On Thursday May 26th three members of CAM met with Michael Gove at his local surgery in Windlesham. Louise Nicholas Chair of CAM a Tomlinscote parent went with Mark Reynolds a Kings parent, Belinda Tam a local resident and parent of children at Ravenscote and Prior Heath schools to represent the three sections of Surrey Heath on whose behalf CAM are campaigning by "working together to remain separate". Michael listened to our concerns about the leading nature of the consultation document and the content that had been provided. We discussed the lack of emphasis on continued educational outcomes or educational information in general, the lack of full commitment regarding financial information and travel plans. We raised our worries about the speed with which this proposal is being rushed through and the huge impact this split site mega school would have on the children of Surrey Heaths education moving forwards. We talked about the teachers at both schools who deliver the excellent education that our children receive and our concerns that they are not being able to voice their opinions openly. The capability issues of both SCC and the Governing Body of Tomlinscote in overseeing this expansion were discussed. Mark spoke in depth about the excellent work that Kings has done for his child and how the new proposed school could potentially damage all the progress that they have made. As an employee of Frimley Park Hospital he raised his views about the increase in traffic the expansion would cause which is going against the hospitals plans to find innovative ways to reduce traffic around the hospital site. Mark feels passionately that Kings now needs to be given a fresh start under an Academy provider as Surrey County Council do not seem to want the school to succeed. Belinda raised issues from residents perspective and as a feeder school parent regarding choice being diminished and her concerns about the size of the new school, the split site and educational outcomes. Michael asked us what we would consider as alternatives. The two preferred options would be to have an Academy provider who believes in the viability of Kings and wants to build the school from the grass roots and encompass the community or to retain and build on the soft federation with Tomlinscote which has seen such dramatic improvements during the past year. We discussed the fact that Collingwood and Gordon’s Schools were becoming Academies leaving only the newly expanded Tomlinscote under full SCC control and the potential impact this could have on the school. We also talked about the letter sent out from the Collingwood Governing Body and the inappropriate timing of this as feeder school parents of year 6 children who had accepted places at both schools had not been informed of the consultation until May 20th after this letter was circulated and that the Governing Body of Tomlinscote had not spoken to its parents yet and will not be doing so until June 7th. Michael listened carefully to our concerns and agreed that the right decision educationally and not just financially should be made for Surrey Heath. As Michael is unable due to a conflict of interests to give his opinion he advised us that Lord Hill would be assessing the situation and that he had been speaking with Peter Martin the cabinet decision maker for Children and Learning at SCC.
Michael then attended the first public meeting at Lakeside for feeder school parents and listened to the SCC proposal and then spoke with various parents and listened to their views. CAM felt that Michael Gove was genuinely concerned about the issues we face and we would like to thank him for attending the public meeting and meeting CAM at his surgery.
Louise Nicholas Chair CAM
