Tomlinscote
Press
Release..
CAM welcomes this press release which addresses and highlights many of the areas that we have been campaigning for since last March when the consultation process started as an important first step towards securing a firm future for Kings International College . Since June when it was agreed that the merger would not be going ahead CAM have been working to ensure that Kings has a sustainable future and to enable Kings to retain its distinctive offering and character. We have also been raising our concerns about the lack of strategic direction and mission statement for the current soft federation arrangement between Tomlinscote School and Kings International College. Key members of CAM have held meetings with Ian Hylan Executive Head Tomlinscote School and Kings International, Bob Paton Chair of Governors Tomlinscote School, Nick Wilson Head of Childrens Services at Surrey County Council, Michael Gove MP and various county and Surrey Heath Borough councillors.
· CAM believes in choice for parents within the secondary sector.
· CAM wants three secondary schools in Surrey Heath.
· CAM has been asking for a definition of the soft federation and to have a strategic plan which is accessible for parents.
· CAM is concerned that failure to address the future rise in population now when making a decision on secondary provision would have created future issues.
· CAM is keen that the soft federation ensures that both schools continue to enhance their educational standards.
· CAM wanted the long term educational interests of the children of Surrey Heath to be factored into the decision made.
· CAM has been highlighting to the decision makers that the current structure of the soft federation, its purpose, objectives and strategic direction are not available for public scrutiny.
· CAM supports the preservation of the distinctive ethos within each school.
· CAM believes the autonomy of both schools is important to ensure the two schools do not homogenise into one large school.
· CAM wanted the budgets of both schools to remain separate
· CAM supports each school maintaining separate responsibility and accountability for the education provided.
CAM would now like to see a firm financial commitment from Surrey County Council to support the five year plan which has been agreed by the Governing Bodies of Tomlinscote School and Kings International College. Financial security is key to the success of this arrangement as stated in the schools press release. This financial provision needs to be tied down and secured to enable the soft federation to move forward on a secure financial as well as an educational basis.
CAM have been campaigning for parents to be a part of the decision making process in deciding how the secondary education provision moves forward within Surrey Heath. We welcome Michael Gove’s MP comment that he:
‘now expects the council and the schools to engage parents in the process from here.’
CAM looks forward to the school, Governing Body and SCC detailing how this engagement will be effected.
CAM would welcome the opportunity to engage fully in that process and would urge all parents to take an active interest. As part of that process we would like to see
· the distinctive character and ethos of each school written into the documentation
· The strategic plans for both schools to be published to parents including budgets, staffing structures and role responsibilities.
· Detailed specification of the soft federation and its objectives with a time line.
· Financial and Resource constraints to be published.
· Soft Federation Management Plan specifying how the soft federation will be managed, and reported on, to ensure the objectives are met and the constraints complied with.
· Progress against objectives and compliance matters to be regularly reported on with transparency delivered via Governors minutes within part 1 for all matters relating to the soft federation.
We look forward to engaging in this process moving forward.
Louise Nicholas
Chair CAM
