'Schools are not failing'

By [dprince]

HEADTEACHERS have hit back after the Government warned six Plymouth schools to raise exam results or face possible closure.

Education Secretary Ed Balls yesterday launched the £400million 'National Challenge' to improve 638 secondary schools.

Under the scheme, schools where fewer than 30 per cent of youngsters fail to get at least five C grades in their GCSEs, including English and maths, could face closure or being taken over by private firms.

City principals have accused the Government of scaremongering, balked at their colleges being “named and shamed” and slammed the target set as “arbitrary”.

The list includes six of Plymouth's 17 secondary schools: John Kitto Community College, Tamarside Community College, Estover Community College, Lipson Community College, Parkside Community College and Sir John Hunt Community Sports College.

Parkside has already been earmarked for closure due to falling pupil numbers.

Keith Ballance, Tamarside Community College's head, said: “The notion and suggestion that schools are failing is an absolute disgrace.

“To suggest you can measure a school by one particular target is unrealistic”, he said.

Mr Ballance said schools were not against working with the Government to improve the life chances of their children but the National Challenge was “scaremongering for a Government that perceives itself as being in trouble”.

“Tamarside was described as 'good with outstanding factors'”, he said. “We are a good school, as are the vast majority of schools in Plymouth. The idea that we are failing is a joke.”

Wendy Brett, head of Sir John Hunt, said: “It's naming and shaming 638 schools on the basis of one arbitrary figure.

“I think that just using such figures and giving ultimatums to schools isn't showing the right engagement with improvement.”

She said the list did not reflect “the whole picture” for schools in the Plymouth area.

“It only looks at one aspect of what we do and doesn't take into account the variety of learning pathways we offer: the different qualifications”, she said.

Pete Grainger, John Kitto's headteacher, said the Government should “leave our schools alone” and let the professionals do their jobs.

He said he was confident John Kitto would address the 30 per cent target by 2011, but called it an unfair measure.

“It's arbitrary and a bit like saying to Plymouth Argyle, 'If you don't win the championship next year then we're closing you down and buying new players in.' It's frustrating.”

Mr Grainger said he wholeheartedly supported Plymouth's Strategy for Change and John Kitto was doing everything it could to raise standards of attainment.

Under the strategy, launched last month, Tamarside, John Kitto and Lipson community colleges could all be reduced in size and be changed to either trust or academy status.

Mr Grainger said: “It may well be that some schools become academies, but it will be done through choice and belief it's for the best rather than through threats.”

Lipson Community College principal Steve Baker said: “Every time the Government's in trouble they bring out a new arbitrary figure.”

He added that he hoped the National Challenge would actually lead to “long-lasting improvements” in educational standards.

Vince Burke, National Association of Headteachers spokesman for Plymouth, said the target “flies in the face” of what local schools had been striving to achieve.

“What people have got to understand is that this target of 30 per cent is a Government target to come into effect by 2011”, he said. “It's not a current target; it's something we are working towards.”

He said he was confident that schools would meet the target within three years.

Mr Burke stressed that there were no failing schools in Plymouth, according to Ofsted.

Plymouth City Council will be given a 50-day deadline to come up with a rescue plan for each of the schools on the list.

Ways in which schools will be encouraged to meet the target include using partnerships with successful schools (federations) or with business or universities (trusts) to improve performance.

Options for those failing to meet the target by 2011 include setting up an academy, sponsored and run by a private business figure, college or church group.

Under the National Challenge there will also be a new type of school structure for those considered “completely unable to raise their exam results”.

These 'National Challenge Trusts' will see the shutting-down of the school and the opening of a new one, in partnership with a high-performing school and a partner such as a local business or university, with up to £750,000 of funding then being made available.

A council spokesman said: “In Plymouth we're ahead of the game, as we're looking at a whole range of options for our schools as part of our Strategy For Change, which we launched last month.

“We strongly refute any suggestion that the schools named in the list are 'failing'. Plymouth does not have any failing schools. It has good schools, but some operate in challenging circumstances.

“We have recognised that these schools need to be made a priority in terms of improving attainment, which is why we have already suggested trust or academy status for them”, he said.

“We are keen to involve the wider community and have over the last few weeks been hearing from parents, teachers and education organisations about the ideas put forward”, the spokesman added.

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