Education Forum

We particularly welcome involvement from teachers and parents and hope you will let people know about this event, which is attracting a great deal of interest.

Wimbledon Civic Forum
Education Forum
9 September 2010
Notes of the meeting held at the Mansel Road Community Centre

Chaired by Marcus Beale
with speakers
Peter Walker Cabinet Member for Education LB Merton
Stephen Hammond MP for Wimbledon

Peter Walker said there were two challenges facing education in Merton: an increase in the demand for primary school places of 25% over the next four years, and at the same time an anticipated cut in government spending of 25%, except in health and foreign aid. Locally there is no political difference between the parties, the last administration did a good job. They planned sixth forms. Results improved better than the national average, up 8%, so that 62% of 16 year olds achieve 5 or more GCSEs including English and maths. Over 90% of Merton children go to state schools. People move to Merton to have babies, a blessing, but 25% growth in school demand in 2012 is anticipated, so it is also a challenge. 25% cuts, 25% growth. The borough can only plan four years ahead because children entering the school system beyond this timeframe have not yet been conceived. So, 2,600 primary school places in 2007, 3,300 in 2012. Peter was elected in May 2010, and inherited plans for expansion at Hollymount, Joseph Hood, Cricket Green, and plans for a new school. The expected cost of a new school will be £13.5 million if it goes ahead, an expensive option. He is talking to schools now, aiming to develop the best school sites – best in terms of leadership and education – so as to grow with the outstanding head teachers. This accommodates growth in already outstanding schools and helps retain head teachers. Peter will be announcing the proposed expansions on Saturday 16 October 2010 at 10am in the Council Chamber. He needs to announce in Autumn, have temporary accommodation in 9 months, followed by permanent accommodation. On public expenditure Peter thinks a 25% cut is dangerous. A primary school costs £1.75 million a year to run, 80 – 90 % of costs are staff costs. A secondary school costs £4.5 million, again 80 – 90% are staff costs. To save £425,000 per primary school, £1.15 million per secondary school would mean losing 5 and 15 teachers respectively, a major problem to face. He wants to debate this, there may be ways around it, but he wants to engage interested people in discussion and find the best solutions.

Stephen Hammond MP agreed that there is a broad consensus between the parties on education. He is not certain of the extent of cuts in the education sector. Although the overall figure across departments will be 25%, the Department of Education has been in discussion with the Treasury asking for only a 10% reduction. Some of this is a reduction of planned increases in expenditure. We won’t know the results of these negotiations until 20 October 2010. Whichever party had formed the government in May, there would have been significant cuts, Labour were proposing 20%, Conservatives 25%. As regards primary education, Peter has summed up very well. Three years ago we found roll numbers had suddenly gone up to a scale not predicted, there was a huge rise from that period. Building took place at Wimbledon Chase, Holy Trinity, Hollymount, and other projects are planned. The law sets out a maximum of 30 pupils per class. All opportunities have been controversial. We need to build a new primary school and/or add forms of entry to other schools. Constituents are writing to him saying they haven’t got their first, second, third or even fourth choices of school. Local demand in WImbledon is higher than other parts of the borough. There is good performance in primary schools. Stephen wants a state secondary system as good as this. Five years ago, only one state secondary beat the national average, but due to good leadership there has been a huge improvement, and we have a number of excellent head teachers. Stephen also wants to see a path all the way to university, with sixth form provision in academic subjects. Five years ago there was none, now we have sixth forms back in our schools and this will raise standards further and reassure parents. There are huge challenges, and there will clearly be cuts. Nationally academies and free schools are now part of the picture. 30 are opening in September and 110 have had offers. We must all work together for the good of the pupils, and Stephen acknowledged the help of former Education Minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry who had recognised the problems in London and enabled a relaxation of spending rules to accommodate growth.

A question and answer session followed.

Q1. We talk about the problems we now face, but how did we arrive at this situation? 6 – 10 years ago Merton sold 10 school sites. The Unitary Development Plan (UDP) states that the council should not sell school sites if there may be – may be – a requirement in future. Did Merton break its own rules by selling them? The sites were sold for an average of £1.8 million per site. Also we should look at the drop in standards. Rutlish used to be a very good school. Why did standards drop?

SH commented that whilst in hindsight this may have been a bad decision, the predicted numbers at the time did not anticipate the growth we have now experienced.

PW said he was not an expert on the UDP. The loss of Pelham School and All Saints School was regrettable, but how do we predict population? Wimbledon does need another school. As to standards, it is notable that two form entry schools tend to perform better than single form entry.

Q2. With cuts coming along, and possible job losses for teachers, why not look at having Kingston run our high level administration? Kingston is more efficient than Merton in this. Also the most expensive children to look after are those with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Officers have underreported the numbers and the level of support they need.

PW is passionately committed to provide for and defend the most vulnerable people. St. Anne’s is a new school. St Helier, nearing completion, will provide for 170 people. Most of these children twenty years ago would be in institutions and not receiving a proper education. West Wimbledon Primary School makes an outstanding provision. Science is finding all kinds of new physical and mental problems. He agrees provision is vital. As regards alternatives to teacher cuts, Peter is calling in heads and governors to discuss options. As regards involving Kingston, he has found the officers in Merton very good, but Merton already collaborates with other boroughs, Richmond and Sutton. He has asked Kingston to permit their officers to discuss options with Merton. This initiative will proceed only if he has his colleagues support in Merton, but he is already thinking along these lines.

Q3. Offers of school places some distance away from home are likely to increase rather than decrease. In USA children are bussed in yellow buses. We used to do this under the LCC. Why not reintroduce it? We could perhaps find a commercial sponsor for this.

PW commented that this touches on an interesting point. He was advised that one of the best schools to expand was Wimbledon Park. But it is near Wandsworth and 50% of pupils live in Wandsworth. If this school expanded the proportion would increase to 60%. So the situation encourages boroughs to be selfish. Another member of the meeting said bussing was best avoided – it would be better to make the provision locally.

Q4. Having worked in the education department for over 30 years, one of the reasons for the decline in quality was the constraint reorganisation of schools. Merton moved from 2 tier to 3 tier, there was a change of age range, specialisation of some schools, the loss of sixth forms. This change was often driven, not by educational needs, but for reasons of buildings and money. This helped cause the crisis. Federating excellent schools with failing schools is one way forward. Ursuline is federating with St Theresa’s for example.

Councillor Richard Hilton (shadow cabinet member for education at LBM) commented that there is cross party support and the parties are working together on this. We need new provision but he doesn’t support building on school playing fields. The area of difference is about the need for a new school.

PW said we shouldn’t get hung up on buildings. It is less risky to add a second form entry to an existing good school than to start a new school from scratch, and less expensive.

Q5. Cllr Karin Forbes made the point that people still perceive secondary education in Merton to be poor whereas in fact it has improved greatly. How do we get the message across that secondary state sector education in Merton is good? How do we reassure parents?

PW is sending his youngest son to Merton Schools. We should all bang the drum. GCSEs this year were the best ever. Whilst there are some problems, e.g. Mitcham Academy, we have the best fabric and the best teachers we have had in recent years.

Q6. Whilst applauding academic results, what about behaviour, for example smoking and spitting on the street?

PW supports good discipline and respect for each other and for rules. Recently the head teacher of Bishopsford sent 20 pupils back home who did not wear the proper uniform. Peter fully supported him in raising standards. There is also a parental issue.

Alex Willliamson, head teacher of Rutlish School agreed that we must alter perceptions. Three years ago Rutlish was achieving 33-34% 5 GCSEs including maths and English, now it is 61%. This despite having slightly below average intake. In considering standards, we should remember that Rutlish School used to be a Grammar School. Comprehensive schooling is a totally different environment. One of the reasons for the increase in standards is that head teachers are coming along who have themselves come through the comprehensive system and understand it. Raising standards is not just about the most able. It can work. For the most academically able pupils, he can offer something very like a Grammar school education. But he aims to get the best possible achievement for all of the boys, with different kinds of ability. Hopefully as word gets around, and with the provision of sixth form places, this will stop the westward drift. Rutlish will become more local, more of a community school. Now about 40 – 50% of pupils walk or cycle to school. As regards behaviour, that has improved greatly. With 1,200 boys there will always be some problems, but major problems are very rare. There is a limit to the powers of head teachers. There are also parental issues to consider.

Q7. Certain sectors of the community for example Muslims and Roman Catholics require single sex secondary schools. With the closure of Rowan School in MItcham there is no single sex school in that part of the borough, with a significant Muslim population. If this need could be met it would decrease the pressure on transport. Cultural community requirements need to be considered.

PW agreed there is a growing Muslim population who would like separate education. Around Fair green in Mitcham 60% of pupils have English as a second language. But there are no plans at present for a single sex education in this area.

Peter Cornellan observed that some of the history of our schools provision relates back to when we were part of Surrey. We can’t put children on ice but must keep up with the modern generation. There has always been a cross-border problem. But behaviour is getting better and we need to repeat the message.

Q9. As a teacher, working in Sutton, how do we attract and retain the best teachers if budgets are to be cut?

PW said he does expect teacher numbers to be cut.

Alex Williamson said there are other ways of saving money. Rutlish has links with Ricards for the sixth form, treating the two schools almost as one, this leads to economises and best use of teaching staff. A problem he also faces is that they are locked into a PFI agreement. So £400,000 of his budget goes to the PFI provider and he has no discretion over this.

Q9. Education is not all about schools. As a charity worker in Merton with jigsaw4u charity, how will cuts affect provision for those out of formal education?

PW said he is desperately trying to protect grants to charitable organisations, for example the Merton Music Foundation which does excellent work.

Q10. Are the council going to build over green field sites?

PW said no. But they are looking at siting buildings within playing fields to the best advantage.

To summarise, he is looking to build provision on the leadership skills of the best schools. He invited people to come to the meeting on 16 October and to participate in the ongoing debate.

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Notes by MB. Any corrections to info@wimbledoncivicforum.org.uk and please post comments on the messageboard.

The British Government is planning to make it easier to schools to “opt out” from the Local Authorities. Muslim children in state schools feel isolated and confused about who they are. This can cause dissatisfaction and lead them into criminality, and the lack of a true understanding of Islam can ultimately make them more susceptible to the teachings of fundamentalists like Christians during the middle ages and Jews in recent times in Palestine. Fundamentalism is nothing to do with Islam and Muslim; you are either a Muslim or a non-Muslim.

There are hundreds of state primary and secondary schools where Muslim pupils are in majority. In my opinion all such schools may be opted out to become Muslim Academies. This mean the Muslim children will get a decent education. Muslim schools turned out balanced citizens, more tolerant of others and less likely to succumb to criminality or extremism. Muslim schools give young people confidence in who they are and an understanding of Islam’s teaching of tolerance and respect which prepares them for a positive and fulfilling role in society. Muslim schools are attractive to Muslim parents because they have better discipline and teaching Islamic values. Children like discipline, structure and boundaries. Bilingual Muslim children need Bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods, who understand their needs and demands.

None of the British Muslims convicted following the riots in Bradford and Oldham in 2001 or any of those linked to the London bombings had been to Islamic schools. An American Think Tank studied the educational back ground of 300 Jihadists; none of them were educated in Pakistani Madrasas. They were all Western educated by non-Muslim teachers. Bilingual Muslim children need bilingual Muslim teachers as role models. A Cambridge University study found that single-sex classes could make a big difference for boys. They perform better in single-sex classes. The research is promising because male students in the study saw noticeable gains in the grades. The study confirms the Islamic notion that academic achievement is better in single-sex classes.
Iftikhar Ahmad
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk