For a £1 you can have your own orange balloon in the CAM Balloon race.
On Friday 10th June at 5:15pm there will be a balloon release from the Crab & Dragon Public House, Frimley Road.
Please buy your balloon (£1) to show your support for CAM. Your message will be attached to your balloon and prizes will be awarded for the balloons that travel furthest before 1st July.
At 4:15pm on Friday 10th June Mr P J Wilkinson (Acting Head of Schools & Learning - Surrey CC) will be walking the 1.8 miles between proposed split sites. He has agreed to carry a weight equivalent to that carried by our children each day and will be joined by Louise Nicholas, Heather Wild and members of CAM. Anyone with concerns or issues is not encouraged to take the walk on this occasion, but to meet at the Crab & Dragon for the balloon release.
The balloon release is just one of the ways in which CAM are looking to raise awareness for the proposed merger and ensure that all stakeholders and interested parties are fully informed of the detrimental effects that this proposal would have on our children's education and quality of life.
What is the balloon race all about? And when is it taking place?
ReplyDeleteWhy only one way?!. Our children are expected to walk everyday both ways not only 1.8 miles but like from my house 2.6 miles.With all this equipment of course. And after walk of 2.6 miles they are expected to focus on their lessons not to rest!
ReplyDeleteHe would be better off starting at Heatherside, where most of the students will be walking from.
ReplyDeletehave to agree 1.8 miles is not what most children will be expected to walk. He should walk there and back as this will be nearer to what my son will be expected to do everyday.(5.8miles return). I hope it pour with rain for his little jaunt.
ReplyDeleteI hope PJ Wilkinson is aware that children from Heatherside will already have walked over a mile when they get to Tomlinscote for the next 1.8 miles.Perhaps he should do the 3 mile uphill walk back to Heatherside.
ReplyDeleteI too think that he should do the full extent of what he is expecting some of our children to do - 2.9 miles there and 2.9 miles back.
ReplyDeleteI also think that he should the weight he carries should be as a proportion of his body weight. For example if the children carry a sixth of their body weight he should carry a sixth of HIS body weight. Normal school bags will be much easier for a fully grown man than for an 11 year old child after all
I understand that it is very generous from PJ even to agree to walk 1.8 miles with some luggage. But we need to remember that he will not be only one who will make the decision for SCC. Btw during the discussion with M. Gove I remember that he promised to delegate someone to represent our interests. Where is this person now. Does anybody know?
ReplyDeleteWell at least Louise, Claire and others managed to force PJ's 'young side-kick' back via Heatherside the last time we did the walk! He must have been 'knackered' as it was a long walk from Tomlinscote and then all the way back via Heatherside. I and others were astounded at the next SCC meeting at LCC when he claimed on being questioned about his 'walk' that, and I quote, 'it was not fine...' He didn't carry any baggage though as he refused!!
ReplyDeleteTo Anon 18:41 M Gove has asked Lord Hill to represent us in the House.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/ministerialteam/hill
Dear All, The walk this afternoon is in direct response to the Heath & Safety Issues raised at several of the Consultation Meetings. Nick suggested that he found the walk relatively easy, and that had been the feedback he had given PJ. The walk with Nick took 2.5 hours as we returned via the alternative route + motorway bridge. Today PJ has agree to carry a weight of 20kg - which is twice what my son would carry to school on a normal day. Louise will tell you that carrying 10kg one way was not at all comfortable. Please bear in mind that our cars will be parked at Tomlinscote, so there is a return journey, it has not yet been decided what this will be as obviously the Balloon Release is key today. This event should be seen as a positive interaction with SCC. Bear in mind that our children carry these weights every day now so this is not something that would be new under a merged school, the focus of the walk is the type of roads we will using, crossing facilities, lack of pavements, additional journeys when we can currently attend our "local" school, effect on quality of life ... need I go on.
ReplyDeletePlease support CAM today
Pj didnt carry the 20 kg weight as he brought along his own miniscule one which didn't weigh a thing and objected to carrying one of the 20kg bags on offer
ReplyDelete