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Schools facing huge shake-up
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| ALL CHANGE? A level results at Oakmead College of Technology last year now it could be amalgamated with Kings High as well as Heathlands and Elmrise Primary |
EDUCATION chiefs have revealed dramatic £90 million plans for secondary schools in Bournemouth and Poole.
These include amalgamating schools and converting three secondary schools into academies.
One of these could be one school incorporating Kings High, Oakmead College, Heathlands and Elmrise Primary Schools.
As the plans stand, new academies, which are independent, state-funded schools, will replace Rossmore Community College and the Bishop of Winchester Comprehensive School and one will replace Oakmead Technology College and Kings High School.
Jane Portman, executive director of children and families services at Bournemouth council, said: "Academies are usually built in areas of high deprivation, where schools might have behavioural issues, problems with truancy and with a high level of school leavers not going on to employment, education or training.
"Research has shown that academies are improving outcomes for children more rapidly than other schools.
"A brand-new secondary school for north Bournemouth is a fantastic opportunity for the whole community."
Each academy will be sponsored by one or more organisations.
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| BIRD'S EYE VIEW: Multi-million-pound plans are in hand to rebuild Brockenhurst College virtually from scratch |
These could include businesses, the Church, independent schools or voluntary organisations. Sponsors provide £2 million, which will be put in an investment fund for the benefit of students.
Although the schools would continue to follow the national curriculum, their sponsors could increase what they are able to offer students.
School rebuilding and refurbishment is paid for by government money under the Building Schools for the Future programme.
The proposals for transforming secondary education are tied in with plans to amalgamate Heathlands and Elmrise Primary Schools.
The education bosses are also considering the possibility of creating one large school incorporating these two primary schools with the Kings High and Oakmead College academy.
This institution would need a large site in north Bournemouth and one possibility is near the current Elmrise Primary School.
There are also plans to refurbish two special schools in Poole.
Work is expected to start in 2011, with one of the newly built schools and one of the refurbished schools ready by September 2013.
Residents of Bournemouth and Poole will have their say on the proposals when the consultation starts on June 6.
Barry Watts, programme director for Building Schools for the Future in Bournemouth and Poole, said: "We are at the early stages in the development of our proposals and people's views will be taken into account as we move towards making a decision on how we should proceed."
"ONCE-in-a-generation" plans to rebuild Brockenhurst College for the future are to be discussed by New Forest National Park authority planning development committee on Tuesday, writes Bob Jolliffe.
The multi-million-pound scheme, to be funded jointly by the Learning and Skills Council and the college, would mean the demolition of all existing buildings on the site except the Beacon Technology Centre, and their replacement with new two-storey buildings.
Overall, floorspace would be expected to increase by 50 per cent from 14,286 square metres to 21,754 square metres.
A new child care nursery of 544 square metres is proposed to replace the existing facility at Highwood Road half a mile from the college.
New sporting facilities are also proposed in the plans, including multi-use pitches and indoor sports hall, the only building that would be more than two storeys tall.
A boon for villagers and visitors would be 625 car parking spaces on the campus, alleviating problems around the village.
Improved access on to the A337 and bus bays in the college grounds would improve traffic flow on the A337.
Currently the college teaches 3,005 students a day from a catchment area bounded by Bournemouth, Salisbury and Southampton. That is expected to level out at 3,292 by 2013/14.
The college has been working with the parish council and Friends of Brockenhurst to develop an environmentally sensitive, energy-efficient campus that will provide "an even higher quality learning experience for both sixth-form and adult learners, with exemplary sustainable buildings sypmathetic to its New Forest setting".
Initial building work would begin behind the existing site in 2010.
Principal Di Roberts said: "The college now has what the government describes as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop the college for the future.
"The new buildings will retain the traditional values we hold dear.
"They will enable us to meet the challenge of environmental sustainability and provide the best teaching environment for the students of the next generation."
Planning committee members are being recommended to grant permission subject to conditions.
5:08pm Thursday 15th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Dorset Red, Dorset on 5:30pm Thu 15 May 08
This plan makes little mention of the future of Elm Rise and Heathlands Primary Schools but I can't help feeling this is a missed opportunity.
Rather than allowing our children to attend more initmate schools with smaller class sizes our local authority seems intent on creating a huge education factory within which individual children could easily disappear from view.
To my mind this is akin to watching a slow car crash which might well have dire consequences for many of our children. I sincerely hope that parents of all children affected by these proposals take the time to make their views known.
This plan makes little mention of the future of Elm Rise and Heathlands Primary Schools but I can't help feeling this is a missed opportunity.
Rather than allowing our children to attend more initmate schools with smaller class sizes our local authority seems intent on creating a huge education factory within which individual children could easily disappear from view.
To my mind this is akin to watching a slow car crash which might well have dire consequences for many of our children. I sincerely hope that parents of all children affected by these proposals take the time to make their views known.
Posted by: Alan Gilbert, Bearwood on 10:29pm Thu 15 May 08
"One of these could be one school incorporating Kings High, Oakmead College, Heathlands and Elmrise Primary Schools"
So to put it another way, sod the planet, sod global warming, sod bronchial illness caused by traffic fumes, sod congestion, in fact sod everything people are trying to change, lets dramatically increase pollution and increase the number of cars on the school run.
Our new promotional material:
Poole, it's a smoggy place.
Bournemouth, seven miles of school run.
I despair at the complete inadequacy of our local councils.
"One of these could be one school incorporating Kings High, Oakmead College, Heathlands and Elmrise Primary Schools"
So to put it another way, sod the planet, sod global warming, sod bronchial illness caused by traffic fumes, sod congestion, in fact sod everything people are trying to change, lets dramatically increase pollution and increase the number of cars on the school run.
Our new promotional material:
Poole, it's a smoggy place.
Bournemouth, seven miles of school run.
I despair at the complete inadequacy of our local councils.
Posted by: AGee, B`mth on 10:49pm Thu 15 May 08
"Residents of Bournemouth and Poole will have their say on the proposals when the consultation starts on June 6."
Suprise, suprise, 4 days after the council will decide the futue of Townsend School. It`s to late for Townsend if the council get their way. I just warn all parents to be on your guard because this council can`t be trusted. It`s all about numbers and not education. Townsend will probably be the first of many, especially as the council are now keeping the names of struggling schools secret from parents.
"Residents of Bournemouth and Poole will have their say on the proposals when the consultation starts on June 6."
Suprise, suprise, 4 days after the council will decide the futue of Townsend School. It`s to late for Townsend if the council get their way. I just warn all parents to be on your guard because this council can`t be trusted. It`s all about numbers and not education. Townsend will probably be the first of many, especially as the council are now keeping the names of struggling schools secret from parents.
Posted by: scorpio3, dorset on 10:55pm Thu 15 May 08
Sounds absolutely fantastic to me,at last, investing in our youth.Its a pity my kids missed out,but great news for kids of the future.
Sounds absolutely fantastic to me,at last, investing in our youth.Its a pity my kids missed out,but great news for kids of the future.
Posted by: Christopher, Wallisdown & Winton West on 11:11pm Thu 15 May 08
AGee, it is ironic that this should come about now, although it was first mentioned in small form about 3 weeks ago, when I said then about using money to keep such schools as Townsend open.
The wait must by now be so agonising for parents of kids at Townsend. I did point out in another column that it became known that one of the schools offered as an alternative for Townsend also had an Ofsted deficit. This was not brought to light before.
Parents of such schools as Townsend must keep positive until the last straw. Fingers crossed for 2/3 June.
KEEP TOWNSEND SCHOOL OPEN
AGee, it is ironic that this should come about now, although it was first mentioned in small form about 3 weeks ago, when I said then about using money to keep such schools as Townsend open.
The wait must by now be so agonising for parents of kids at Townsend. I did point out in another column that it became known that one of the schools offered as an alternative for Townsend also had an Ofsted deficit. This was not brought to light before.
Parents of such schools as Townsend must keep positive until the last straw. Fingers crossed for 2/3 June.
KEEP TOWNSEND SCHOOL OPEN
Posted by: Jiser, Christchurch on 9:11am Fri 16 May 08
Great idea! Keep it up for all schools.
Great idea! Keep it up for all schools.
Posted by: nickg, canford heath on 10:26am Fri 16 May 08
[quote][bold]Dorset Red[/bold] wrote:
This plan makes little mention of the future of Elm Rise and Heathlands Primary Schools but I can't help feeling this is a missed opportunity. Rather than allowing our children to attend more initmate schools with smaller class sizes our local authority seems intent on creating a huge education factory within which individual children could easily disappear from view. To my mind this is akin to watching a slow car crash which might well have dire consequences for many of our children. I sincerely hope that parents of all children affected by these proposals take the time to make their views known.[/quote] Spot on. And do you think the actual level of teaching and education will be any better ? Or will the children still receive the dumbed-down nonsense of the last 15 years ?
Dorset Red wrote:
This plan makes little mention of the future of Elm Rise and Heathlands Primary Schools but I can't help feeling this is a missed opportunity. Rather than allowing our children to attend more initmate schools with smaller class sizes our local authority seems intent on creating a huge education factory within which individual children could easily disappear from view. To my mind this is akin to watching a slow car crash which might well have dire consequences for many of our children. I sincerely hope that parents of all children affected by these proposals take the time to make their views known.
Spot on. And do you think the actual level of teaching and education will be any better ? Or will the children still receive the dumbed-down nonsense of the last 15 years ?
Posted by: MumOf3, Bournemouth on 11:28am Fri 16 May 08
I have children at one of the schools now, but my youngest will be at the start of " this new school". I am for one NOT happy about this and reguardless if i say no, bournemouth education department will amalagmate the schools. Just like when parents said no to kingsleigh first school and kingsleigh junior being amalagmated, they went ahead with it. And what a mess, old building and new.
The amalgamation of two major schools of bournemouth, what about traffic ? duck lane, holloway ave hardly suitable for large volumes of parents parking. Come on bournemouth education department, think about it. Its our children that matter, and over subscribe classes will just result on even lower standards of education. If this does go ahead then i will be looking to place my child in a school outside bournemouth. I along with many parents i hope stop this disaster from happening.dorset red your so right it will be a factory.
I have children at one of the schools now, but my youngest will be at the start of " this new school". I am for one NOT happy about this and reguardless if i say no, bournemouth education department will amalagmate the schools. Just like when parents said no to kingsleigh first school and kingsleigh junior being amalagmated, they went ahead with it. And what a mess, old building and new.
The amalgamation of two major schools of bournemouth, what about traffic ? duck lane, holloway ave hardly suitable for large volumes of parents parking. Come on bournemouth education department, think about it. Its our children that matter, and over subscribe classes will just result on even lower standards of education. If this does go ahead then i will be looking to place my child in a school outside bournemouth. I along with many parents i hope stop this disaster from happening.dorset red your so right it will be a factory.
Posted by: john andrews, winton on 11:47am Fri 16 May 08
Every one of you continually complains about the local council but I wonder how many of you actually voted when you had the chance. It seems that everyone is against the council yet they won power of the council with ease. Either your decision not to vote has caused the problems or you're just hypocrites who have switched alegiance now the local Conservative's lack of ability has come to light.
Every one of you continually complains about the local council but I wonder how many of you actually voted when you had the chance. It seems that everyone is against the council yet they won power of the council with ease. Either your decision not to vote has caused the problems or you're just hypocrites who have switched alegiance now the local Conservative's lack of ability has come to light.
Posted by: MumOf3, Bournemouth on 12:08pm Fri 16 May 08
[bold]bold[/bold] I did vote for conservatives thank you. And my child deserves to be educated correctly and not on a factory production line. Plus has anyone thought about the teachers that will be jobless !,NO.
I did vote for conservatives thank you. And my child deserves to be educated correctly and not on a factory production line. Plus has anyone thought about the teachers that will be jobless !,NO.
Posted by: bob, Bournemouth on 12:31pm Fri 16 May 08
The idea of these "super academies" makes me shudder. Oakmead School is already too big (since merging the boys and girls schools). If you merge it with three other schools, children will have to travel much further and they will get even less individual attention than they do now.
The idea of these "super academies" makes me shudder. Oakmead School is already too big (since merging the boys and girls schools). If you merge it with three other schools, children will have to travel much further and they will get even less individual attention than they do now.
Posted by: Dorset Red, Dorset on 1:02pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote][bold]john andrews[/bold] wrote:
Every one of you continually complains about the local council but I wonder how many of you actually voted when you had the chance. It seems that everyone is against the council yet they won power of the council with ease. Either your decision not to vote has caused the problems or you're just hypocrites who have switched alegiance now the local Conservative's lack of ability has come to light.[/quote] Actually John, I DID care enough to vote and I DIDN'T vote for the Conservatives precisely because I knew this sort of thing would happen.
Tories will always go for "economies of scale" or privatisation, despite the fact that over three decades of Tory/New Labour government have shown that these policies don't work.
john andrews wrote:
Every one of you continually complains about the local council but I wonder how many of you actually voted when you had the chance. It seems that everyone is against the council yet they won power of the council with ease. Either your decision not to vote has caused the problems or you're just hypocrites who have switched alegiance now the local Conservative's lack of ability has come to light.
Actually John, I DID care enough to vote and I DIDN'T vote for the Conservatives precisely because I knew this sort of thing would happen.
Tories will always go for "economies of scale" or privatisation, despite the fact that over three decades of Tory/New Labour government have shown that these policies don't work.
Posted by: Dorset Red, Dorset on 1:05pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote][bold]john andrews[/bold] wrote:
Every one of you continually complains about the local council but I wonder how many of you actually voted when you had the chance. It seems that everyone is against the council yet they won power of the council with ease. Either your decision not to vote has caused the problems or you're just hypocrites who have switched alegiance now the local Conservative's lack of ability has come to light.[/quote] I voted and it wasn't Conservative.
I despair that people actually thought it was a good idea to vote for the local authority who have, within a very short time period, shown themselves to be dishonest, dishonourable and, frankly, clueless!
john andrews wrote:
Every one of you continually complains about the local council but I wonder how many of you actually voted when you had the chance. It seems that everyone is against the council yet they won power of the council with ease. Either your decision not to vote has caused the problems or you're just hypocrites who have switched alegiance now the local Conservative's lack of ability has come to light.
I voted and it wasn't Conservative.
I despair that people actually thought it was a good idea to vote for the local authority who have, within a very short time period, shown themselves to be dishonest, dishonourable and, frankly, clueless!
Posted by: jayne edwards, townsend on 1:05pm Fri 16 May 08
How come the council can not put some of this money into keeping Townsend school open?? The council want super academies, well we have a super school, with happy children,a great head teacher and staff. We have just had an good ofsted report, but the council would rather spend there money on hurding hundreds of children into these supper academies. I just think it stink's. GOOD LUCK TOWNSEND.
How come the council can not put some of this money into keeping Townsend school open?? The council want super academies, well we have a super school, with happy children,a great head teacher and staff. We have just had an good ofsted report, but the council would rather spend there money on hurding hundreds of children into these supper academies. I just think it stink's. GOOD LUCK TOWNSEND.
Posted by: fedupwithjobsworths, Moordown on 1:36pm Fri 16 May 08
I wonder mow much of this £90m will actually be spent on education; I suspect most will be spent on modifying buildings and creating lots of new non-teaching jobs. Why not just spend the money on employing additional highly skilled teachers to improve the standard of education?
I wonder mow much of this £90m will actually be spent on education; I suspect most will be spent on modifying buildings and creating lots of new non-teaching jobs. Why not just spend the money on employing additional highly skilled teachers to improve the standard of education?
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