Parents turn watchdogs to monitor schools' shake-up
THE watchful eye of a new community group is firmly planted on Tamworth's academy and post-16 centre.
The Tamworth Education Alliance (TEA) has been launched to 'monitor the impact' of the education establishments which form part of Staffordshire County Council's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) plans and to give parents a voice.
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The Tamworth Education Alliance (TEA) has created its own website to keep existing and new members updated.
TEA co-founder and parent Rob Morgan said: "It was evident, following the widespread opposition of the Tamworth community to the closure of our sixth forms, that many local people wanted to remain involved in what happens to our schools and our children's future opportunities.
"The deputy leader of Staffordshire County Council, Ian Parry promised, following his review of the former Labour administration's BSF plans, that he would look at the impact of the sixth form centre in two years time.
"We aim to hold him to account on his promise and also to gather our own evidence on how the changes affect our children and our town.
"I would like to invite other parents and community members to join us."
The TEA is made up of parents, student, teachers, governors and other groups and individuals with an interest in education in Tamworth.
The group has formed in the wake of council plans to transform Woodhouse High School into privately-run academy and phase out sixth form provision at the town's high schools in favour of a single post-16 centre.
Both will be managed by the Landau Forte College Trust.
TEA supporter and parent Corrine Sharp added: "These changes will have considerable impacts on democracy and community representation in our schools' governance, as more businesses and other partners take control.
"I am personally very concerned for the future of my own children whose choices and opportunities may be affected by the academy's monopoly of our sixth form provision.
"I welcome the formation of TEA which can represent me and other parents."
The TEA aims to:
Provide a voice for the local community on education issues;
Share information on any aspects of educational policy that will affect Tamworth;
Encourage debate on educational changes and policies affecting Tamworth;
Monitor the outcomes and impacts on Tamworth's children and the wider community of the BSF plans, including the Academy;
Hold the local education authority, academy and any future independent education providers to account.
The group plans to hold a launch meeting before the general election and to organise awareness events, discussions and public meetings. A quarterly newsletter will be published and regular news and information updates on BSF and other educational issues will be posted on the TEA website.
To join TEA or for further information, email office.tamworthea@googlemail.com or log on to www.tamworthea.wordpress.com.
5 Comments
by Oscar One Three, Tamworth
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:26PM
“Do any of our politicians and councillors really know what they are doing with eduction?
I don't know whether they still teach English Literature now, but it was a subject I liked. An appropriate quote which has come to mind is from T.S. Eliot, if I can recall, it went something like ''We shall not cease from exploration, and at the end of all our exploring will arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time.''
Are we changing things for the better?”
by pete jackson, Birmingham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:52PM
“The Great Education Debate
Trusts, Academies or ¿Free¿ Schools ¿ are they the answer to problems in our schools?
Thursday 11th March 7pm
Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Corporation Street, Tamworth B79 7DN
Speakers:
Brian Jenkins MP
Jeremy Oates, Conservative Councillor
Ally Bird former Tamworth school pupil
Jenny Pinkett Lib Dem candidate for Tamworth constituency
Alasdair Smith Anti Academies Alliance”
by pete jackson, Birmingham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:50PM
“Hefalump may wish to know that Brian Jenkins MP and Chris Pincher (conservative) have now joined the panel.
Hefalump is also welcome to attend and explain why we should go along with a plan which means our schools will be handed over to private control. Parents, teachers, councillors and voters will be unable to influence the direction of the Academy.”
by Rob Morgan, Tamworth
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 2:22PM
“In response to Hefalump, TEA is a new group for EVERYONE interested in education in Tamworth - whether or not they were in favour of the BSF proposals. It is not a campaign group but a forum-type organisation set up by parents (yes, those of us whose children are actually affected by these changes) and in response to a call to monitor the impacts and have more of a voice in what happens to our children's schools. Anyone is welcome to contribute to the website and newsletters and to put their points across (for or against). I would suggest that rather than criticising parents anonymously for views he or she doesn't share, Hefalump should demonstrate the courage of their convictions by revealing their true identity and contributing something useful to the debates - or does Hefalump have vested interests in the BSF plans that they'd rather not make known?
As for working with the Council, I for one would warmly welcome this, especially since they completely forgot to include us as stakeholders in the design of the BSF plans. They are fully aware of parents' discontent over these past oversights but so far have done little to remedy the situation. The ball is now firmly in their court.!”
by Hefalump, Tamworth
Monday, March 08 2010, 4:38PM
“So the ¿Hands Off Tamworth Schools¿ group has rebranded with an attempt at softening their hard line look.
Interesting the timing of this with an election looming.
What concerns me is that this ¿new¿ group cliams to be inclusive etc etc yet appears to be so against the changes to improve our kids education. Their website is full of hate towards the changes.
Thie big debate on Thursday looks exciting though. One lib dem candidate who failed to made a real impact in Tamworth and a couple of nobodies as speakers. Where are the Conservatives & Labour politicians?
Come on HOTS/TEA why not work with the Council, parents etc. to make the very best of the changes rather than be so against them? You really cannot see further than the end of your noses.”