local school

Page 1 of 512345
Avatar Image

James Hargrave: We are the conservatives now. The fight to save good local schools

Gove is having to look for nasty sounding rhetoric to describe opponents of his free schools and academies policies. So we have been described as "enemies of promise" and even "trots". The reason for the use of this language is simple. It would be hard to mount a huge attack on people who just want good locally managed schools for ... read more and comment →

7 comments

Latest comment by For the Benefit of the Conservative Party – “FOR SALE – Local Hospital and Schools “ | Think Left: "[...] We are the conservatives now – the fight to save good local schools: Local Schools Network [...]..."

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Ariana Yakas: Will rush to academy status force all schools to convert? Alternatives

Guardian Education ran a story today on the dilemmas that headteachers are facing regarding moving to Academy status. This rang very true for the LA where I am a school governor. As the article stated: "If schools are looking to their local authorities to give them reasons to resist the pressure to convert, it seems they may not get them." In ... read more and comment →

7 comments

Latest comment by Ariana Yakas: "Thanks for the link. The sort of stuff I was looking for...."

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Marianne Harman: Pushy parents shun our local school not because of teaching but because of intake.

I live in Honiton, a market town in East Devon and our school has recently had a "good, good" in Ofsted, is improving, has academy status and has an excellent head and community links. However, it used to be a secondary modern and suffers from a reputation that "the right sort of people don't send their children there." In order ... read more and comment →

7 comments

Latest comment by Melissa Benn: "Yes - can I add my experience to this thread. We sent both our daughters to the local comprehensive about which there was enormous nervousness and even greater prejudice, in the local area. Below average results, an intermittently fearsome reputation ......"

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Alison Kinsey: Daughter didn’t pass local grammar test and can’t get in preferred high school

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls selects from a very wide area setting a very high benchmark discriminating against bright local girls. Another local grammar is Sale which is mixed. Our daughter narrowly missed that too. We decided to pay for a tutor to give her the best chance. Didn't feel comfortable with it but most people do it so ... read more and comment →

26 comments

Latest comment by Jon Bradburn: "Amazing that in this day and age we are still having this argument. Selective Schools are state schools which by virtue of their name select their students based on criteria which they decide. This seems to me to be the ......"

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Helen Rowe: A personal story

I feel that I am in unique position to comment on the success of our local comprehensive. My three children more than most, span a wide range of abilities and aptitudes. My oldest is bright, “academic” and pronounced “gifted and talented” (whatever that may mean). I then have twins, the oldest of whom (by 15 mins) is keen on sport, ... read more and comment →

6 comments

Latest comment by Francis Gilbert: "What a great story. It really shows how important inclusion is both as a value and a policy...."

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Homerton99: Success story

I would like to recommend Daubeney Primary School in Hackney. It has recently come out of special measures and I couldn't praise it highly enough. My son started reception in September and thoroughly enjoys it. We are greeted by a teacher or the head at the school gates every morning. The class teacher is really switched on and there is ... read more and comment →

One comment

Latest comment by Matthew McGee: "Congratulations to the obviously hard-working staff and pupils at Daubeney Primary School. A case study in how academy status is completely unnecessary in order to bring about school improvement. Michael Gove take note!..."

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Bill Leadbitter: I owe everything to my local state school

My secondary school, on the "notorious" Easterhouse estate in Glasgow, was the saving of me and put me on the road to a life beyond my childhood imaginings. The teachers there did not discriminate against the children because of their social class or backgrounds. As a consequence of the support and dedication of committed teachers, I became the first in ... read more and comment →

3 comments

Latest comment by Janet Downs: "Education has been subjected to constant change, reform and interference. Anyone with an hour or two to spare can trawl through this summary http://www.lancs.ac.uk/staff/trowler/polupcomp.htm of the changes imposed on schools between 1979 and 2001. Since 2001 there have ......"

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Susanna Rustin: Barlby Primary School

My daughter is just coming to the end of her first term in Reception class at Barlby School. Her dad and I are so pleased and proud of her and the school. In her first class assembly the audience was greeted by members of her class in Japanese, Swedish, Spanish, Arabic, French and English. This week we have a Christmas concert, ... read more and comment →

One comment

Latest comment by Nigel Ford: "Good luck with the Christmas concert - try not to shed a tear...."

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Francis Gilbert: Let’s celebrate our local schools in the snow!

Yesterday morning, after we received a text to say that his school was open, my son rushed into the school yard early so that he could play in the snow with his mates. It was great the way he could just walk down the street and find himself among friends, enjoying the wonder of the snowfall. There he was laughing ... read more and comment →

No comments

Be the first to comment!

Comment + Debate
Avatar Image

Nigel Ford: “Hypocrisy” of private tuition?

When middle class parents elect to send their children to the local comp rather than choosing a state school further afield which is higher up the league tables or remortgaging the house to go private there are often accusations from opponents of double standards if such a parent pays for private tuition to augment their child's school teaching. This usually ... read more and comment →

5 comments

Latest comment by David Barry: "I dont see how that follows Jake. The people behind this site have said they want to see a good local school available for everyone. The process of getting there requires various things including, it is acknowledged explicitly, commitment and ......"

Comment + Debate
Page 1 of 512345