Where's Wicks?

The ever silent and ghost like Cllr Wicks has not spoken a word since the fiasco over the 11+

Today, even more revelations were revealed from school teachers themselves, which lay bare the incompetence and shambles of a portfolio holder who just cant accept the blindingly obvious fact that not one parent, teacher, pupil or resident has an iota of confidence in his ability.

The damning indictment of Cllr Wicks, was delivered by the Chair of Governor's Sheila Mann who pointed the blame firmly at the department managed by the portfolio holder

"As chair of governors of Rainham School for Girls, in light of recent media coverage, I feel compelled to write to clarify the involvement of the school in the Medway Test on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

"On August 8, Rainham Girls’ School was approached by the student services manager at Medway Council to see if we could provide another venue, as the number of parents requesting the test had been underestimated. It was made very clear from the outset that the student services team at Medway Council would administer the test and supervise children on the day.

"Rainham School for Girls were not asked to provide any extra assistance other than premises access. The administration and organisation of the test on the day was agreed to be the sole responsibility of Medway Council, this is a fact that appears to be overlooked."

You would think Cllr Wicks would have been immediately available, think again... Rehman Chisthi also has remained strangely silent; not one call from the MP for any resignation over this issue.

Journalists at the Medway Messenger have been struggling to find the ever elusive portfolio holder and have dubbed the quest 'Where's Wicks'.

They were told he was first on 'holiday' by ward colleagues but this was denied by the Council.

It has since emerged that instead of managing his department overcome this fiasco he has in fact, according to reports, been at the Conservative Party conference, presumably cheering the same cuts to education budgets which are undermining the future for children across the borough.

The Council stated that children were not disadvantaged in the 11+ chaos but this is increasingly hard to believe. It seems our portfolio holder is dealing with other matters to make any comment.

Councillor Wicks has a record of failure and has been allowed to get away with it for too long:

• 11+ exam fiasco at the Chatham Grammar School for Boys and the Rainham School for girls
• Botched Primary School re-organisation programme using incorrect pupil statistics to close local primary schools including the closure of Ridge Meadow and St Peters and St Johns threatene
• The £350,000 photocopier contract with Ridge Meadow School
• The £1.8m overspend on the Walderslade School
• The £2.25m overspend on the Woodlands School
• The cuts of 144 frontline teachers and teaching assistants in 2010/11
• The cancellation of the School improvements at Luton School and the cuts to Building School budget from £5m to cover maintenance only
• Medway ranked close to bottom of Level 4 league table with only 67% of pupils across area gaining level required

We have all had enough. Go.