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IMPORTANT PLEASE READ This website and forum has been living on borrowed web server time for years. At the end of this month silsden.net in it's present form will cease to exist, BUT there is a new silsden.net in the making, and a new forum, and lots of exciting new things coming to this space. Peter |
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Author |
Topic : should we be worried about school situation |
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| Beta Rider |
With the news that Addingham Primary school pupils are being split and will have to attend Greenhead Keighley, should we in Silsden be worried? The village is being split and depending which side they live will determine which school they will attend. |
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| carliol |
especially with the recent Ofsted report on Greenhead, which is hardly encouraging.See Keighley News for the latest. Anyone with children must be getting worried at how education is going these days, not a good omen for the future. This government has meddled too much,supposedly to create "choice", and the councils don't seem to have much clue about future planning.Politics and good education don't mix. |
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| alan |
Think you'll find that the Tory Bradford Council is more to blame! That's why THEY also got a bad Ofsted report some time ago! Kids from Silsden are within the catchment of South Craven School. |
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| carliol |
You may well be right "Alan" but it seems that a lot of Silsden children don't actually go to South Craven out of choice, they go to Ilkley or Skipton schools. What is happening now is that the authorities are trying to control where children go to school, even having lotteries to spread people around to the poorer schools, which seems to be the Addingham situation. And remember it could be Silsden next to get the same treatment, some could be sent to Greenhead (we are nearer to Greenhead than Addingham!)It's all a bit confusing don't you think? |
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| alan |
I have no doubt that some in the present Bradford Council would like children from Silsden to go to Greenhead. BUT South Craven have made it abundantly clear that ALL children who WANT to go to South Craven from Silsden WILL go there! The real point is that the largest group of children to go to South Craven are from Silsden and will continue to be so as far as the school is concerned! |
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| cja |
Can I ask Alan - how long have you lived in Silsden? |
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| Shazza |
Thankfully i'm not in the position to have to worry about this yet, BUT..... from what i've been told by ~MANY people that live in Silsden and have for years, Silsden will always be in the catchment for South Craven. This is because apparentley they were originally going to build Suth Craven in Silsden (by Drable House farm, if i'm right) but for some reason they decided not to but on the understanding that Silsden and Steeton children would always be in the catchment. The schools do keep trying to threaten us with "Greenhead" but aslong as us parents remember this we in Silsden should be ok. As for the parents in Addingham. I'd be really miffed as most of them probably moved purely to make sure their children got into Ilkley grammer so now they're paying more for their houses and still having to send their children to a rubbish school. As for what Tricha McCarthy said in The KN i wouldn't believe a word of it, yes maybe thats not the majority but i bet it's not he minority. I had a friend who was a teaching assistant at Greenhead and she was so appalled that she left after a trem! I personally, if faced with having to go to Greenhead would move back to Wharfedale and Christen my children catholic so they got into St mary's Menston or home educate (which i don't agree with) So after my rant (excuse 6 pints of cider- no not big or clever) i'll leave you with... as long as Silsden parents stick together hopfully our children should never have to go to that school in "Keighley" |
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| pumbajunior |
No kids and no plans so not really an issue for me and miss fraggle i take it south craven is at cross hills? yes ive heard the horror stories of greenhead even when i was at school (beckfoot bingley) in the mid 80's |
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| alan |
Over twenty years 'cja', but what has that got to do with anything? Is that not long enough to know what goes on or have an opinion? |
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| wahiba |
From personal experience in education Ofsted reports are rarely worth more than the paper they are written on. Remember they are operating to a political agenda on targets, so most schools operate to achieve those targets, stuff the kids education. That Greenhead failed to achieve the 'targets' suggests that they might actually be putting the kids first. In which case perverse logic suggests that is probably a pretty good school. A recent survey suggested that bright kids with a supportive family will do OK in any school. For the rest parental involvement, ie PTAs etc. could achieve more than appealing and moving to be near the right school. Of course, choice is a luxury for city dwellers. Those of us born in the sticks didn't have any choice. There was only one school practically near enough, primary and secondary. |
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| carliol |
come on "wahiba" you can't be serious. it's a strange kind of logic that says schools with poor Ofsted results are actually good schools! where are your facts to support that? if all schools were good, we would not have an education problem, and the country would not be crying out for children to leave school with better results and improve our economy for the future. some schools have had to be closed down, they are so bad, and others have improved dramatically with new head teachers who went in and sorted them out. |
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| alan |
That's not the Ofsted I know 'wahiba' and I doubt whether either of the two schools in Silsden who have received favourable Ofsted reports or South Craven would agree either! As I am sure you are aware, Ofsted inspectors do not just look at targets, but a whole host of factors including observing the quality of teaching. The majority of inspectors are also from the teaching profession! |
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| alan |
From the Keighley News - College is inadequate - Ofsted By David Knights Park Lane College Keighley has been branded inadequate in most areas by government inspectors. So 'wahiba' that'll really mean it's excellent  |
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| cja |
this post has been edited 1 time(s) No insult intended Alan - just wondered if you had been around here long enough to remember all the previous arguments about secondary schools. It seems to me that this allocation in Addingham has been slipped in on the blind side. I can tell you from past arguments that Bradford Met DO NOT like having to pay North Yorkshire for Education or transport - so I think everyone should keep a look out. I don't think that you can just assume you will always be allowed to have places at South Craven |
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| alan |
this post has been edited 2 time(s) Don't make assumptions what people do or do not know 'cja', on how long they've lived here I can assure you as being the ONLY Silsden parent governor at South Craven for about eight years that I am fully aware of all this history! I would also register my dismay that a third of the kids at South Craven are from Silsden yet very rarely do we have more than ONE Silsden parent governor. A strange situation considering the ongoing issues! I would also suggest that you read my previous posts 'cja' where I stated that I have no doubt that Bradford would wish Silsden kids to go to Greenhead. But, if you remember, they were taken by surprise in the 2000 reorganisation of Bradford schools at the strength of feeling in the town. It's a pity that that strength of feeling is not converted in to parent governors from the town! We need to be continually vigilant on this issue with Bradford, BUT talk on here is easy! We need to convert that in to actions! |
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| wahiba |
I am very serious indeed. Ofsted is promoted as a 'quality control' system. It is nothing of the sort. Schools prepare for the visits, everyone is tutored to be on their best behaviour, on the best work is on show, and to make sure it looks good the teachers do more than give advice. The whole Ofsted inspection system has been a farce for years. Only very recently have they considered surprise unannounced inspections, like a proper quality control system should have. So now they have to work from conjured up figures because obviously schools are not going to be as ready as before and giving them all negative reports based on the old system would soon have it looking ridiculous. I worked in a school locally for a while, not as a teacher but as a technician so was able observe from the side. It was a great place and the kids were put first. Not long after I left it got one of the negative ofsted reports. For the record I am qualified in education and quality control. I know what I am talking about. My advice for any parent is to visit the school and see for yourself. Do not rely on league tables or inspection reports. They are political tools and have only had a negative affect on the quality of education in this country. Ask employers about some of their young workers. |
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| alan |
Think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one 'wahiba'. As a governor with quite a number of years experience of Ofsteds I can't agree with your comments. BUT, I would agree with your last paragraph that parents should ALWAYS take the trouble to check the school out. DON'T be afraid to visit the school, talk to the head, talk to the teachers, talk to the parent governors, talk to other parents etc. It's your childs future! DON'T rely on league tables etc. You can't beat going and seeing for yourself! |
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| Sarah |
I personally went through the drama for this year's year 7. My daughter was allocated to Greenhead much to my horror! I would like to say that the North Yorkshire Education board, although seeming very formal in their approach, were a pleasure to deal with. They kept me updated every step of the way with my appeal and reallocated my daughter to South Craven even before I had had to go to the formal appeal hearing. Apparently it is the divide between West and North Yorkshire that causes the problem, but all children who go to Hothfield's are in the catchment area for South Craven. I'm not an expert in education, only a mum, but have found that they do their best to get the Silsden children into South Craven - and I didn't hear of any children in my daughter's year that weren't allowed to go there?? |
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| alan |
I think you will always find that that is the case 'sarah', having been involved in some of these instances. North Yorks and South Craven are keen for kids from Silsden to go there, BUT Bradford keep trying to sneak them in to Greenhead. The trick is always to appeal and inevitably you will win if you live in Silsden! If you are struggling feel free to contact the Town Council and somebody will help! |
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| alliecoward |
sarah,can i ask, was greenhead one of your choices. or did they just sneak it in? |
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| alan |
'alliecoward' in my experience Bradford usually sneak it in if someone is late applying and/or they claim South Craven is full. BUT people shouldn't panic, they WILL ALWAYS win on appeal, and North Yorks/South Craven will always be helpful! |
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| Sarah |
Alliecoward, I had never even heard of the school until I got the letter stating my daughter was to go there. I'd applied to Ilkley Grammar as my son is a student there (we lived there before moving to Silsden) which was part of the reason we were allocated to a West Yorkshire school |
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| Sarah |
Oh, and I didn't apply late - I must have been one of the first to apply as I knew there was going to be a problem!! |
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| alan |
Glad it's sorted 'Sarah', sounds like the reason thet did it. Unfortunately they don't need much of an excuse at Bradford! BUT as I keep stressing if you want your children to go to South Craven and you live in Silsden don't just accept Bradford dictate! |
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| gazzer |
quoteThey also said Silsden kids would always get free transport.When they(BMDC) did away with that the people of Silsden marched in protest.Guess what Bradford couldnt find the minutes from the meeting when that was agreed.Is it written down that Silsden Kids will always go to SC? |
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| alliecoward |
thanks for that sarah, sneaky are'nt they?! |
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| Sarah |
Just a hint if anyone needs to appeal - start with South Craven/North Yorks people - they were far more sympathetic and helpful than Bradford who had a "well that's that" attitude! |
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| alan |
What do you mean did away with the free transport 'gazzer'? If you are referring to South Craven, they still do, except for Post 16. |
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| alan |
Good advice 'Sarah'. Certain officers at Bradford do not like Silsden kids going to South Craven! |
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| alan |
By the way 'gazzer' it is written down that Silsden kids will go to South Craven - in South Craven's admission policy! BUT in the future it won't be South Craven OR North Yorks that stops them it will be Bradford! |
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| Sarah |
I stand on correction but as far as I am aware you have to qualify for free transport to and from the school. Although it is a concession ticket (half price for students), we still have to pay busfare even though it is still one of the "yellow" buses. They also have certain buses that will only accept a bus pass and don't let the kids on if they are paying cash (something we do when there is only one or two days left of the term as I am sure many do!) |
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| alan |
this post has been edited 1 time(s) 'Sarah' that's absolute news to me! Are you sure? I think that is incorrect. My daughter is in sixth form and we get a pass from Metro for her to pay half fare because she's over sixteen but still in full time education. She simply pays cash on the bus. As far as I am aware all the pre sixteens still do is get the pass and they are completely free. The pass is for a specific number bus. There is no means test, and all kids from Silsden travel free to South Craven. I have never heard that it has changed! |
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| Sarah |
All I can tell you is from my experience, alan - when we asked for a form to fill in for the bus we were asked to provide proof of receiving benefits. I can check again with the school but my daughter's friends also pay for their bus passes and yes, they are allocated to a specific bus. I didn't pursue it any further when I received the initial form so no, I am not sure... |
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| alan |
'Sarah' I am 99.9% convinced this is wrong. I most certainly am not on benefits and have never paid. As far as I remember all you do is get a form from school signed then send it to Keighley and get the pass - simple. Who asked you about benefits? I have a call in to check with the school and will post the answer as soon as I have it. |
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| alan |
I have now checked with the school and had it confirmed that children from Silsden 16 and Under DO NOT pay for bus fares to South Craven, and it IS NOT means tested! The procedure is unchanged, a form is obtained from the school, sent to Bradford and a bus pass is returned. YOU DO NOT PAY! Post 16 is slightly different, a form has to be signed by the school to say the student is in full time education, this is taken to the post office or Keighley and a bus pass is given to pay half fare. So ONLY post 16 students from Silsden have to pay! If you are told otherwise someone is misleading you! |
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| claymoreking |
All that seems to be correct Alan. |
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| Replies in this thread : 56
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events sale / wanted general have your say looking for.. skippy greengrass |
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06/03/2008 : 20:24:44 