My personal thoughts on the Hadrian Learning Trust consultation document
Proposal One
Do you agree that HMS and QEHS should be amalgamated and expand to create an 11-18 Secondary school?
No
Proposal Two
If a decision is taken by Northumberland County Council/Department for Education to close Haydon Bridge High School, do you agree that QEHS should expand to provide places for children from the Haydon Bridge Partnership from September 2019?
No
Whilst I do think that Hadrian Learning Trust should welcome the Haydon Bridge pupils if their school closes, I do not think that they should change their age range in order to do so. Year 7 & 8 could be accommodated at Hexham Middle School and the older pupils at QEHS until new premises are built.
My belief is that schools should be unique, inclusive and be able to provide a great education for all children. I do not see how this would be made easier by creating one huge secondary school where there is no choice for parents on where to send their child to school from the age of 11.
1. Building a Better Future section
Page 3
I don’t believe that a Primary/ Secondary system is in the best interests of children who will eventually progress to QEHS:
Their vision in supporting primary schools - there will up to 24 schools primaries feeding into QEHS compared to the current 7 first schools feeding into Hexham Middle School and 2 middle schools feeding into QEHS along with HMS in their partnership. How will they do this? What support do they currently give and how will this change?
2. Context of the consultation
Currently 40% of the QEHS year 11 leave to go to other education providers. Do these students wish to discontinue their education/training at QEHS or are their needs currently not met locally requiring them to travel further afield?
3. Proposed Changes
Page 6
Bullet point 4 - Are the starting points of the pupils currently at QEHS the same as those starting at Haydon Bridge High School? KS2 attainment and progress scores are currently better in the Hexham partnership. It should be noted that some of the Haydon Bridge pupils are already educated in a primary/ secondary system.
Bullet point 11 - Please note how big an 11-18 school would be. Potentially 2250 pupils. This would make it the 8th largest secondary school in the country. Our Hexham and Haydon Bridge catchment is one of the largest in the country. The map shows the size of our catchment area compared to Greater London. Greater London has 498 secondary schools of which, one fifth have less than 700 pupils. For some of our children this will mean a long daily journey.
Bullet point 12 - We already have smaller schools and we already have age appropriate specialist facilities. Our Year 5 and 6 also benefit from specialist facilities. I have always fully supported the need for capital investment in QEHS. I just think that it would be better spent on a 13-18 school which includes great 6th form provision.
4. The reasons for change
Improving education: Collaboratively QEHS have excellent outcomes and I believe we as a partnership can continue to build on this together.
NCC have committed to capital investment in our schools in the west without it being necessary to change to a primary/ secondary model.
The fact that our pupils do not change school straight after the Year 6 SATs means that these results do not determine factors like: which set they are in for maths and/or English in years 7 & 8. There is much less pressure on pupils as year 6 SATs are not the end point of a child’s journey through their school. Because of the excellent position of knowing these pupils, teachers in middle schools are able to immediately provide support or extra challenge as a result of their Sats results through all subjects in year 7 & 8.
How will having a much bigger school for pupils from the age of 11 help disadvantaged pupils fulfill their potential ?
HLT state that our education system is increasingly out of step with the vast majority of schools nationally, quoting that there are only 46 13-18 high schools (1.4% of all state secondaries). However of the schools who have a similar or larger number of pupils in each year group to Queen Elizabeth High School, 30% of these schools start at age 13 or 14.
There are many different models and make up of schools nationally. Long gone is the 2 tier or 3 tier idea. What is important is the quality of the education in every year group of our school, and, a system which is geographically fit for purpose.
Page 8
With reference to the statement regarding the problems middle schools currently have with preparing pupils for Sats at the end of year 6 - we don’t. We work hard with our first schools to make sure that we have excellent teaching and an excellent curriculum in every year. Here at CMS we are known for our broad and balanced curriculum. This is the driver for standards and it works!
HLT mention being held accountable for the progress from KS2 to KS4. This will still be the case with an 11 - 18 school. HLT currently have over one third of their pupils from Year 5. They have an extra 2 years more influence in developing excellence in teaching and achievement than other 11-18 schools.
Financial sustainability
It is interesting to note that HLT is in fact, not in deficit as has been widely stated over the past 12 months by NCC and themselves. It wasn’t last year and it is not forecast to be until September 2019. This is in contrast to NCC stating in their consultation document, page 9, that QEHS was in budget deficit.
The introduction of the National Funding Formula for school’s funding affects us all. To help this process, NCC are phasing the impact that it will bring, whether this is positive or negative for schools. The government have committed to providing a minimum per pupil funding amount of up to £4800. QEHS will already get £4863 per pupil for 2018-19 so my understanding is that they will therefore not get the £300,000 mentioned in their document.
Page 9
In the table showing budgeted income and costs for 2017-2018, with the premise that student numbers are relatively flat, why is there a £250,000 drop in income for 2019/20? In the table of projected year end balances, what is happening between 2018/19 and 2019/20 to cause such a dramatic increase in their in year deficit.
Page 10
5. What would this mean for your child?
Much of the feedback from parents responding to the ‘I have a dream’ google doc would suggest that transition arrangements, the educational journey and day-to day experiences of the children is currently great. We are being asked to take a huge ‘leap of faith’ if the school changes to 11 -18. What do they mean by a ‘school within a school’?Given that changing to a secondary model has been on the table for a year now, I would have expected more detail and decisions regarding what model will work best.
SEND - I am not convinced that being part of a larger school will mean that HLT would be better able to provide support. Many of the in year transfers to Corbridge Middle School have been made because parents believe that in our smaller, more nurturing environment, their child will be better supported to thrive. We have compelling evidence that pupils who have struggled in other schools, thrive within our school. I am sure that this is the case elsewhere too. Not every school is right for every child.
Page 11
The suggestion seems to be that there is threat of serious cuts from 2018-19 if the school does not change to 11-18. The changes in age range would not happen until well after this so surely action would have to take place anyway to make sure that the school does not have their projected deficit of £378,000 by 2021. Schools all over the country, with varying age ranges are having to manage budgets very carefully and develop innovative approaches in order to maintain educational excellence with the budgets provided.
Page 13
8. What would this mean for other schools?
We, Corbridge Middle School would shut and Corbridge First School would extend their age range up to age 11.
What is meant by a merger?
Although I am sure that many of the first schools would become great primary schools it has to be understood that the provision in years 5 & 6 would be different. More time spent with one teacher and less opportunity to follow a timetable where they receive specialist teaching in specialist rooms. Smaller primaries would have to take on the Year 6 SATs with mixed aged classes.
9. What would this mean for our staff?
Our staff would have to look for employment elsewhere or face redundancy.
Many are primary trained but love teaching more of their specialist subject - this would be unlikely in a primary school.
Do you agree that HMS and QEHS should be amalgamated and expand to create an 11-18 Secondary school?
No
Proposal Two
If a decision is taken by Northumberland County Council/Department for Education to close Haydon Bridge High School, do you agree that QEHS should expand to provide places for children from the Haydon Bridge Partnership from September 2019?
No
Whilst I do think that Hadrian Learning Trust should welcome the Haydon Bridge pupils if their school closes, I do not think that they should change their age range in order to do so. Year 7 & 8 could be accommodated at Hexham Middle School and the older pupils at QEHS until new premises are built.
My belief is that schools should be unique, inclusive and be able to provide a great education for all children. I do not see how this would be made easier by creating one huge secondary school where there is no choice for parents on where to send their child to school from the age of 11.
1. Building a Better Future section
Page 3
I don’t believe that a Primary/ Secondary system is in the best interests of children who will eventually progress to QEHS:
- What data is there to support this? There are many examples locally where schools have changed their age range and it has not improved standards. HLT have not provided data to support this.
- Our pupils currently have specialist teaching in Year 5 and year 6. They will not get this if this change is allowed to go ahead.
- I already know what educational experience our Year 7 and Year 8 pupils have. What would this look like in this large 11-18 school? HLT haven’t shared any detail with other school leaders or parents despite being asked, only a commitment to share any future model on research.
Their vision in supporting primary schools - there will up to 24 schools primaries feeding into QEHS compared to the current 7 first schools feeding into Hexham Middle School and 2 middle schools feeding into QEHS along with HMS in their partnership. How will they do this? What support do they currently give and how will this change?
2. Context of the consultation
Currently 40% of the QEHS year 11 leave to go to other education providers. Do these students wish to discontinue their education/training at QEHS or are their needs currently not met locally requiring them to travel further afield?
3. Proposed Changes
Page 6
Bullet point 4 - Are the starting points of the pupils currently at QEHS the same as those starting at Haydon Bridge High School? KS2 attainment and progress scores are currently better in the Hexham partnership. It should be noted that some of the Haydon Bridge pupils are already educated in a primary/ secondary system.
Bullet point 11 - Please note how big an 11-18 school would be. Potentially 2250 pupils. This would make it the 8th largest secondary school in the country. Our Hexham and Haydon Bridge catchment is one of the largest in the country. The map shows the size of our catchment area compared to Greater London. Greater London has 498 secondary schools of which, one fifth have less than 700 pupils. For some of our children this will mean a long daily journey.
Bullet point 12 - We already have smaller schools and we already have age appropriate specialist facilities. Our Year 5 and 6 also benefit from specialist facilities. I have always fully supported the need for capital investment in QEHS. I just think that it would be better spent on a 13-18 school which includes great 6th form provision.
4. The reasons for change
Improving education: Collaboratively QEHS have excellent outcomes and I believe we as a partnership can continue to build on this together.
NCC have committed to capital investment in our schools in the west without it being necessary to change to a primary/ secondary model.
The fact that our pupils do not change school straight after the Year 6 SATs means that these results do not determine factors like: which set they are in for maths and/or English in years 7 & 8. There is much less pressure on pupils as year 6 SATs are not the end point of a child’s journey through their school. Because of the excellent position of knowing these pupils, teachers in middle schools are able to immediately provide support or extra challenge as a result of their Sats results through all subjects in year 7 & 8.
How will having a much bigger school for pupils from the age of 11 help disadvantaged pupils fulfill their potential ?
HLT state that our education system is increasingly out of step with the vast majority of schools nationally, quoting that there are only 46 13-18 high schools (1.4% of all state secondaries). However of the schools who have a similar or larger number of pupils in each year group to Queen Elizabeth High School, 30% of these schools start at age 13 or 14.
There are many different models and make up of schools nationally. Long gone is the 2 tier or 3 tier idea. What is important is the quality of the education in every year group of our school, and, a system which is geographically fit for purpose.
Page 8
With reference to the statement regarding the problems middle schools currently have with preparing pupils for Sats at the end of year 6 - we don’t. We work hard with our first schools to make sure that we have excellent teaching and an excellent curriculum in every year. Here at CMS we are known for our broad and balanced curriculum. This is the driver for standards and it works!
HLT mention being held accountable for the progress from KS2 to KS4. This will still be the case with an 11 - 18 school. HLT currently have over one third of their pupils from Year 5. They have an extra 2 years more influence in developing excellence in teaching and achievement than other 11-18 schools.
Financial sustainability
It is interesting to note that HLT is in fact, not in deficit as has been widely stated over the past 12 months by NCC and themselves. It wasn’t last year and it is not forecast to be until September 2019. This is in contrast to NCC stating in their consultation document, page 9, that QEHS was in budget deficit.
The introduction of the National Funding Formula for school’s funding affects us all. To help this process, NCC are phasing the impact that it will bring, whether this is positive or negative for schools. The government have committed to providing a minimum per pupil funding amount of up to £4800. QEHS will already get £4863 per pupil for 2018-19 so my understanding is that they will therefore not get the £300,000 mentioned in their document.
Page 9
In the table showing budgeted income and costs for 2017-2018, with the premise that student numbers are relatively flat, why is there a £250,000 drop in income for 2019/20? In the table of projected year end balances, what is happening between 2018/19 and 2019/20 to cause such a dramatic increase in their in year deficit.
Page 10
5. What would this mean for your child?
Much of the feedback from parents responding to the ‘I have a dream’ google doc would suggest that transition arrangements, the educational journey and day-to day experiences of the children is currently great. We are being asked to take a huge ‘leap of faith’ if the school changes to 11 -18. What do they mean by a ‘school within a school’?Given that changing to a secondary model has been on the table for a year now, I would have expected more detail and decisions regarding what model will work best.
SEND - I am not convinced that being part of a larger school will mean that HLT would be better able to provide support. Many of the in year transfers to Corbridge Middle School have been made because parents believe that in our smaller, more nurturing environment, their child will be better supported to thrive. We have compelling evidence that pupils who have struggled in other schools, thrive within our school. I am sure that this is the case elsewhere too. Not every school is right for every child.
Page 11
The suggestion seems to be that there is threat of serious cuts from 2018-19 if the school does not change to 11-18. The changes in age range would not happen until well after this so surely action would have to take place anyway to make sure that the school does not have their projected deficit of £378,000 by 2021. Schools all over the country, with varying age ranges are having to manage budgets very carefully and develop innovative approaches in order to maintain educational excellence with the budgets provided.
Page 13
8. What would this mean for other schools?
We, Corbridge Middle School would shut and Corbridge First School would extend their age range up to age 11.
What is meant by a merger?
Although I am sure that many of the first schools would become great primary schools it has to be understood that the provision in years 5 & 6 would be different. More time spent with one teacher and less opportunity to follow a timetable where they receive specialist teaching in specialist rooms. Smaller primaries would have to take on the Year 6 SATs with mixed aged classes.
9. What would this mean for our staff?
Our staff would have to look for employment elsewhere or face redundancy.
Many are primary trained but love teaching more of their specialist subject - this would be unlikely in a primary school.
