WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO REMAIN SEPARATE NOW WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE KINGS BECOMES THE SUCCESSFUL AND VIABLE SCHOOL THAT THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY OF SURREY HEATH DESERVE.
This week has proved to be full of ups and downs. Firstly the outcome of the governors vote created an initial high as we all knew the subsuming of Kings International into Tomlinscote School was not going to go ahead. Then came the worry as to what would Surrey County Council’s decision be regarding Kings. Their constant threat of closure for Kings International that they reiterated not only at our public meetings regarding the Tomlinscote/ Kings proposal but also stated at the Bristow, Watchetts and Camberley Infants Consultation was still looming over all of us at CAM until we received the email from Nick Smith stating Kings would not be closing but would continue in its current soft federation status. A result indeed many would think but NO this is only a partial victory. Soft federation was not fully supported by Surrey County Council who did not even put the other alternative within their own consultation of hard federation which would have been a far less high risk option as the governing body of Tomlinscote could have become the governing body over the two schools. We at CAM discussed this option and agreed it was not one of our aims as we saw it as one step to merger.
PJ Wilkinson stated on BBC Surrey this week regarding Kings International:
"We want to give it a reasonable chance to thrive and so have removed the immediate threat and will be looking at it again over the autumn."
CAM has asked for clarification as to what this means for Kings .
PJ Wilkinson responded by email that:
It was not intended as a cryptic remark and means what it says. We will not "immediately recommence [...] our procedures to close Kings" and intend to discuss the best way forward with interested parties, including (at least) the school's IEB, staff and parents, Tomlinscote, Collingwood and other interested local parties. We have heard various reports of proposed academies (but have received nothing in writing) and are more than happy to join relevant discussions.
Interestingly effective communication from SCC which has been an issue for CAM during this process appears also to be a problem within SCC internally because the Department of Education Broker who spoke to Surrey County Council in relation to Kings International becoming an Academy with a proven provider in early June was told to wait until the end of the consultation period before progressing this further. CAM wrote to Lord Hill at the Department of Education on June 22nd before the proposal had been abandoned requesting that Kings International be considered as an Academy and we provided supporting literature. A copy of this letter has since been sent to Peter Martin at SCC as well. Since the abandonment of the proposal and the reestablishment of the status quo CAM is still working together to ensure a successful and viable future for Kings International. We have written to PJ Wilkinson and Peter Martin ( Cabinet Decision Maker) asking them what SCC will be doing to ensure that Kings International has a successful marketing strategy in place to actively recruit students for the 2012-2013 intake. We are awaiting their response with great interest as Kings has significantly improved and can be marketed for all the positive elements which Kings possesses.
CAM intends to ensure that this vine bears fruit- Kings will succeed and we will support it.
PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR KINGS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
WE WILL BE CREATING NEW PUBLICITY SO HOLD ON TO THOSE STAKES THE MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE HEARD ACADEMY FOR KINGS.
TOMLINSCOTE TEACHERS SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR KINGS
CAM have received many emails of support and thanks but some of the most rewarding have come from teachers who appreciate the difficulties which each school community has been facing whilst continuing to ensure that all our children received the education they deserved during what must have been a very difficult period for them as professionals. CAM will be ensuring that we support Kings but it is excellent to see the teachers from both schools also supporting each other.
When Mr Ryles mentioned the result I felt a massive sense of relief around the staff room. Nobody cheered but I could tell that there were quite a few of us wanted to. Many teachers that day were going round saying that 'today is a good day' and finally the dark cloud was lifted. The students were happy too. Staff were praising the work of CAM, and were proud that so many people are passionate about
the identity of our school. The other feeling from staff is one of concern for Kings staff, we were hoping that Surrey CC will now shore up their future and we wish Kings the very best in their continued fight. Many staff were pleased we are able to assist by keeping up the soft federation as we feel that that is a positive move towards keeping Kings open.
Another said:
As a staff member at Tomlinscote can I say we are wholeheartedly behind Kings staying open and give our full support to our poor colleagues going through difficult times there. Let's keep both Tomlinscote and Kings as two strong schools for Surrey Heath.
This process has truly shown that community spirit is alive and well in Surrey Heath. Here are a few of the comments posted in support of Kings and its future:
Well done to you all, and thank you. I'm sure that with CAM's support, the Keep Kings campaign can turn out just as successfully. It is not a failing school, it is an improving one. Many of the things Kings do, such as making sure children feel safe and secure, fostering diversity and community spirit (for example, £10,000 raised on the Carol Wright Memorial Walk), and looking after SEN and EAL children's needs are above national averages. The school should be valued for what it does well, and it has many strengths to build on. I would hate to see PJ's dream of shutting it down come true.
Yes....Kings we do need to support you so don't worry there, it's not over yet!
This is fantastic news - we've won the battle but we still haven't won the war.......
Kings MUST be removed from SCC control and allowed to stand on its own two feet. The consultation document was to merge Kings or close it. They never mentioned keeping it going under a soft federation so we can only assume Kings is now closing.
Oasis Community Learning want to take Kings on, and build it into a strong viable school. We've seen one lot of common sense, now please can we see another bout and make Kings an academy!
GREAT NEWS FOR TCOTE NOW LETS DO THE RIGHT THING
FOR KINGS TOO, THANK YOU CAM SO VERY MUCH
I, as a Toms parent, would like to thank CAM including all the Kings parents who helped make this happen. Truly grateful. KEEP KINGS !
Thank you, thank you, thank you CAM and the Governors too! A massive relief all round and a fantastic result, common sense did prevail! The battle is indeed won but the war must continue to get King's the Academy it so deserves. This whole saga has had one great outcome in that it has forged such good relationships with Kings and the King's parents and that has been a tremendous achievement ! Keep Kings as an Academy and then we can have one huge party!
CAM let us know what we need to do next, you have our continued support. We might not be Kings parents but we'll happily contribute again to any further fundraising to KEEP KINGS.
YESTERDAY CAM ATTENDED THE LOCAL SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING AND RAISED THE FOLLOWING QUESTION
Thank you, councillors, for supporting the aims of CAM (Campaign Against Merger)
Will local councillors go further than the statement "for the council to work with LOCAL education providers", and instead, support Kings International College becoming an Oasis Academy and so become part of that NATIONAL organisation and enable our children to have a choice of quality education in Surrey Heath?
And, until the conversion, will the local councillors be ensuring that Surrey County Council have a marketing strategy in place, before the end of this term, to promote recruitment of pupils to Kings.
KINGS YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT – CAM WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL AND VIABLE FUTURE FOR KINGS INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE
Louise Nicholas
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