Concerns over schools change
THE school organisation review (SOR) will result in all middle schools in Sudbury and Great Cornard closing in 2013.
The year before that, in 2012, all primary schools in the area will begin to grow by adding an extra year and a further year in 2013.
In order to allow the middle schools to close, the upper schools will become high schools and will take three new years' worth of children in one go.
The county education authority has published a public consultation paper in which it talks only of the numbers of pupils to be accommodated in each school and whether there will be need for building work.
There is no mention of the manner in which the changes will be made, or any of the steps taken to protect the education of our children while it is happening.
Specifically:
l How will the new high schools cope with taking in three years' worth of new children all at once?
l How will transfers in to brand new years 7 and 8 at a high school in 2013 occur, with no one there the previous year to conduct transfer days, school visits etc?
l How will teacher morale be maintained in middle schools that are doomed?
l How will primary schools maintain standards while overcrowding is affecting them during years that larger year intakes are working their way out of the schools?
The consultation paper contains very little real detail and leaves many more questions unanswered.
Our opportunity to get answers is at the meetings arranged by the SOR teams at our schools.
Every parent, grandparent or family member who is concerned about this lack of detailed planning before the tinkering with our children's education begins, should attend and ask these and other questions.
We should all also fill out the council's online questionnaire at www.suffolk.gov.uk/sor.
PENNY WRIGHT
Sudbury school parent
Gainsborough Street
Sudbury
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Weather for Sudbury
Thursday 09 February 2012
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