Education in Southend: gifting our jewels to strangers
January 30, 2013 7 Comments
The latest statistics I have (Source: School Returns September 2011) depict a scene that further demonstrates what a lamentable state the local authority has helped create for Southend’s children.
I almost feel like a lone voice at times when it comes to trying to open the eyes of the ruling administration to the utter disaster that befalls the Borough’s young when their turn to attend a senior school comes. Certainly there is no dissent amongst the Tories who obligingly give the administration the softest of rides in scrutiny. (Cllr Courtenay may bemoan what the opposition are doing, but surely it is beholden upon his comrades to also test the process.)
One of the officers, who I will keep anonymous, described education in Southend as a jewel. I do not agree. Whilst some schools are excellent, 38% of our schools are described by Ofsted as less than good. Thirty-eight per cent! Quite frankly this is shocking.
What is worse is that the good schools seem to exist for the benefit of children from outside of the Borough. The following table shows the percentages of pupil intake for each senior school that come from outside of Southend. Those so enamoured of selective education may wish to reflect on what these numbers mean.
| % not from Southend’s schools | |
| Westcliff Boys | 76.6% |
| Westcliff Girls | 75.7% |
| Southend Girls | 59.0% |
| St.Thomas More | 38.0% |
| Southend Boys | 36.0% |
| St.Bernard’s | 32.4% |
| Chase | 8.7% |
| Eastwood | 7.7% |
| Cecil Jones | 6.9% |
| Belfairs | 6.4% |
| Futures | 3.7% |
| Shoeburyness | 2.5% |
When three-quarters of the Westcliff schools come from outside the borough one can only assume that this ‘jewel’ exists for Southenders to admire, and for strangers to enjoy.
Very interesting and sadly so true. The problem is that we have never solved the issue of how to educate the countries gifted. So the question becomes how do we ensure that pupils at all schools are afforded the same faciliteis and oppurtunities or do we dilute the achievements of the better schools by removing the selection criteria and mixing everyone up. I do not think there is an easy answer we are stuck as if we remove the selection policy those schools at the top of your list will instantly fail as there will be a reduciton of results and teachers will leave.
Let me make it clear I do not advocate Grammar schools but I am not sure how we solve the problem without causing some kind of damage to childrens education. And as a pupil of the 70’s I know how that feels.
I do not see that having universal comprehensive education dilutes anything. Streaming by subject would still be allowed, where appropriate. Wherever we see segregation (by ability, faith, gender, or whatever) we see the failures mount up. If we want a truly egalitarian society then we must have an egalitarian education system.
I think what I am saying is that I agree with you my only concern is that we make sure that we do not cause problems in making the change. I wholeheartedly agree that we should have schools that cater for all abilities, creeds, colours and religions so that when our children grow up they are tolerant and respectful.
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Excuse me! My friends and I positively thrived in a Comprehensive, now let me think male friends engineer for the MOD, European Finance Manager multinational Automotive company, Geologist for Multinational Oil Company. Female friends Local Council Lead for Road Safety, Senior Sister in ITU, Custom & Excise Project Manager, others – Director of Performance NHS Trust, Custom & Excise Operational Officer, Director of multinational Sports Wear company, Director of Marketing multinational paper company, NHS HR Lead ICT project board / HR project Manager.
I refute that we were diluted.
http://jamescourtenay.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/lets-sort-the-fact-from-scaremongering-fiction/
http://jamescourtenay.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/shockingly-good-results-for-southends-school-leavers/