Meetings Update (Tomlinscote) - Claire Funnell

Following attendance at the Tomlinscote Consultation meetings on Wednesday night, I t was suggested that I might like to update my previous blog.

It is true to say there was a massive contrast between the two meetings, but none-the-less the message was clear that we, as parents, do not wish for this merger/absorption to happen.

I stayed for the whole 4 hours and I was glad I did as although contrasting arguments and opinions were raised, it was clear that we are united in one goal – to keep Kings and Tomlinscote separate for the right reasons for all of our children.

Having a year 5 child, it dawned on me that the effect that this would have on him is probably more concerning than that of my older year 7 son. We will be making choices based on a school and school ethos that doesn’t yet exist or Collingwood. Based on this choice, we would be stupid not to choose Collingwood? With all “PAN” of 775 parents choosing Collingwood as 1st preference, parents like myself who historically would have had a choice between the two larger schools (because of our location) and Kings (because of space spaces) , will be allocated to our second choice as Collingwood will be oversubscribed . 2nd choice being – no choice. Many year 5 parents are not even aware of the detail and are thinking that the decision making does not affect them. It so does.

On Monday morning I was a parent who was concerned, but had faith that the decisions would be made based on what is best for the education of the children in Surrey Heath. As I have absorbed more information over this week, my opinions have changed. I believe that the decisions are based, on the whole, on financial savings and politics, and have very little to do with education.

Since I wrote the article for the blog earlier in the week, I have had numerous emails, many with the same message – “I would really like to think that there was something that I/we could do to stop this, but I think the decision has been made/I think this is a done deal.” I do not agree.

Between the two schools we have over 2000 sets of parents who apparently feel exactly the same way as me and you. I have not heard of one person (with the exception of the men on the stage) who thinks that this is a good idea, especially now , as more facts are emerging. If you would like to be part of the fight against this, then you should make yourself known to Ian (blog administrator), so that interested parties can begin to work together. It is unlikely that 1 or 2 people will make a difference, but 2000 + really can.  

It may well be that our views and opinions will be dismissed and this will be pushed through but we owe it to our own children, and all children of Tomlinscote and Kings, to become an organised and united front to make our voices heard.