'Much to gain from change', says Purbeck head (From Bournemouth Echo)

'Much to gain from change', says Purbeck head

7:00pm Sunday 15th February 2009 in Search By Steven Smith

A HEAD teacher has come out in defence of the controversial reorganisation of the Purbeck education structure.

Richard Holman, head of the Purbeck School in Wareham, said discussions so far had centred too much on what would be lost if the area switched from three tiers to two, rather than what would be gained.

He said: “This is a strategic review of provision across the whole area.

“My point is it’s not the structures that deliver good outcomes, you get good two-tier and good three-tier and the reverse.

“What really matters is having good leadership and good teaching. The structures are just one part, but I understand it’s what people hang on to, because it’s their school.”

Mr Holman said parents had to look at the wider picture.

He added: “People have to remember that virtually every child that starts in a Purbeck first school ends up here [the Purbeck School].

“If nothing changes here our curriculum is going to narrow, because we will not have the resources, and this school will end up in serious decline.”

Mr Holman said that the current amount of subjects offered at A-level – more than 20 – would inevitably shrink.

He added: “There’s been an awful lot of discussion about what will be lost and closed, and that’s fair enough, but there’s not a lot of talk about the vision for the future.

“We’ve got to be able to offer these kids a far better deal, a world-class provision in this area.”

The head teacher went on to say that it was an opportunity to “really invest” in children’s services and “with a bit of creativity and imagination” all the facilities for youngsters in the Purbeck area could be joined up.

CHILDREN and their parents made their point by taking to the streets in protest against plans to change the schools system in Purbeck.

If proposals to switch from a three-tier to two-tier structure go ahead, a primary school would be created on the Swanage Middle School site and the town’s first school would be among several to close its doors.

On Friday, February 13, more than 130 parents and pupils walked from the first school to the middle school to show what it would be like if the changes go ahead.

Emily Wyer, chairman of the Parents’ Association, said: “It took us about 45 minutes from the first school and some people have further to walk than we did.”

She said many parents would end up driving and added: “There were several lorries coming down the road as we walked along. The pavements are very narrow and in some parts there’s no pavements at all, so you have to keep crossing the road.”

Mrs Wyer said 40 invitations were sent out to councillors and officers, but only 10 responded, with only Swanage’s county councillor, Don Hiett, attending.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said the officers and cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Toni Coombs, were unavail-able for the walk.

The spokesman added: “We are aware of the particular issues in Swanage and welcome feedback from people on our proposals. Once the consultation period ends, we will look at all the feedback and may decide that there are areas we need to revisit.”