Conservative 11+ Failure

Another failure by Medway Conservatives as Councillor Les Wicks and his education department once again become the focus for residents wrath

This time the Tories have totally mismanaged the 11+ examination process which could lead to hundreds of expensive appeals and potentially a total collapse of the entire entrance system.

Another Tory failure in education which is hitting concerned mum's and dad's across the borough. All of whom have now witnessed the the utter incompetence of Conservatives in Gun Wharf.

Hundreds of residents have commented on the Medway Messenger website as anonymous Tory surrogates seek to extol the virtues of Rehman Chisthi MP. Dont tell me that Tories arent concerned - they have failed to manage the 11+ exam process and have let hundreds of parents down.

Are residents that surprised?

Take one look at the tired faces on the Medway Conservative benches and you can see why they cant manage a simple process. They simply lack energy and the ability to manage officers efficiently and effectively. They are past their use by date - many of them a vestige of the Thatcherite 1980s.

This time Medway Tories have utterly mismanaged the 11 plus exams which could lead to unfair advantages, and huge numbers of appeals by concerned parents. All of which are suffering the indignity of Medway Tory failure over education.

This is quickly turning into an utter fiasco. A Medway Conservative fiasco.

Not one Tory Councillor has had the gall to apologise to the public. What spineless toads.

Medway Conservatives should immediately apologise and Cllr Les Wicks - the very definition of an incomptent portfolio holder - should resign.

His record in managing education has been utterly lamentable - from million pound overspends on Woodlands and Walderslade Schools from the failure to manage Primary school improvements across Medway. Coupled with the inability to answer basic questions at Council and cuts to teachers and teaching assistants.

In a few weeks we will know whether some of our secondary schools are performing in Chatham. I have already made my judgement which is the same as thousands of parents across the borough -

Resign Wicks!

Time to step up and step out?

Ed Balls at St Peter's School, Rochester supporting parents at a school threatened by the Conservatives

Education is back on the agenda for full Council this week after a glut of stories highlighting the gross incompetence of the current Tory administration - and in particular portfolio holder Cllr Les Wick's - in managing Medway’s schools.

The Tory administration has shown an appalling level of ineptitude across the board with serious implications for the education and future of Medway’s children. Medway tax payers have had to pay through the teeth for fiasco after fiasco.

The recent Woodlands School fiasco detailed of late in local newspapers, comes on top of significant cuts announced to school staff such as teaching assistants, and a U-turn from the administration on future pupil numbers and school capacity requirements.

Plans have now been revealed for additional schools to be built in Chatham and Rochester, as a growing birth rate is expected to lead to a shortfall in available school places based on current provision. This, despite the closure of Ridge Meadow School, and the amalgamation others only a year ago, which reduced available places.

Given that Labour members - alongside parents, teachers, and local communities - consistently challenged the logic of closing successful schools at the time, it now seems clear the Tories simply failed to listen. The administration failed to take account of clear statistical evidence that foresaw the shortfall in places we now see, and could have avoided this costly error in closing schools only to need new ones a year down the line.

The Labour group thus demands answers from the Tory spokesperson, Cllr Les Wicks, on the legitimacy of the figures used in schools planning, and the rationale behind what now appears to be wasteful and unnecessary school closures. Labour councillors highlights a need for clear and open debate on the problems in Medway's schools, and implore the Tory administration to allow this to occur

In 2009/2010, local residents fought a campaign to oppose the Conservative Party cuts agenda to local schools and successfully campaigned with parents and pupils to reverse the policy which was based on flawed data.

The Tory incompetence can not be allowed to continue because our children deserve better.

Something must be done urgently and those responsible should reflect on whether they can really fix or whether they are the problem.

Background Videos

Where is the apology?

What a total Medway Conservative farce as the Primary School botched re-organisation comes back to bite.

Only this time the entire argument presented by the majority (though not all) Medway Conservatives has been totally blown out of the water as it is revealed that instead of a fall in pupil rolls, Medway will need thousands of extra primary school places over the next five years.

The local authority predicts the number of pupils attending primary schools will increase by about 2,400 by 2016. The report, which was linked last week and picked up on my twitter, predicts the figure could rise to 23,200 over the next five years.

Gillingham, Chatham and Rochester are most in need of extra places, the report says despite the words in 2009 of the Conservative Portfolio holder.

In 2009, the Tories presented a policy paper on Primary School Change, costing multiple millions of pounds, which based its conclusion on evidence of falling school rolls in the future. The proposal was to close and merge schools across Medway.

The argument was totally false.

The reason why this blog was / is so angered by Medway Conservative arrogance is because despite all the scientific proof that they were wrong, they would not accept fact and then accused Labour of spinning a campaign which was actually run by independent parents who were only concerned for their children's education.

All of the arguments at the time, and it is worth a read, are on the Medway Conservative website which highlights the way in which they dismissed any argument but their own (now seen to be utterly invalid) argument in 2009. They even falsely accused Labour of leaking information on Primary School closures for partisan gain; an utterly craven act at the time which was utterly without any foundation, and which was total fiction.

This blog expected today that the Medway Conservatives would show some humility and indeed basic human decency. Perhaps a mea culpa follow up to the glut of bilge they put out in 2009 spinning a tired yarn of falsehoods.

Unsurprisingly to readers we have had ZERO statements on the Conservative website and a brazen attempt to finger point to officers, when it is clear portfolio holders are responsibe for scrutinising their own departments.

It is the Tories that have played politics on this issue right from the very start.

Cllr Les Wicks wrote on the 10th July 2009 that 'Labour are more concerned with scoring points than the children's future' and even brazenly accused Labour of 'shame on school leak' when it became apparent the full list of school changes had actually be released earlier by the Council, no apology was forthcoming.

He continued

'that the government’s Primary Capital Programme for Medway, which the Labour group has so far opposed and attempted to undermine at every turn, proposes to impartially invest in schools which are in need of refurbishment... Let’s be clear, the Labour group in Medway are not interested in the well-being of children – instead they are intent on political point scoring. In comparison, the only concern for the Conservatives on Medway Council is the long-term interests of all our children in Medway'

Meanwhile Cllr Jarrett went even further in his article entitled 'Labour group would threaten every school with closure as their attempt to derail consultation with primary schools fails' on 19th June 2009; stating that

'Medway’s Labour group have failed to suggest any alternatives to address surplus places in Medway; something that the government has told us that we have to deal with. Their only suggestion is to start again which would threaten every school with closure and create uncertainty for our children for months on end.'

Labour did not provide alternative suggestions because we did not accept there were surplus places over the medium term. An argument that was eventually accepted by the impartial Schools Adjudicator and which is now seen to entirely correct.

Cllr Jarrett continued to burble the same tired line on 17th June 2009 when he accused Labour of 'threatening' £30m investment in Medway's schools'

'Labour councillors have, at every turn, opposed changes to primary schools in Medway, without suggesting any alternative solutions to address surplus places

Guidance issued to Medway Council under the Primary Capital Programme states that “strategies that fail to commit to addressing surplus capacity at local authority or individual school level will not be approved”, and that plans must “ensure that no school has more than 25% surplus places” and “reduce overall surplus places to less than 10% across the local authority area'

Councillor Jarrett is responsible for scrutinising numbers and detail on figures every day. How could he get basic demographics so wrong? A major question on his ability to process and scrutinise information therefore arises; is he competent enough?

The fact is Cllr's Wicks and Jarrett spent most of May & June 2009 effectively basing their argument on surplus places. They had opportunity to review the counter argument but chose not to and as a result schools have closed and parents given unnecessary stress.

Even worse - on the back of incorrect data, the Conservative authority chose to close Ridge Meadow

Residents today will making judgements on the character of our elected representatives.

A full, public and open apology should be forthcoming.

Education Strikes Back

Over 3,000 schools in England and Wales will be closed and over 2,000 partially closed on Thursday when two teaching unions stage strike action.

In Medway the following schools will be closed

Primary schools

• Byron Primary School
• Halling Primary
• Thamesview Junior School. Please note – Thamesview Infant School will remain open.
• Riverside Primary
• Hempstead Infant School
• Gordon Infant and Junior Schools
• Sherwin Knight Infant School
• St Margaret's Junior School
• Featherby Juniors
• Burnt Oak Primary School

Secondary schools:

• Thomas Aveling School
• Silverbank Park

Listening to Conservative MPs in the Commons today was utterly sickening as one after the other queued up to attack hard working teachers at PMQs. I watched as the Etonian Cameron, not one for poor schooling himself, scoffed as Tory MP after Tory MP launched into the Teacher trade unions in what was clearly Tory MPs at their best, braying at those less fortunate.

Many reading will remember when they were a child being taught by a good teacher. The type of person who was not in it for the money, was humble, friendly and had a genuine passion for improving the lives of young people.

I had many such teachers; they were true gems.

These strikes are unncessary. But remember they were not caused by teachers out to get one on the government. The fact is Conservatives have deliberately chucked fuel on the fire with this strike, by goading people in practices not seen since the dark days of Margaret Thatcher. They have not been serious in negotiations because they know that divide and rule, between private and public, will sadly pit person against person. It is brazen and atypical Toryism.

What Tories do not get is that this type of behaviour alienates them from the mainstream majority of people. Many of whom do not believe strikes are right, but also get the fact that people are not usually driven to such ends without a reason. Deep down this strike damages the Tory attempt to de-toxify and will do them more long term damage.

If there are riots tomorrow on the streets of London, another set of people will have hatred for the Tories seared into the fibre of their being. Another sub-section of Society pilloried for the actions of the elite at the top.

Many of the polls today in the right wing media show that there is a majority anti the strike. What they do not show is that amongst parents and those that use schools the mindset is a lot more favourable. Mum's and Dad's are being hit by this government just as much.

I expect a few Conservative MPs across the UK to be using the media to highlight their work in schools. Expect some to volunteer on the 'front line' as if it was the Blitz.

Except it isnt. This strike is because Conservatives in government wanted it, they goaded it, and they have got a fight which will keep parents at home.

Pause for thought for one second.

Today, in what was probably a very sparsely attended Employment Matters Committee meeting in Gun Wharf, the true Tory appreciation of teachers was seen. They claim to care for education, for class sizes and for good quality State Schools (as if Cameron knows what that is) but they dont.

Have copied above the true Tory cuts to teachers in Medway, so that when you see Tories moaning about 'lazy NUTters, or Trade Unionists' tommorrow you just realise that actually, some of the nicest and most humble of people are being attacked by the same people that have no interest in good state schools or fairness. Instead pricing out all but the wealthiest with eye-watering tuition fees and the cuts to the EMA allowance for poorer pupils.

If you were fooled in thinking that Conservatives care for education - look at the reality on the ground tomorrow. Cuts to pay, staff and pensions means poorer teachers and poorer outcomes for pupils.

That is your child.

Academies: What is happening?

Despite the announcement by Michael Gove over a month ago on the cuts to the Labour Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, in favour of the Tory 'Free School' project, Medway Academies are still none the wiser as to whether they are to receive funding, or indeed whether pupils and staff are to continue for years to come in portacabins and temporary accommodation.

The Strood Academy, Bishop of Rochester Academy and Brompton Academy were all due to be modernised under the Labour Building Schools for the Future programme, which was a funded scheme of £45 billion investment in secondary education.

Concern is now being raised by pupils, parents and teachers of the three schools, especially at Strood Academy, which was guaranteed bespoke modern buildings after the Conservative controlled Council rushed through the merger in 2008/09 between the Temple Boys School and the Chapter Girls School. The new buildings for the Strood Academy were due to be built in 2011.

Strood suffers from some of the poorest social indicators of any wards in the South of England. A savage cut to the aspiration of students will be as a direct result of decisions taken by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Government.

All three local MPs are very much aware of the cuts to front line secondary schools. The success or failure and the judgement of residents will rest upon their ability to lobby for this necessary programme of works.

The ConDem government claims there is no money to fund school re-building programmes, but it is of note that it can still spare the duplication cost of overheads for the 'Free School' initiative, which is privatisation by the back-door of education for children under 11. An initiative that the Kent Conservative Leader, Paul Carter has lambasted as a waste of money and which has no popular mandate from local residents.

This blog has learnt that the delay to the announcement maybe due to the complex and intricate nature of the tender, whereby a single contractor has been used for all three academies in an attempt to reduce cost for each. However, with the three academies at different stages of there respective mergers this initial focus on reducing cost may come back to bite.

The worst possible outcome is the withdrawal of either or any of the three academies as it would leave the tender effectively worthless for the other two. The staff of each must remain firm in the face of threats.

With less the five weeks before the beginning of term it is about time the Conservative Government told the people of Rochester & Strood what is to happen with our three academies.

If they are to be cut then the wrath of parents will descend upon the ruling Conservative administration on the Council who campaigned and leafleted during the election on the pledge there would be no front line cuts to services.



Update - 04/08/2010

It appears that the Conservative Government is playing a game with the future of the three Academies in Medway.

Despite giving assurances to the Council that we would hear news this week on the outcome, the government have now decided to postpone the decision to a later date, likely to be September / October. At which point many of the schools concerned will have started a new term.

This shows the total and utter contempt for pupils and staff who can not plan ahead.

The potential cuts to new school buildings also comes as Tories are salivating over further cuts to front line schools budgets in favour of the ideological 'free school' programme which was recently lambased by Kent Conservative Chief, Paul Carter, who indicated that it will duplicate costs at a time of fiscal constraint.

This is simply unacceptable.

Cllr Les Wicks, the Conservative Education Portfolio holder needs to get a grip on this issue immediately and put pressure on Conservative MPs and Ministers to push this decision up the agenda. He should clearly make a statement to the press and to the schools concerned about what is happening.

Our MPs are apparently lobbying but we have heard precious little from them on what pressure they are putting on the Department for Education.

Make no mistake, this issue is significant and simply brushing the issue under the carpet and delaying is causing concern amongst the schools and most importantly the pupils and staff concerned who quite frankly have to plan ahead.


Update - 06/08/2010

The news from sources that the decision was postponed was incorrect it would seem. The Department for Education released a list of saved BSF programmes today and with welcome news for Medway Acadamies.

The Conservative Government however rushed the BSF cuts and Michael Gove and his judgement on this issue is very much in question. A welcome u-turn but his card is marked.