"An Appointment with the Doctor"

on .. Education

The valiant efforts that our Primary Schools are making to implement the 'Wyre Forest Review' - which abolished Middle Schools - and converted our 'Two-tier' system - have received my full support.
I am visiting most of these schools before I have a planned meeting with the County's 'Director of Children's Services - when I will be able to pass-on news of their successes, and of my concerns.

I have expressed my concern to the the newly-appointed Minister of State for Schools and Learners (*Vernon Croaker, MP for Gelding, Notts) about the mistaken attack on Baxter College, labeling it as a "National Challenge School" because of one year's results that went against the huge trend of improvement that this school has managed through the efforts of the Head, staff, students and Governors.
I intend to escalate this into a Debate - due to *his unsatisfactory responses" !

It would be unfair to select only some of our schools for their achievements just because official tables do not yet recognise sufficiently the "value added" that they contribute.
How is it possible to properly and fairly compare schools in prosperous areas with those in seriously deprived wards - without taking into account the relative starting levels of the children involved ?

Dr. Richard Taylor

Updated _ 31-Dec-2009

Vernon Croaker

_ went to Drayton Manor Grammar School, he then studied for an Economics and Politics BA (Hons) at the University of Warwick, before obtaining a PGCE at Trent Polytechnic.  Career in education: History teacher, Senior teacher; Deputy Head.  A member of NUT.

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