Something very fishy going on with Haringey plans for local schools

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Permalink Reply by Ian Willmore on January 19, 2012 at 17:41

Dear Mr Hole

You have indeed asked the same question at least three times.

The answer is of course that schools should not have to be marked as failing before action is taken to ensure they improve. Instead, that could happen when they are described by OFSTED as needing improvement, as in the case of Downhills. Of course, this important point is hard to grasp if you don't get the essential distinction between "failing" and "needing improvement" in the first place ...

Dear MzMoore:

OFSTED reports for Earlsmead are online for 1999, 2005, and 2008. In 1999, the inspectors said that:  

"The school has successfully addressed all the key issues raised in its last inspection in 1994 and those raised by the HMI inspection in 1997 with a consequent improvement in standards. The new headteacher has established and maintains good procedures to support staff and pupils in the classroom and has enabled teachers to enjoy good quality in-service training."

In 2005 and 2008 the school was rated as category 2 (good). I became a governor around the time of the 1997 HMI report, which made for pretty grim reading. 

I know OFSTED is not perfect, but I have almost always found their school reports highly informative, and I would encourage people to read them rather than relying on anecdote. 

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on January 20, 2012 at 12:18

By "certain others" I assume you mean me.

The so-called "rumour" I am spreading is that Michael Gove wants to see the maximum expansion of chains of academies run by organisations other than Local Authorities. This just happens to be fact. My "scaremongering" is that these will lack democratic accountability. This is also fact, though more open to challenge. Some will be private companies; some charities and trusts; some will be religious bodies. 

It is true that this is not full blown privatisation like the sale of British Gas. But taxpayers' money will be used by the Government to place contracts with these organisations with decades long leases on publicly owned land and buildings.

I can back up what I've written with references, including what Michael Gove himself has said on the record. Although for some reason you think being open about the sources of information is "incredibly condescending".

Incidentally, Mr Gove isn't an irrelevant nineteenth century literary figure. Although he talks as if he is and his policies are from the early nineteenth century.

Later in that century the Liberal Party's Education Act introduced the framework of the state education system we now have. The minister associated with those reforms was William Edward Forster MP who was educated in Tottenham and whose family were part of the Quaker community here. 

For anyone interested in where the Conservatives may be going, the Daily Telegraph had an interesting article: Profit needn't be a dirty word when it comes to education".

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on January 22, 2012 at 15:13

Yes, of course. The Workhouse. Brilliant idea! Thanks very much. (But perhaps best not to mention it to Mr Gove, eh?)

Photo taken in the museum at Framlingham Castle. 

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on January 22, 2012 at 16:24

P.S.

By the way, I used the word "chains" because that's how Michael Gove explains part of his plans. It's in his speech posted here on the Department for Education website. Scroll down to the subhead: "Chains".

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Permalink Reply by Liza on January 27, 2012 at 15:13

There is already an Ofsted rated Outstanding secondary school in Tottenham.

Its called Gladesmore.

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Permalink Reply by David Barry on April 30, 2012 at 18:40

An interesting story in the Daily Mail....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2136392/206-000-superhead-q...

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on May 4, 2012 at 16:16

Consultation now open.

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