Government acts after Carlisle academies teachers raise concerns with minister
Last updated 10:08, Friday, 21 November 2008
Schools minister Jim Knight has been told directly of concerns that teachers have working at Carlisle’s new academy schools.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers has held high-level talks with Mr Knight this month about the Richard Rose academies – less than three months after they opened. Concerns are thought to vary from pupil behaviour to health and safety issues.
There is particular concern among those working at the Central Academy in Harraby, which was formed by the amalgamation of St Aidan’s School and North Cumbria Technology College.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has discussed concerns with leaders of the Richard Rose Federation.
The federation’s chief executive Peter Noble spoke of the extent of change needed and the challenges that must be faced over the next 18 months.
The aim is to get the Central and Morton academies among the top 25 per cent of the country. The schools they replaced were among the worst.
Mr Noble said: “People are going through big changes but they are transitional and short-term and we need to get all the support together for that.
“This is a merger that has gone on and there are cultural issues surrounding that.”
He confirmed that a consultation will begin soon on a staff restructure, a matter which he acknowledges is causing uncertainty but of which all staff have been informed. Meetings with unions are expected soon.
Earlier this week, the Central Academy also told parents of its six main areas of concern following the school’s September opening and set out how they would be tackled.
Classroom observations to gauge the quality of teaching ahead of the review have begun, a new £200,000 extension to the dining hall is to be built, new measures to closely monitor student performance will be introduced and staff have been employed to curb trouble on buses.
Mr Noble said: “If we want the same results as we have had then we could carry on with what they were doing. It would make people comfortable but it would not serve the needs of the children so we need to improve the quality of our teaching and how it is delivered.”
I am pleased to hear the teachers have taken action and voiced their concerns about this school.
At least now we know that the parents opinions have not gone unheeded and we may be a step closer to protecting our childrens' education.
Unfortunately,Mr Noble, our children can not afford to waste another month, let alone 18 months, of their education.
A stop must be put to this now as grades are already suffering. My daughter does not even want to go to the school because of the bullying but staff seem powerless to sort the place out.
Perhaps a change of management might do the trick.
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Has Mr Noble been into a classroom? Does he know the stresses of teaching? Money cannot sort everything, why doesn't he look at discipline. As a new teacher, who knows various staff at the Academy, successful schools are good units where staff are encouraged. Teachers can only deliver good lessons once ground rules have been set where as the Academy has instead drawn battle lines. Vandalism and attitude is not down to simply teaching staff, a school can only go forward with all agencies working together. If you look at Academies nationally, although they make up 5% of schools, they make up 10% of exclusions. I think it's about time Mr Noble wakes up and follows suit.
Posted by anon on 24 November 2008 kl. 18:38