Surrey Heath Borough Council - local elections 5th May.

Please can you email your local candidates and ask them what their position is on the Tomlinscote - Kings merger and the traffic it will cause stating your opinion.

http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/council/councillorsrepresentatives/FindCouncillor.htm

It may be mercenary but I'll vote for whoever supports my viewpoint on this issue.

Ian..

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Councillors for: FRIMLEY
Hamiliton, David 34 Hillcrest Road Camberley Surrey GU15 1LG
Email: David.Hamiliton@surreyheath.gov.uk
Mansell, Bruce 32 Stoneleigh Court Frimley Surrey GU16 8XH
Email: Bruce.Mansell@surreyheath.gov.uk
Sams, Ian 15 Stoneleigh Court Frimley Camberley Surrey GU16 8XH
Email: Ian.Sams@surreyheath.gov.uk

Councillors for: FRIMLEY GREEN
Clark, Duncan 163 Frimley Green Road Frimley Green Camberley Surrey GU16 6JX
Email: Duncan.Clark@surreyheath.gov.uk
Patterson, Anji Chez Nous Bedford Crescent Frimley Green Surrey
Email: Anji.Patterson@surreyheath.gov.uk
Whittart, Alan 9 Garrick Way Frimley Green Camberley Surrey GU16 6LY
Email: Alan.Whittart@surreyheath.gov.uk

Councillors for: MYTCHETT AND DEEPCUT
Drew, Mike 15 Hazel Road Mytchett Camberley Surrey GU16 6BA
Email: Mike.Drew@surreyheath.gov.uk
Fennell, Craig Holmwood Beech Road Frimley Green Camberley GU16 6LQ
Email: craig.fennell@surreyheath.gov.uk
Whitcroft, David 57 Queensway Frimley Green Camberley Surrey GU16 6QB
Email: David.Whitcroft@surreyheath.gov.uk

Councillors for: HEATHERSIDE
Cullen, Ian 2 Connop Way Frimley Camberley Surrey GU16 8RX
Email: ian.cullen@surreyheath.gov.uk
Ilnicki, Paul 17 Cumberland Road Camberley Surrey GU15 1SF
Email: Paul.Ilnicki@surreyheath.gov.uk
Pearce, Patricia 27 Copped Hall Way Camberley Surrey GU15 1PB
Email: Patricia.Pearce@surreyheath.gov.uk

Councillors for: PARKSIDE
Harding, Beverley Robins 17 Falmouth Close Camberley Surrey GU15 1EA
Email: Beverley.Harding@surreyheath.gov.uk
Hawkins, Josephine 4 Old Portsmouth Road Camberley Surrey GU15 1JJ
Email: Josephine.Hawkins@surreyheath.gov.uk
Hawkins, Edward 4 Old Portsmouth Road Camberley Surrey GU15 1JJ
Email: Edward.Hawkins@surreyheath.gov.uk

Councillors for: WATCHETTS
Chaudry, Mohammad Bag End 9 Krooner Road Camberley Surrey GU15 2QP
Email: Mohammad.Chaudry@surreyheath.gov.uk
May, John 2 Belmont Mews Camberley Surrey GU15 2PH
Email: John.May@surreyheath.gov.uk

Councillors for: ST. PAULS
Chapman, Bill 41 Hillcrest Road Camberley Surrey GU15 1LF
Email: bill.chapman@surreyheath.gov.uk
Chapman, Vivienne 41 Hillcrest Road Camberley Surrey GU15 1LF
Email: Vivienne.Chapman@surreyheath.gov.uk
Roxburgh, Audrey 38 Hillcrest Road Camberley Surrey GU15 1LG
Email: Audrey.Roxburgh@surreyheath.gov.uk

Councillors for: TOWN
Brooks, Richard Heatherbank Cottage 11 Church Hill Camberley Surrey GU15 2HA
Email: Richard.Brooks@surreyheath.gov.uk
Pedder, Ken 1 Ingle Dell Camberley Surrey GU15 2LP
Email: Ken.Pedder@surreyheath.gov.uk

Councillors for: ST. MICHAELS
Dougan, Colin 26 Southwell Park Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3QQ
Email: colin.dougan@surreyheath.gov.uk
Foale, Simon Red Cottage 33 Woodlands Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3ND
Email: simon.foale@surreyheath.gov.uk

Question Time with Michael Gove

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/camberley/events/292434/question-time-with-michael-gove-mp

When	08 Apr 2011 19:30 - 22:00
Where	Camberley
	High Cross Church Konll Road ,GU15 3SY

This is a fund raising event for local charity, Connect.
Question Time with Michael Gove MP
This is a fund raising event for local charity, Connect.
A question time style event with Michael Gove and a panel which includes Labour Councillor Rodney Bates, Head of Tomlinscote/Kings International College Tony Ryles, High Sheriff Rob Douglas and ex-Army and Businessman John Fairley.
The evening will consist of light and entertaining debate and discussion around 'The Big Society' with an opportunity to take questions from the audience.
Event organised by Connect Christian Counselling Service Cathie Russell, Director
A retiring Collection will be taken at the end of the evening
Contact 01276 24210 cathie.russell@btconnect.com
08 April 2011 19:30 - 22:00

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From: tomlinscote kings <tomlinscote.kings@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Subject: Info for 08 April High Cross Church
To: sp@jfpstrategic-planning.co.uk, admin@douglas-associates.eu, rodney.bates@surreyheath.gov.uk, michael.gove.mp@parliament.uk, office@tomlinscote.surrey.sch.uk

Michael Gove, John Fairley, Rob Douglas, Rodney Bates, Tony Ryles,

08 Apr 2011 19:30 - 22:00

Some info that might be useful for you to view before the meeting as questions will certainly come up on this subject.

http://tomlinscote-kings.blogspot.com/

bregds
Ian..

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Interestingly a link that DID contain details about this meeting has been deleted from Surrey Heath Councils web site mmmm odd!
The following link goes nowhere because someone has deleted it....
http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/events/event.htm?mode=3&pk_events=2703&contrast=off

Michael Gove - says make sure he understands your wishes

Please give the man what he requests.

http://surreyheath-residents.co.uk/2011/03/25/video-blog-michael-gove-mp-on-tomlinscotekings-merger/

and make sure everyone else knows what you think too!

Contacts

Access to information - are we going to have to use FOI

OK so we have not had the initial information meetings yet but SurreyCC, the Governors and the School(s) are being somewhat less than helpful or free with information.  The team doing research for this site are encountering slow or no response to requests for information.

It is proving for example very difficult to get access to the Tomlinscote Governors meeting minutes for the last year - the furthest that anyone has got is that they could come into school and view them.  If we all wish to see them that is going to be a slow process indeed.

This is from  ‘A guide to the law for School Governors’   

http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/doc/g/guide to the law for school governors.doc

MINUTES AND PAPERS

66.       The clerk must ensure that minutes are drawn up, approved by the governing body and are signed by the chair at the next meeting.

67.       Regulation 13 of the Procedures Regulations provides that the governing body must make available for inspection, to any interested person, a copy of the agenda, signed minutes and reports or papers considered at the meeting as soon as is reasonably practical. Information relating to a named person or any other matter that the governing body considers confidential does not have to be made available for inspection. Since January 2005 the governing body is obliged to make this information available upon request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, unless any other of the specific exemptions in that Act apply. Therefore, the governing body will only be able to withhold information that constitutes personal data or confidential information, in each case, within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act (see guidance available on GovernorNet).

Make available for inspection is what they are doing. Less than helpful though.

Perhaps if there is enough demand we could ask for PDFs or the like to be made available. They must have the material in Word or some electronic format already, so not a huge task.

In any case they (School, LEA, Governors) need to put in place some sort of organisation to facilitate interaction and communication with parents.

After all we have not even got into requesting the real details of the planning / costing etc. all the supporting documentation we would need to analyse their case. How are we going to get to fully understand the workings of their proposals if the relevant documents are hidden away?

Surrey Heath Residents Site - Video Blog

Well there is no longer any reason not to tell you at least one of the people behind this site.  My name is Ian Sorby I am the parent of two children, one in Tomlinscote year 9, and another due to start next year.  I am very concerned about these proposals and I want to provide an information service so that people can be as informed as possible in their decision, regardless of the conclusion they personally reach.
I am against the rumoured proposals of a split-site solution on many levels.  I am concerned about the disruption to my childrens education and to the impact these proposals will have on the local area.  While obviously I am interested in how these proposals affect me and my family I actually am VERY concerned that these proposals are not a good solution regardless of the school that peoples children attend, in fact I think it it is bad for Frimley even if you don't have children!

Please see my video blog here..

http://surreyheath-residents.co.uk/2011/03/24/video-blog-tomlinscote-kings-merger-oposition-group/

I also urge you to call for a traffic study..

http://petitions.surreyheath.gov.uk/TrafficStudy/

I look forward to working with you in the coming months.

Ian..

Excellent post from Kings Parent

I have had a number of emails from Kings parents asking that Tomlinscote parents be sensitive about this subject see a couple below.  I thought that this post was particularly excellent..

http://www.camberleypeople.co.uk/groups/education/Letter-Kings-Parent-merger/story-10865991-detail/story.html

The attitude of some children and parents posting on facebook does not bode well for a smooth combination of the schools.  Ofsetds critical report of Kings has so much to answer for it has skewed the intake so that few people want to go there and given people the erroneous impression that there is nothing good about Kings.  The Ofsted report / league table system boils down the very complex issue of education into a almost binary Good/Bad tag - this ludicrous over simplification has the effect of ensuring failure for schools that are identified as having challenges and ensuring success for those tagged as being above average.  Success in life cannot be framed as simplistically as educational achievement - yesterday my boss phoned me to ask what qualifications I had as he needed to fill some paperwork out for my promotion.  I was embarrassed when I told him what I had, despite having a degree most people around me have Phd's and more.  After getting off the phone it occurred to me that HIS qualifications to be in his position were similar to mine - a track record of industry experience and getting things done.  Neither of us was defined by our qualifications.  While people are simplistically evaluating a school on its ability to grind out A*'s they might stop to consider the number of graduates out of work or in low paid jobs.   Schools should be judged on their ability to turn out valuable members of society and on their "value add" not on pure A*'s.  Compare and contrast the fate of some graduates with a scenario of someone who leaves school at 16 and becomes a gas fitters apprentice moving on in time to have their own van.  Working hard they could soon find themselves successful enough to be paying a rather lot of 40% tax - the academic route is not for everyone and does not ensure success in life.

Please also see a couple of letters I received:-

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On Sat, Mar 19, 2011 at 6:00 PM, REMOVED wrote:


Hi, in this day and age with crime, bullying etc I dont think 12 year olds should really be walking home alone. I lived in Lightwater and went to Collingwood, the whole of Lightwater which is huge gets on a free bus to Collingwood - its safe and no parent even needs to get in a car. You could charge parents the cost of the journey without making a profit or just pay for it. I dont see why a bus could not go from Heatherside to Tomlinscote. Lots of parents drive now that could put their children on the bus.


Also with all the amount of new houses popping up the extra building could cater for all the new children attending the schools. Surely in 5 years time with all the new houses, Tomlinscote and Collingwood would not be able to take them as they are over subscribed now.....


I think parents should chill out a little about this proposal and think about what can be done to make the transition smooth and what benefits it could have, rather than think negative all the time. Alot of parents are probably very angry because they have moved to the "Tomlinscote" catchement area so their children can go to Tomlinscote - if this proposal goes ahead they would have wasted their money - many being an extra morgage of 60K!


Kind Regards
REMOVED


Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:30:15 +0000
Subject: Re: michael.gove.mp@parliament.uk, andrew.povey@surreycc.gov.uk
From: tomlinscote.kings@gmail.com
To: REMOVED


Thanks for your input - I actually think it will mean MORE traffic not less but I'm sure a scientific study could be done to deduce the real answer one way or another. As regards the quality of education of children this has to be an important issue, whatever is best for the welfare of the children as a whole is what needs to be pursued. If the quality of education needs to raised at Kings then it needs to be worked on. If the council has given up on Kings and wants the students to become part of Tomlinscote and Collingwood that may be a good idea but disrupting a perfectly well run school and all its children by relocating them is at least in the short term a disaster.


all the best.


On Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 12:16 PM, REMOVED wrote:


Hi, I would like to say what a fab idea it is that Kings college merges with Tomlinscote. Why should an under performing school continue? It will reduce the amount of cars parked at Tomlinscote and driving very near a busy area ( the hospital ) and therefore reduce the chaos round there. Also for all the children currently walking to Tomlinscote that need to get in the car there are the other half of children who can walk that currenlty get in the car!!


I think it is disgusting that Watchetts school is doing so badly and Kings and actually doing something about it - people want to appose! They are only doing this because it does not suit them, they are not thinking about all the poor children that are getting a rubbish education in these schools.


I'm all for it!


On Sat, Mar 19, 2011 at 8:26 PM, tomlinscote kings <tomlinscote.kings@gmail.com> wrote:


The proposal will see children from both areas travelling backwards and forwards. I agree that if that IS the way to go that a bus service should be provided, I believe that Tomlinscote governors have said this is a requirement. I also know that SurreyCC is trying to axe the bus services they provide for faith schools so if they promise to provide a bus it is not a promise that will last long. I also agree that the traffic currently is stupid and that parents driving their kids to school is bad, my kids currently live 5 mins walk from school - if this goes ahead I will have to drive them as I would be too scared to let my daughter walk 40 mins to and 40 mins from school.


My biggest concern personally is the disruption not to my son (year 9) but to my daughter (next year 7 currently 6) she will have 2 school moves in 5 years ... a year in Tomlinscote, 2 years at Kings site then back to Tomlinscote site for 2 years.


Tomlinscote is 5 mins walk, Kings is 40 mins walk across several busy roads.


House prices - yup I'm sure there are plenty of people who may be sore about that (even some without kids) but for me I bought my house because I liked it and the area so I'm not sore even if this proposal goes ahead.


Bottom line I'm concerned about the major disruption to about 2500 childrens educations. Whatever is done needs to ensure the best education with the least distractions for ALL of them.


Whatever happens I'm sure it will upset someone I just hope some sort of compromise can be reached that makes everyone reasonably happy.


bregds

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From: REMOVED
Date: Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 9:10 AM
Subject: Kings
To: "tomlinscote.kings@gmail.com" <tomlinscote.kings@gmail.com>


I've been reading your blog and can I ask you please to consider the kings parents when posting?


I, as a kings parent had to put up with a huge amount of abuse about my childrens abilities from tomlinscote parents and students in various forums. Kings parents care just as passionately about their children's education and there is a real risk of any debate disintegrating into abuse as has been seen already.


There's good and bad in both schools. Who knows, the bright students from kings might even have a positive impact on tomlinscote!


From: tomlinscote kings <tomlinscote.kings@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 5:45 PM
Subject: Re: Kings
To: REMOVED


I absolutely agree with you. I want to see a solution that protects
my childrens education. My main objection is the split site that
means both T an K children will have to travel and transfer schools
during their education. I also worry that the restructuring will
cause standards to drop in both schools.


I have an agenda with the blog but if you want to write me a piece
from your point of view I'm happy to publish it.


I cannot protect you from what is written on facebook but I can make
you a promise that the blog will be sensitive to Kings parents.

Michael Gove - careful reply from a man with plenty to lose

Here is the standardised letter that Mr Gove's team is sending in reply to your letters.  I've seen a few and they do differ slightly but the paragraphs on this one are common to all letters.

In some ways I feel sorry for Mr Gove as anything he does here will almost certainly open him to scrutiny at the highest levels.  If he is seen to commit one way or another, even if he does not, the outcome could open him to attack in the mainstream press or at the dispatch box.

The failure of SurreyCC with respect to the performance of Kings International School cannot be placed at Mr Goves door.  Like it or not however, the parents (from Tomlinscote and Kings) demand for him to comment on this issue means he cannot disclaim all responsibility for whatever happens from now on - this may come back to haunt him.

If there is any drop in the "Outstanding" standards at Tomlinscote school due to the massive hiatus that will result from serious restructuring I can see serious questions being asked as to how the Education Secretary could have let this happen on his watch and in his constituency.  It is going to be a little difficult to plead ignorance of the goings on given the number of people who have written to him.  Measuring if Kings students are better off will be almost impossible as Kings would not exist.

Of course it could go the other way and he could claim the credit for a fantastic initiative - who knows.

The other aspect that has huge potential to do damage to the Conservative party is this:-

Insider 2300hrs 17th March 2011: Are Surrey County Council (SCC) pursuing the incorporation of Kings International School into Tomlinscote for the right reasons (for children and parents), or is it purely to head off a fear from the County of a potential Free School bid from an outside party to take over the running of Kings International? The benefit to SCC to keep it in their control would be massive in that the money paid from Central Government to schools would be distributed via County Hall, keeping jobs there, as well as to secure land ownership and assets when increased pupil demand longer term may make both schools viable as seperate entities?


This is obviously a rumour but it paints an intriguing picture.  David Cameron is talking of a "big society" and "smaller government" and encouraging peoples participation.  Meanwhile a conservative council in a safe conservative seat, that of his education secretary no less, may be pursuing a line that makes a mockery of him.  The education secretary Michael Gove is promoting "academies" and "free schools" while, in this case, his own conservative led council maybe following a line that is undermining his departments flagship policy.  Its not too much of a struggle to believe that Surrey County Council does not like the idea of being smaller and having less control and power.  This is before the fact that the plans are likely to cause traffic mayhem in Frimley having a serious impact on both the local business economy and CO2 emissions, a backward step directly contradicting two other rather serious central government policies.

Its not as if this can be painted as a "cost saving" measure when it is suggested to keep both sites and all of the combined teachers - in fact if anything it will add more cost as a £115k pa Super Head is placed above the existing management structure.  Extra building works are needed etc etc.

The "big society" and "small government" ideals are great but there is a huge feeling amongst parents that our voice will not be heard and that the outcome is a done deal.  Where does this place the "big society" policy if a conservative led council is possibly planning to push past a policy that so many people are opposed to while only "going through the motions" of consultation.  Lets face it their communication so far has been dire, the pupils forming intake for next year have not even been informed - if you don't tell people that 6 week consultation process is going to fly by!

Then there is the "conflict of interest" in that the "merger" is supported by SurreyCC and the local LEA who have representation on the board of governors.  I don't believe they should be allowed to vote given that with their publicly stated preference they can hardly be objectively voting in the interests of the school of which they are a governing body.  Tony Ryles has a foot in both camps too so really he has a massive conflict of interest and cannot be considered impartial either - even worse his retirement means that he will not have to preside over whatever he votes for - hardly a vote of confidence.  Perhaps worse still the HEAD of the governors at Tomlinscote Colonel Steel is also on the restructuring committee at Kings - If the Head of the Governors has a conflict of interest I can see why people feel the consultation process is irrelevant and a done deal.  The wording of Mr Goves letter does nothing to reassure me that he has not known about this for quite some time, which makes him uncomfortably close to the gentle setting up of this direction with a "Soft Federation" and the shared management and voting structure.

Get this wrong at your peril guys!

Timing of disclosure - does this present a legal claim?

The fact that this was released on the final day for accepting your secondary school place seems to be a fairly cynical move!  How many people may have made a different choice if they knew what was coming down the pipe - effectively we were misled.

Are there any lawyers out there who know how SurreyCC stands legally on this issue?

Update: I received my letter from SurreyCC today (Thursday 24th March 2011 pm) because I have a year 6 child - a week or so after the deadline for accepting school offers.

Facebook Petition

I've just been informed that you can sign a facebook petition here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190058327699422 thanks to Georgia.

Update: Some of the talk on this board is not very nice or constructive - I'm currently talking to Georgia to see if we can find a solution to this - perhaps have someone admin it.

Standardised / example letters of complaint

If anyone would like to write some standardised letters of complaint that people can cut and paste from to make production of their own letters easier that would be great.

If people are prepared to share their own letters this would also serve the same purpose.

Please send suggested letters to tomlinscote.kings@gmail.com and I'll compile a page.  Please state when you send it if you wish to be named or you want your details blanked.  In all cases I will bank out telephone numbers and addresses.

Are Tomlinscote teachers voting with their feet?

Tomlinscote has a crisis teaching wise in the Maths department.  An unprecedented number of teachers have left recently.  An insider has revealed that a couple of members of staff associated with Key Stage 3  will be leaving at the end of the year I'm sure there are more I don't know about.

I had the misfortune to be caught in a company merger once.  The management of the two companies fought, the employees of the two companies fought, morale was awful, work related sickness went through the roof and very little work got done.  The best management and employees left to a rival company and I hear the whole thing went on for about 3 years.

It took me 10 months to "jump ship" but despite the stress I was paid during that period.  Our children (Tomlinscote or Kings) will not have the ability to "jump ship" and will be stuck with this resructuring chaos for their whole time at school.  Maybe this will seem like a good idea in 8+ years time but for the current students and the next few years intake (4000-5000 students) their education will be materially affected.

Update: I have been assured by a source within Tomlinscote school that the issues relating to staffing in the Maths department are not in any way connected with - people voting with their feet.  But it does serve as an example about how a few staff leaving for whatever reason can lead to problems with the provision of lessons.

Are Tomlinscote teachers voting with their feet?