Goodrich: Academy proposals

[lucky]

To DaveR

Sorry but if you want to get the equivalent of a private education by the way of Academy you are in dream land. Academies are the privatisation of education through the back door. That is why Gove is doing it on the quiet. They give the schools the hook of the big chunk of money to start whith and then what? Is McDonals going to come to the academies rescue as and when Mr. Gove decides there is not enough money on the pot for academies? perhaps we will end paying for what was free before.(Sorry not free because after all we already pay for education via the tax system).

Also what do Academies do with all those children that are failing for whatever reason in order to get their excellent results??? I know some Academies are failing.

If you are not happy with Goodrich you should start working for the school and stop your patronising of the teachers.

[intexasatthe moment]

LynP -

Yes an Academy by it's very nature can provide the equipment that makes it very attractive but what good is that without fantastic teachers?

Spot on with your remark about teachers , not that Academy status will guarantee good teaching .

But the first part of your remark is a misconception I think .

Maybe the additional freedom to juggle their own budget will enable Goodrich to buy extra equipment ,but there won't be any additional money ,so it will be robbing Peter to pay Paul .

AFAIK these new style Academies will receive ?25,000 for legal and organisational costs involved in converting .

To me that's money merely for the sake of administrative reform . Where does that money come from ? Surely it could be more gainfully spent elsewhere ?

The Academy movement is a political act ,privatising and further fragementing our education system .

[James Barber]

That contextual valud added means Goodrich is in the top 25% of primary schools in the country.

Could it improve of course. Can it improve as quickly as a much smaller school of course not.

If parents are for or against the proposal by the school governors for Goodwich to beocme an academy they should be properly informed and allowed to vote on it. If they decide yes (which personally I think is sad but ineviatble and rather a matter of when) they should then vote on which school to federate with, with each selling itself to the parents.

If the governors don't follow such a democratic path I would encourage parents to organise a petition perhaps online and submit that to the secretary of state with personal letters with their views - I'd be hopeful a Secretary of State who is the final decision maker on schools becoming Academies would not allow such a change if parents had clearly expressed a contrary view.

Written like a true democrat.

[Dorothy]

"If parents are for or against the proposal by the school governors for Goodwich (sic) to beocme an academy they should be properly informed and allowed to vote on it. If they decide yes ... they should then vote on which school to federate with, with each selling itself to the parents."

How does that square with your assertion that the Governors were too slow to react to the offer from Kingsdale James?:

"And I can confirm Kingsdale did ask Goodrich and two other schools earlier this year whether they would like to federate with them - the other two schools had emergency governor meeings within 24hours and fed back their responses within 24hours. Goodrich governors did not treat this offer with urgency and I'd be amazed if they didn't burn of some goodwill in the process."

The Governors are now consulting with the parents, we are in the process. It does seem inevitable that there will be more and more Academies across the country, since this is the stated aim of the present Government. I am not happy about it (and sceptical that it will achieve the magic Outstanding rating for Goodrich within two years).

More than anything I'd like to see more consistency in the teaching at the school, more long-serving teachers, less staff turnover. My daughter has been at the school since Nursery and has had eight teachers in that time, only three of whom are still there.

[lucky]

Dorothy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> "The Governors are now consulting with the parents,

> we are in the process"

"How are the parent governors consulting the parents at Goodrich? I am a parent at Goodrich and have not been consulted.

>

[Pickle]

Letters have been handed out a few times this week (they've arrived home in my son's Pact bag). We got another one today saying the meeting scheduled for next Tuesday has now been postponed until the start of the Autumn term "so that we can all thoroughly prepare, and give you more detailed information. It will also give us time to take on board your feedback and incorporate responses to that in the next meetings".

Very sensible, here's hoping the meetings later in the year are more informative and conducted in a more constructive manner.

[Dorothy]

Lucky

Were you not invited to the meeting we are discussing on this thread?

[Chippy Minton]

I can confirm Kingsdale did ask Goodrich and two other schools earlier this year whether they would like to federate with them

James - who were the other two schools and what was their response?

[Tony Rabbit]

Mrs Shirley Patterson resigned today (15th July 2011) as head of Goodrich School.

She made the announcement after school.

[LynP]

Well..hate to say it but looks like the governors have their first goal achieved.Hope it's not out of the frying pan into the fire with Mrs. Patterson's resignation.

Pickle lets hope the meeting has been postponed for genuine reasons and not a fait accompli....

[ryedalema]

Oh noooo - now I'm completely naive about this (and all things educational really), but what does this mean (if anything) for the school? And (being self-interested) for the new intake in September?

Do they just get a locum in, or does it mean a greater meltdown/special measures type scenario?

As you can see COMPLETELY clueless!

[Fuschia]

It's very late for a resignation

(edited to day) a headteacher needs to give 3 months notice - end of April

Either this is a late announcement of an earlier resignation or there is something of a crisis - and the previous head has resigned with no new job to go to

Or has she resigned with effect fro

November?

A temporary head will need to be found to cover.

I guess governors will recruit later on with a headteacher who is keen to run an academy

[Tony Rabbit]

Quote Dulwich_Park_Fairy :- My understanding is that a small group of Parent Governors are behind this initiative and very much question the legitimacy of what they have done.

Quote Fuschia :- I guess governors will recruit later on with a headteacher who is keen to run an academy.

Maybe this time the 'self appointed inner circle' on the Board of Governors will work with the appointed head of school in all respects.

[Mouseling]

I am not an expert in these matters but I have been a governor in a school in the past. Headteachers come and go, and the main thing is just to appoint a replacement in calm and orderly way. It seems there is a lot of hysteria around Goodrich. It is a decent school and presumably the best thing is to let the governors, if this post is true, to just appoint a really good new headteacher.

[Pickle]

As parents of the school (which I think the majority on this thread are) it's important to be positive, and see the change as a good thing for the school. Here's hoping a great new head is found who will help the school move onwards and upwards. I haven't had many dealings with Shirley, but on the couple of occasions I met her to speak to I found her very friendly and wish her the best.

[Mick Mac]

James Barber Wrote:

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> The Academy tide is very strong. The powers

> governors have as an academy are stronger.

> So the key is probably how well respected the

> governors of this school are.

>

Thanks James.

I believe the current Governors are strong and if you ask how well respected they are, then I for one respect them fully and expect them to achieve the best long term outcome for the school.

[dulwichbloke]

If the reports of allegations in the South London Press are correct, if federated with Goodrich, Kingsdale might have some useful pointers to give to the governors of Goodrich for improving exam results/pushing Goodrich up the league tables towards the coveted 'outstanding' status?

[dulwichbloke]

Sorry - meant to add link. Only the 6 'whistleblowers'

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23973072-exam-cheat-investigation-at-school-hailed-by-cameron.do