OPPORTUNITY WE MUST TAKE (From Bournemouth Echo)

OPPORTUNITY WE MUST TAKE

9:00am Friday 6th February 2009 in Search

THE proposal to change the structure of schools in Purbeck should be strongly supported.

The test of our education system should be that it takes students right on to university or further education, or into well-structured careers.

To do this, schools must be financially viable and provide the full core curriculum.

From the age of 11 onwards children should have specialist teachers in subjects like French and IT and receive a full range of vocational and academic learning opportunities.

Schools that are facing lower numbers and budget cut backs can’t provide that. Specialist teaching posts are cut, investment is reduced.

The situation in Purbeck could soon be critical: intake numbers are falling in the junior schools, standards in the middle schools are not good enough.

The county’s proposal to go to two tier instead of three tier, if accepted, could open the way to very significant capital investment through the Building Schools for the Future programme, but only if the surplus places issue is resolved. There is a very big challenge ahead to equip schools for the new vocational and training curriculum. Restructuring is a vital first step. Let’s not lose this opportunity through a lack of vision.

GILES STURDY, chairman of governors, Purbeck School