A little History.

Tomlinscote will start in September with a new Headmaster, a new Chair / vice Chair of Governors and a fresh spring in its step.  Talking to Parents, Staff and Governors I sense an excited expectation that a fresh management team will build on past successes while learning the required lessons from recent events.

The past 3 months and the "consultation" process have been very stressful for all and have been characterised by a lack of information which has created the ideal conditions for "fear, uncertainty and doubt", conspiracy theory and rumour.  A significant amount of factual information has come to light which can be used to shed light on the process by which the "merger" proposals came about.  It is in the public interest to put this behind us.

As Mr Ryles says..

"information will be provided in order for actions taken by individuals and institutions to be seen for what it is, and what it has always been i.e. transparent and honest".

In the spirit that Mr Ryles intended I have published the information so that the public can read through the process.

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The plans for Tomlinscote to "take-over" Kings can be traced back at least as far as 2006 when Tony Ryles drew up the following document while in discussions with Surrey County Council.

In December 2009 Tony Ryles refers to this document in correspondence with SCC's consultancy company Babcock4s saying that "most of the points are still relevant today" he says he has given it "considerable thought" and is "more enthusiastic about the project".

The timeline places us firmly before Tony Ryles took over at Kings under a "soft federation" yet it is clear that the item under discussion is quite definitely a school "take-over" of Kings by Tomlinscote.  This is March 2009 and any neutrality in Mr Ryles' position is difficult to find.

The letter Mr Ryles refers to is interesting in that it states that Surrey County Council had asked him to take a "acting role pending a probable commercial 'external provider' taking responsibility for Kings at a later, but unspecified, date".  Mr Ryles seems to be making his involvement conditional on the promise of his preferred solution "take-over".

An "exceptional and confidential" governors meeting is called to discuss "potential reorganisation within Surrey Heath".  As is abundantly clear from lots of mails only the Chair and Vice Chair are aware of the plans.  Please note the date is still March 2010.

Further correspondance makes it clear that only two Governors know what is really going on.

Some evidence of more Governors being brought into the picture but other signs of exclusion, "there is a strict limit to how much paperwork I would want circulated in advance of the session".

The outcome of the meeting.  A soft federation is two separate financial entities, a hard federation model that would have enabled greater financial freedoms between the two sites was not passed.

Interesting document discussing financial arrangements for education of the 6th form and a reference to maybe just merging the two schools - essentially even further than a "hard federation".

Toward the end of 2010 Mr Ryles and PJ Wilkinson are still struggling with exactly how the "merger" or "hard federation" will look.  There appears to be difficulty for both sides in having their preferred option sanctioned.

More difficulty in bringing those who might sign off on decisions "on board".

Funding for Kings seems to be contingent on sale of Kings land.  So land must be sold to pay off money "advanced" to the school at some point in the future.

Still problems with trying to convince Andrew Povey (Leader of Surrey County Council) and the Governors.

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February 2011 Mr Ryles announces his retirement although the actual reason is unclear.

It is still clear that the vast majority of the Governing body are not informed as to what is going on.

At this point Mr Ryles cites security concerns and starts to use his personal email address.

An initial draft by PJ Wilkinson (before extensive edits by Tony Ryles) paints a very different picture than is presented in the final release.

As the initial letter to parents is drafted by Surrey County Council for their proposal Tony Ryles helps them extensively with the process but is at pains to point out it is "their" process.

Still re-writing the letter and some discussion of Kings employment.

The Pre-consultation meetings are planned.

Mr Ryles gives advice on the meetings and his involvement.

Mr Ryles helps Surrey County Council with the consultation document.

PJ confused about Mr Ryles email identities since Mr Ryles' wife H Jorgensen (his PA and also clerk of Governors) is using Mr Ryles' personal email address.

PJ also says if it was up to him he would close Kings.

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Well done if you made it this far, this represents a taster of the emails and the process that went on.

CAM Working Together to support Kings Future

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