Tomlinscote Ofsted - Next Week

Parental questionnaire to be filled out and handed to school on Monday morning.  You can hand the forms directly to the "Data Entry Administrator" (i.e. in person) on the morning of the inspection (Monday 16th) if you wish, it would also be possible to speak to an inspector at that time too.
You can click on the picture of the form to find a document to print if the school did not provide you with one.

For my own personal point of view I am particularly interested in question

11. The school takes account of my questions and concerns.

Frankly I feel that the Governing Body and Head Teacher have failed massively in their duty to engage with parents.  I started out by being disappointed that they were not more proactive and have evolved that frustration to a position where I feel they are either incompetent in dealing with the situation or are being deliberately obstructive.  From me that will get a "Strongly Disagree" and a lengthy explanation of why I feel that way.

12.  The school is led and managed effectively.

Until recently I saw no reason to imagine that it was not effectively managed so it is tempting to be charitable here but then I feel you should be judged not on what happens when things run smoothly but rather what happens when you are placed under pressure.  The Executive Principal and Governing body have NOT "managed effectively" the suggested "merger" and so with apologies to those in the Senior Management Team and Governors who are trying to do the best I'm afraid it will again be a "Strongly Disagree" again.  I do not know the exact factors that cause the SMT and Governors to have so badly mismanaged this but the outcome has not been good.

It is with a great reluctance that I make comments that reflect poorly on the school but given that we have REPEATEDLY given chances for the SMT / Governors to engage with parents and they have failed - the only avenue left is to complain to someone who will force them to change.

I am sure that other people will have a variety of different viewpoints on this and you can reflect whatever viewpoint you have on the private form that you hand in.  This form does not have to be signed.  I encourage you to fill the form out with your views and hand it in regardless of whether you agree with me or not.

best wishes

Ian Sorby

Inundated SCC fails Customer Promise

http://keepkings.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/inundated-scc-fails-customer-promise/

New head of school at Kings International

The new head of Kings International College is Judith Langley.

http://www.roseberyschool.co.uk/Our_Staff

http://www.rosebery.surrey.sch.uk/documents/Letter%20190410%20re%20Judith.pdf

Online petition form is now available

CAM - petition statements

At the CAM Launch Meeting yesterday evening, (10th May), attendees were given the opportunity to indicate their agreement with up to three petition statements.

These were:
I support CAM objectives of Stopping the Merger and Retaining Choice
I am greatly concerned that the proposed merger will greatly increase traffic congestion and I would like a traffic survey to be carried out
I would like CAM to ask Oasis to explore the feasibility of Kings International becoming an Academy.

Of the 422 forms completed and returned so far:

412 attendees indicated their support for petition statement number 1,

401 attendees indicated their support for petition statement number 2,

373 attendees indicated their support for CAM to ask OASIS to explore the feasibility of Kings International becoming an academy, petition statement 3.

Forms continue to be received so these figures will be updated from time to time.

For those who were not at the meeting and who would like to complete a form, the form will be made available on this blog in the near future.

Update:
Online petition form is now available
End Update:

These figures clearly demonstrate the very high level of disagreement with the proposed merger within the community and validate CAMs status as an organisation which represents the views of both parents and the local community.

Robert Raymont

More info on this on the KeepKings.org website

CAM Meeting - Photo Blog on Surrey Heath Residents site.

Surrey Heath Residents - Blog Site coverage of CAM meeting.

CAM Lakeside meeting a fantastic success

The CAM Team have been working on a presentation for a couple of weeks to just let everyone know what CAM is all about, what we have been doing behind the scenes to date, what we plan to do going forward and how other people can help and get involved.

There was a big risk involved in running the meeting. We had been offered a choice of two rooms by Lakeside – one with a maximum capacity of 400 people and one with a much larger capacity. As a group we did not want to risk having to turn people away and as such we planned our event for the larger venue.


At 7:30pm we were forced to delay the start of the meeting by 10 minutes to allow for the queue of cars to park up and for people to get inside the venue. Estimations of people attending were 600+.

The presentation was carried out by three members of the CAM team – Louise Nicholas, Barbara Lapthorn and Bob Garrett, plus a short presentation from Steve Chalke from Oasis. Other members of the team supported the event and all were visible in their Orange T-Shirts.

The CAM team were complimented on providing such an informative, inspiring presentation. Everyone in the room left feeling very positive that this proposal certainly was not a done deal.

The Question and Answer session was an opportunity for people to highlight issues or ask for clarification or opinions on certain areas. The team were able to respond to all the questions and we will publish a list of those questions and answers on this blog shortly.

After the event there was an opportunity to have a chat with CAM members, Councillors and generally share concerns amongst like minded people. People were asked to complete a petition form which helps us to understand more fully the areas which are of interest to the wider group and give us the mandate to represent them fully.






There was also an area to detail any skills that individuals are able to offer to the campaign. These forms can be completed by people who did not attend and they can be scanned and sent back via the blog or handed directly to any of the current CAM Team. The attendees were invited to make a small donation to the CAM fund. There will shortly be a paypal link on the blog, but in the meantime people are welcome to donate via cash or cheque (payable to Campaign against Merger). Donations can be made via any member of the CAM Team or a postal address can be supplied on request.




We would like to thank Lakeside for their kind donation of the facilities. We are also grateful for the support we have received in terms of printing of leaflets, distributing of leaflets and the time and energy that the team have put into preparation of this event. During the organisation the team have had obstacles thrown in their path again and again and each time, as a team, we have dealt with them and overcome them, and as result we have become stronger as a team. Now that we have the support of the wider community we are even more positive that this campaign will be successful and by working together we will remain separate.



I attach a copy of the presentation for information.

Meeting Presentation can be found here.

Regards,

Claire

Parents meet in opposition over Surrey Heath school merger

http://www.964eagle.co.uk/news/review.php?article=423329


6:18am 11th May 2011.

Hundreds of parents have met in Frimley as they protest against the merger of two schools in Surrey Heath.

They discussed council plans to unite Kings International and Tomlinscote.

Louise Nicholas is Chair of CAM; a group set up by parents from both schools - opposed to the merger.

She says the council's literature on the issue isn't convincing: "Currently, I haven't actually had any particular argument put to me that would persuade me that this is actually in the educational interests of our children.

"There is a lot of talk about money but not very much about education."

Surrey County Council says there aren't enough students to warrant both schools.

We have a Voice

Eagle Radio news article

Public Meeting Video Blog.

The Chair of CAM Louise Nicholas talks to Surrey Heath Residents about the public meeting.

Video Blog

SurreyCC traffic and lack of joined up thinking!

I just received this mail..


I wanted to alert you to the planning permission granted by SHBC to BAE to build a new HQ in Lyon Way which could staff up to 4,000 employees, with only some 800 car parking spaces allowed.

So how will 4,000 employees travel to Lyon Way, and where will they park? I suggest that an extra 3,000 cars may need to be allowed for along the roads surrounding Frimley. Plus the schools traffic. This will make it impossible for emergency services to reach anywhere locally – or gain access in parked up roads.

Plus, the BAE HQ will be built on the unique and narrow flood plain of the River Blackwater which extends beyond the Frimley Road to the Cadet Centre and Kings School. This will depress an overburdened water table and drainage systems will be unable to cope. Flooding will build under the Motorway Bridge, impacting the bridge supports, and increase across Kings – so the school will regularly be inaccessible after heavy rains.

I hope this isn't true, because if it is then it means that SurreyCC is guilty of breathtaking incompetence.  Nobody will be able to move around Frimley and the Millions of pounds Frimley Park Hospital is putting into traffic management will be fighting a losing battle.

*shakes head* 

Consultation document is out.

It can be found HERE

Please be sure that you have adequate information to complete the consultation response form before doing so. We believe that there is a lot of information missing from the report. We have already started to try and get hold of some of the info and we know others will be doing likewise. People's responses may be very different if they have all the info.

We are a little bit disappointed with the "leading" nature of the questions. The document needs great care to be taken to make sure you are selecting a choice that reflects your views.

Lakeside Meeting 10th - Wish I could be there.

If you are a Kings or Tomlinscote parent and are worried about the future of your childs school I'm sure you will be anxious to hear what is being done to keep the two school open and as distinctive schools both with excellent education.  The alternatives suggested so far by SurreyCC are not apealing (we are still waiting for their actual proposals despite their promise it would be out by now).

Equally if you are a resident or work in Frimley and are worried about the impact of traffic that this will cause I'm sure you will be equally interested in what the CAM group has to say.

Despite what we keep on being told there ARE some very real alternatives that would see Kings continue and thrive as a separate school - it is NOT a "done deal" you need to continue to engage with the process and make your views heard - the details of which will be provided at the meeting.  Progress so far has been good in that the strength of public feeling is now well known to local, county and even government level politicians.  While some of the players motivating for the merger are trying ever harder to be obstructive and spread "fear uncertainty and doubt" even going as far as to threaten people!  .. this suggests to me that even they don't believe its a "done deal" any more either.

I'm proud to be associated with the other members of the CAM group and the hard work they are putting into fighting for educational choice and a strong future for the children of the area. Please make sure you come along and support US at Lakeside on the 10th.

I've been overwhelmed by the expressions of support we have recieved and I was really looking forward to meeting and talking to you in person, so I'm upset that due to a long standing business commitment I will not be able to be there.

Enjoy the meeting!


Ian Sorby..

Kings (good, good, good) - Offsted inspection.

Kings International College had an Ofsted monitoring inspection in early April and the report is now available at the Ofsted website and on the college website.
http://www.kings-international.co.uk/newsarticle.aspx?newsid=81
Judgements in the monitoring report are “good”.  The whole team from the leadership of IEB through the hard working staff and the supporting external organisations get a glowing report. Ofsted has identified the remaining areas of attention and seems satisfied the IEB will deliver.

http://keepkings.org

Leaflets and posters for meeting

Posters and leaflets have been distributed to advertise the Public meeting.  The meeting will contain items of interest to Kings and Tomlinscote parents as well as other interested parties such as residents and local business.

Make sure you don't miss out on the meeting on the 10th.

One Size does not fit all

Amusing post on keepkings.org

One Size does not fit all

;-)

Crab and Dragon Public House gets behind the CAM campaign.

The landlady ‘Amy’ of the Crab and Dragon, (Frimley Road) was happy to help, letting us erect a sign for the Public meeting this Tuesday.

Amy said ‘a lot of her regulars are Parents, residents and teachers from the Kings and the local area, they are all concerned with the current proposal and want alternatives’

The public meeting at Lakeside on the 10th is drawing near and CAM put up a poster outside the "Crab and Dragon" near Kings. There will be some valuable information for Kings and Tomlinscote parents at the meeting inlcuding some real reasons why Kings does not have to close.