Dr Thomlinson’s CE Middle School
Minutes of Governors Meeting re Alnwick Partnership Consultation
26 February 2015 – 4.00 pm
Present:
Andrew Johnson – Director of Education and Skills
Sue Aviston – Schools Capital and Strategy Officer
Lorraine Fife – School Organisation Officer/Note taker
Also Present:
Governors of Dr Thomlinson’s CE Middle School (including
Headteacher, Mr Liam Murtagh)
AJ made the introductions and explained the reasons for the meeting. He gave the
standard presentation and outlined the 3 Options that were currently being consulted
on for the Alnwick Partnership. AJ also advised that although there were currently 3
Models further Models/ideas could be submitted.
Following the presentation there was a question/discussion session:
Governor
I understand that a school has the ability to change its age range, but
what about changing its catchment area?
SA
This would not usually be supported because of the impact on
transport arrangements.
Governor
Parents can make a decision in relation to what school they want, but
the problem is transport to their chosen school.
AJ
Suggestions for changes to catchment areas could be put forward –
this might reflect the true picture of the flow of children better.
Head
It would be good if catchment areas reflected parental choice.
AJ
We couldn’t guarantee catchments would be changed, but can be an
issue. However, parental choice can be fickle e.g. reaction to Ofsted
judgements.
SA
Even a change in the Headteacher can impact parental choice.
AJ
Some parents send children outside of the Alnwick Partnership but
make sure they bring them back to The Duchess’ High School –
structures can be a barrier.
Governor
Re the proposal for Branton and Whittingham, no longer funding
transport to Glendale Middle would prevent parental choice.
Governor
Transport should support parental choice.
AJ
The problem would be that 5000 pupils in the County would want to go
to KEVI High School – obviously not affordable for the Council. Some
parents are happy to transport their children to outstanding schools.
Governor
Another issue is Year 7 and 8 children – they wouldn’t be able to take
part in extra-curricular sports activities if they were schooled further
away.
Governor
That happens at this school also.
Governor
Have you been asked by any of the Morpeth First Schools about 2-tier?
AJ
Not formally. It’s difficult for teachers because of the community
dimension. I have to look at education impartially, but Headteachers
are in a difficult position. Often there may be different views between a
Headteacher and the Governors.
Governor
If Swarland First School goes Primary, we could get some pupils
coming into this school in Year 5, some in Year 6 and some in Year 7.
Is that not really disruptive?
AJ
That would be parental choice – I can’t prevent that.
Governor
If the argument is to have fewer transitions, there could potentially be
more disruption.
AJ
Some people think transition is not a problem. It can’t be disruptive and
not a problem at the same time.
Governor
In Morpeth, with Chantry and Newminster Middle Schools on the same
site – it’s a false dichotomy as they are both in 3 Rivers Academy Trust.
AJ
It’s not really about 3-tier, but about sites. Some middle schools
operate a Primary model in Years 5 and 6 and others operate a
secondary model. Lindisfarne Middle School has now adopted a
primary teaching model in Years 5 and 6.
Governor
What are important are standards. Structures are a distraction from
school improvement.
Governor
Option B could be tweakable. It wouldn’t necessarily work as it stands.
AJ
Hopefully, when the Governing Body of the Aln Federation submit their
response, they will make it clear what their view is.
Governor
It is a bad solution to go from one split-site situation to another.
AJ
You can get staff to walk between sites.
Governor
There is variability across transition stages, you are dealing with
different levels.
AJ
There is no debate about variability, but about accuracy. For example,
the First Schools are accused by middle schools of being overgenerous and they middle schools in turn are accused of being overgenerous by high schools. It’s a blame culture. Also, the Government
are getting rid of assessment levels so the debate will be empty.
Governor
We want to maintain and improve our current offer as First and Middle
schools. We want to provide the opportunity for Swarland children to
continue to come to Dr Thomlinson’s.
AJ
That will be noted but you should also complete a response form. The
Government elected in May will also have an influence on what
happens to schools in Northumberland.
Governor
There is little evidence that schools that have changed to Academies
have improved.
AJ
There is no evidence either way. Same as maintained schools. The
performance in some parts of this county is weak, but the 2-tier
structure isn’t necessarily the answer.
Governor
What works for one school doesn’t work for another. You are
effectively consulting with the Morpeth Partnership. We would like the
catchment area of Swarland First School to wholly be within Dr
Thomlinson’s catchment.
AJ
Swarland First School would also need to put that proposal forward.
Governor
Given that 2-tier reorganisation would cost money, would that restrict
support that may have gone to other schools?
SA
We (Council) receive funding from the Government for capital
investment. Church schools receive money through the LCVAP route.
We have received more funding from the Government this year, so
there is an extra £5m – this means there is a total of £9m to use across
schools strategically.
Governor
There must be a lot of officers time spent on this process.
AJ
Yes, a lot and attention has been diverted from other areas.
Governor
This debate seems to come up every 5 or 10 years.
AJ
The system may change whatever the decision made by Councillors,
e.g. some schools may go on to change their age range themselves.
Perhaps the Local Authority interfering is getting in the way, but some
schools may suffer if a structured approach is not taken. The point of
consultation is to look at the big picture.
Head
At the Swarland consultation, parents wanted to take the Dr
Thomlinson route if it remained open.
AJ
Apologies, I didn’t mean to infer anything about this school – there is no
proposal regarding Dr Thomlinson’s. The council has a deliberate
policy of supporting small schools to stay open because of the
geography. However, some school’s situation changes e.g. being
placed in Special Measures.
Head
This is an unsettling time for staff; I’ve spoken to other middle schools
heads who have said the first schools wouldn’t want middle school
staff. The fall-out will be enormous; if the reasons for consultation was
to get the debate out of the way, this may not happen.
Governor
If the Partnership wanted consultation, the council had no choice.
AJ
The council couldn’t ignore the wish of 17 schools to consult. Teachers
know that uncertainty goes with the territory in Northumberland, there
are recruitment problems again due to the geography.
Governor
There is a limit as to how much people can travel to work.
AJ
One of my new commissioners is a middle school head. But the antimiddle school campaign say that recruitment is a problem. 140 Local
authorities out of 150 are 2-tier. This immediately reduces the pool of
candidates – not the quality of people, just the numbers.
Governor
Should KS tests disappear, does that then remove the issues around 3tier/2-tier?
AJ
Levels are disappearing, but the new Government might decide to carry
on with them.
Governor
These proposals are justifying change because of targets in a changing
landscape.
AJ
If the first and middle schools agree with each other on where the
children are at the end of Year 4, then there isn’t a problem – otherwise
it will be difficult. I’m relieved levels are going.
Governors
Thank you for coming today.
The meeting closed at 5.42 p.m.