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Promoted by Robert Rigby on behalf of Bedford & Kempston Conservatives, both of 7 Lime Street, Bedford, MK40 1LD

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© 2011 Bedford and Kempston Conservatives

 

27th November 2011

 

Councillor Urges Council to Help Schools

  

Newnham ward Councillor Kristy Adams has expressed her dismay at the lack of help being given to schools by Bedford Borough Council to resolve key structural issues.  While the three-tier system of lower, middle and upper schools is still in place, this is now mixed with a two-tier system of primary and secondary schools.  For many Chairs of Governors and Head Teachers, this has led to increasing uncertainty about how their schools will fit in.  

 

As a Governor of Goldington Green Lower School and a Director of Goldington Academy, Cllr Adams has been part of the consultations with the affected schools in the north of the river area.  Last week she challenged Cllr Sawyer, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education on how he would be supporting these schools to find their future role in the structure.

 

Conservative Cllr Adams said;

 

‘We were promised as parents that after the Government decided not to make funding available for the change to a two-tier system that our town would remain as three-tier.  I was pleased to see investment being made in schools south of the river, and I wish these schools every success.  However, in making these decisions the Council has left my area part two-tier and part three-tier and has not given any strategic guidance on how this can work.

 

‘I have been meeting with Head Teachers and Chairs of Governors from the North East Bedford Learning Trust to try to resolve this issue and raise standards.  I am therefore pleased that at the recent Children’s Services Committee Cllr Sawyer agreed to ask Council officers to suggest some future working models.  There are no second chances with a child’s education so it is vital that the Council works with our schools to resolve this issue and deliver the best education for children in Bedford.’

 

For more information contact Councillor Adams on 07510137352