something today to help us – talk to people, create a buzz, take action.

Day 39 – A Sporting Chance

Another record day yesterday and we’re heading towards 7000 hits…keep blogging on and spreading the word…

SMS was speaking to a Games teacher at the weekend – you know who you are and thanks very much…

His story opened my eyes to the future. We currently have 15 medium-sized 3-5 form entry middle schools where many pupils of average ability play sport for their school team from age 9 against the 14 other middle schools.

The future for Years 5 & 6 is of very small primary schools without specialist PE teachers and a limited inter-school fixture list – one teacher can’t take all those sports teams plus do art, drama, music clubs…and this happens at a time when the Rose Report (April 2009) said that more specialist teaching is needed in those critical year groups…

The future for Years 7 & 8 is of huge soulless secondary schools where teachers struggle to remember everybody’s names and only the “elite” get to play sport against other schools, and then only against very few schools.

So the London 2012 Olympics is going to leave a sporting legacy for East London whereas Frank Branston is going to leave a non-sporting legacy for Bedford…home of Paula Radcliffe, Andy Johnson, Gail Emms, Matt Skelton, … (write us a comment below if I have forgotten anyone…)

See you all at Biddenham Sports College tonight…for the first of the non-consultation evenings…

Have you filled in the consultation document yet? Do it now and vote against this proposal to change school structure.

Day 38 – Courage

First, an update. Yesterday we had 303 hits, our highest ever on a non-workday. We also breached 6000 hits overall. Great effort everybody; keep coming back, keep talking to people out there – this is a viral campaign so let’s spread out through all our networks and let the decision makers know how we feel – which for most of us is very very very…oh I forgot, it’s Sunday, so let’s reflect again and look at what we’ve achieved.

Courage is inspirational.

Think of Nelson Mandela sitting in a prison cell on Robben Island for 27 years, studying Law by correspondence course and waiting for his chance to change the world…and when he was released and became President of South Africa, he encouraged reconciliation not recrimination. Truly inspirational.

Mahatma Gandhi led non-violent civil disobedience when a young lawyer in South Africa in the early years of last century. Mahatma means “Great Soul” by the way, his real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. In those days the mass demonstrations spread by word of mouth…the modern equivalent being email which is much quicker of course.

Then there is the image of the lone student in Tiananmen Square in 1989, standing in front of a tank. Crazy, courageous behaviour.

Ordinary individuals show courage on a smaller scale every day, from personal stoicism when confronted by an illness or bereavement, through to standing up to bullies in the workplace or on governing bodies.

It also takes an immense amount of personal courage to change one’s position when it has become dogmatic, long after all the intellectual arguments have been countered.

Then there is the alternative definition as described in Yes Minister. When Sir Humphrey Appleby described a decision as “courageous”, Jim Hacker knew he meant it was foolhardy, likely to be very unpopular, and a massive vote-loser.

SMS calls on everyone who reads this blog to be courageous in the days and weeks ahead if we are to reach a creative and collaborative conclusion to this appalling non-consultation process.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Day 37 – “Readiness to Deliver”

A record 608 visitors to this blog yesterday, including many of our most famous local politicians and bureaucrats apparently. You’re all welcome guys…maybe we’ll even convert you?

SMS met with Chris Hilliard yesterday in an open and honest discussion about the consultation meetings and the decision-making process. We were encouraged by his obvious passion for education and his commitment to Bedford Borough. He has done a fantastic job in gaining preliminary agreement for BSF funding. Chris also reaffirmed that he was absolutely behind a bid for BSF funding whether this should be for two tier or three tier education and that the key point was “readiness to deliver”.

SMS entirely agrees. That is why the current three-tier system, which is in place already, should be enhanced through a process of evolution, rather than a damaging, underfunded and educationally unsound revolution to two tier. What is more “ready to deliver” than a set of existing sites?

This also makes complete financial sense. Everybody is worried about what will happen under a new Government, of whatever hue. Nobody can guarantee funding decisions for the future. If funding is gained for a revolutionary move to two tier and then cut at some point in the future, the whole project collapses. Under an evolution of the existing three-tier system, if funding were revealed to be cut, then only some sub-projects would be cancelled, to be reinstated at a later date when money became available.

It would be financially very stupid to do anything else at this point in the economic cycle, aside from the myriad of other reasons not to change…

Help us stop this going any further. Come to the official consultation evenings next week and make your voices heard. That’s what democracy is about.

Day 36 – Thinking Independently

First of all, well done all of you – 550 hits yesterday and progress in Queens Park – but not from Westfield itself, from the local communities there (see the addition to yesterday’s blog). We know that Harrold parents and lower schools are screaming for an open meeting so keep emailing, phoning and writing to the Head there….and the other middle schools of course…it is your right to hear both sides of the argument in a democratic debate.

There are 6 independent schools in Bedford that have GCSE results published by the DCSF – the 4 Harpur Trust Schools, St.Andrews and Rushmoor. Compared to 7 state upper schools. We have one of the largest proportions of independent schools of any authority in the country, possibly the largest.

When the consultation document was published, it showed an average for 5 A*-C grades at GCSE including English and Maths of 46.7% for Bedford compared to 47.6% for the whole of England. Not very much difference…but we are lower it would seem…

WRONG. Some brilliant investigative work by a member of SMS led to the admission by the DCSF that the all-England average includes independent schools, whereas the local authority averages only include state schools. So…they are comparing apples and pears…and if you include the 6 independent schools again…

…why not email the man responsible for this pig’s ear of a statistical comparison to ask him what happens when you include the independent schools again? His name is John Goldsmith and he may be contacted at john.goldsmith@bedford.gov.uk. Morning John.

The independent schools in Bedford do a lot of good for the community and SMS applauds their work with John Bunyan especially, which will reopen as a new academy with the aim of raising standards. However, as charities that need to support themselves similar to businesses, they must be rubbing their hands with glee at any change to a “two”-tier system of education. Parents will be flocking towards them. Two quotes from parents I have heard recently.

“Well it won’t affect us. We’ll be taking our child out of state school immediately it is announced and putting her in the Harpur Trust”

“I support the state system. I went to a comprehensive school. We’re not rich, but I would bankrupt myself rather than put my children through a system in crisis.”

Many people don’t have these choices. ACT NOW to help everyone avoid this impending disaster.

Day 35 – And We Want More…

Yesterday there were 574 hits on this blog. By the end of today we will have had more than 5000 in total. Thank you one and all. Keep coming back. Keep telling everyone you know, posting links on Facebook, spreading the news.

We need you to be our eyes and ears and hands and feet. We can’t do this all alone with no resources whatsoever. Remember, when Chris Hilliard, Brian Glover and John Goldsmith present at 4 open meetings next week across the borough, they will be on expenses – paid for by your taxes. We are doing this for free, in our own time, to help save your (and our) children’s education.

There are five more middle school meetings planned – Margaret Beaufort in Riseley on Thursday 18 June at 7pm, and Woodside Middle School on Tuesday 30 June (tbc). We also know that Beauchamp, Newnham and Robert Bruce are working on a date.

What we need you to do now is to email the following schools via their email addresses to request/demand/cajole them into arranging a fair and open democratic debate with both sides invited and also all parents from them and feeder lower schools and anyone else who wants to turn up in fact. They can contact us at save.middle.schools@googlemail.com to arrange a date when we can be there. Tell them that both sides of the argument aren’t being heard, that the consultation document is one-sided, misleading and inaccurate, that it is their duty to their parents and the community to ensure this debate is two-sided and democratic.

Please do it today. We can win this battle…with YOUR help

Harrold Priory – harroldpriorymiddle@schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk
Westfield – westfieldmiddle@schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk
Harrowden – harrowdenmiddle@schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk
Abbey – abbeymiddle@schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk
Marston Vale – marstonvalemiddle@schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk
Lincroft – lincroftmiddle@schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk
St.Gregory’s – stgregorysmiddle@schools.bedfordshire.gov.uk

Day 34 – SMS Middle School Open Meetings…

First of all, welcome to all our new readers…there are a LOT of you ! Keep blogging on every day, and in those spare moments that we all have (!), why not take some time to read back through from the beginning…you might even find a few jokes hidden in there somewhere…Frank Branston as Blakey, that was our favourite…inspired…thanks Frank, you’ve been one of the biggest assets for our campaign so far…

We have had 2 open meetings at middle schools so far – Daubeney in Kempston on Monday night and Alban in Great Barford last night. Very many thanks for coming to all of you, that is about 250 parents so far – every time we speak, every time we explain the alternative view, we grow stronger as a campaign. The blog stats went through the roof last night and as this is our major means of communication, we need you to keep coming back.

The next meetings are at Goldington tonight (7pm on Wed 3rd June), Margaret Beaufort in Riseley (7pm on Thursday 18th June), and Woodside (probably Tue 30th June…watch this space)…anyone is invited, so please come along…

Last night’s parents’ meeting was at Alban Middle School in Great Barford and the parents were baying for Frank and Chris’s blood by the end…OK I exaggerate for comic effect, they were much more polite and English about the whole thing… but I think we’re allowed a little poetic licence here…

One of the most important things to come out of the debate was how powerless our elected representatives feel when confronted by someone like our all-powerful mayor. It was said by one councillor standing for re-election that there was nothing anyone could do, that of the 36 elected representatives, 9 of Frank’s closest political allies could be chosen as his cabinet, and that the school system decision could be made by Frank and his mates over a beer in the local pub…OK, OK, comic exaggeration again, I admit they are serious local politicians who think deeply about the issues before they retire for their favourite beverage…mmm, beer…oh no Frank as another cartoon character came to mind…really must get more sleep…

So back to the thread, some serious questions for local democracy here then. Why should a decision of this magnitude be taken by essentially one man?

Let’s all write to Frank Branston to ask him why he thinks this is democratic and what would happen if the public vote came down strongly in favour of retention? Why won’t the consultation meetings allow both sides of the debate to present – SMS will be there at all 6 with a USB stick ready to stand up and present. Why not ask this question at the meeting itself? And why won’t he call a local referendum on the issue?

Frank Branston may be contacted by email at frank.branston@bedford.gov.uk (you might be able to click on these links to fire up your Outlook or other email programme)

TAKE ACTION TODAY

Day 33 – A Load of Old Balls !

Ed Balls is the Education Minister with the unfortunate name, reminding me of Yes Prime Minister when Jim Hacker wrote on a Civil Service document “Round Objects”, to which Sir Humphrey Appleby replied, “Whom is Round and to what does he object?”…but I digress…

Yesterday, SMS received information that Ed Balls was in town and available to talk to, but only for those in the know…politicians (and bureaucrats) like to avoid real people wherever possible, prefering to talk to other politicians, bureaucrats and sometimes journalists, who all tend to speak their language….real people are quite often more tricky to put off…SMS sent a real person to talk Balls…

Transcript of a conversation with Ed Balls 1st June 09 between the Corn Exchange and the Swan Hotel

Q Are you aware the Borough Council is proposing a move to a 2 tier educational system ?
A Yes. This is entirely a local decision.

Q Is central Government BSF funding dependent in any way on 3 tier versus 2 tier?
A No – entirely a local choice that will not influence the level of funds allocated.

Q How should such an important organisational decision be handled locally – a referendum?
A Well I think that should be a matter for your elected Council.

Q Our mayor is suggesting he can use the Local Government Act to avoid such a decision going before all the elected councillors?
A Oh you’ve got me there …that’s a matter of detail I’m not familiar with.

Q Given the state of the nation’s finances what is the risk of BSF funds being cut?
A Depends on how you vote. Vote Tory and the funds will be cut. We want to keep it going.

So who is talking Balls now? The Education Minister, or our local equivalents of Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby?

TAKE ACTION TO HELP STOP THIS IMPENDING EDUCATIONAL & FINANCIAL DISASTER

Day 32 – You have won the lottery !

We all get those emails now, don’t we? The ones that say that you have won some vast amount of money in a national lottery in Mexico…and swine flu is the past tense of pigs might fly apparently. However, to access this vast sum, you have to transfer a relatively small amount of money (say £1000) first to a numbered bank account in the Cayman Islands, and then riches beyond your wildest dreams will be yours, you can have houses, cars, brand new schools with shining happy pupils…

…that’s what has happened. Everyone has pound signs in front of their eyes. They’re all blind to the facts that the money probably isn’t there in the quantities that they say it is, that council borrowing will have to go through the roof to meet even conservative estimates of what they will need to spend, and…actually…all those Headteachers are going to be bitterly disappointed when they have demoralised staff, confused pupils, overcrowded schools that lack appropriate facilities, and temporary classrooms for years…

This happened in Oxford. The money ran out. Restructuring costs were far higher than expected. And then one of the architects of the change suddenly left, disappeared, went away, pursued other interests, spent more time with his family, decided to go and find another air-conditioned office elsewhere…

Because that’s what bureaucrats (and Heads actually) can do. Leave. Vanish. Quit.

Your children can’t.

TAKE ACTION TODAY TO STOP THIS POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE