Suffolk Tories don't see value of Middle schools.

I read the Cabinet papers on the Sudbury/Great Cornard School reorganisation which includes all the village primary schools and Stoke by Nayland middle school. What a predictable report.

Predictable because it denies failings in their reorganisation, it dismisses with contempt parents concerns and seems contradictory with OFSTED findings.

Dismissed are parent concerns over staff retention while middle schools are run down to closure.
Dismissed are parents beliefs that middle schools add to the pastoral care and social aspect of school.
Dismissed are parents belief their children benefit from specialist facilities Middle schools have but primary schools do not have.
Dismissed are "Good" OFSTED reports of Middle schools because they arent getting the results Suffolk want overall. Why the contradiction? Who is wrong here?

To me the biggest risk is funding. The paper suggests that the primary school building work is reliant on the sales of sites to be disposed of and so borrowing is needed.
For the secondary schools, the risk is the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) cash. They admit there will be a gap between reorganisation and getting the cash for work.

How long? All they will need? Will the Tories maintain the programme or will they hive off funds for other reasons ie cutting the deficit or those new schools their "choice" policy might bring? And the what choice might that give others?

Raising standards needs well funded, well resourced schools and quality training for staff and our children who have disadvantages need the support to raise their literacy and numeracy as early as possible in primary schools so they can access the subjects or vocational courses that our secondary schools offer.

Complete consultation on MP expenses

Here is everyones chance to have their say on MP expenses by completing the on line consultation by IPSA on the expenses for MPs in the next Parliament. It can be found at http://mpexpensesconsultation.org.uk

Let us hope the work is done before the election is called. A good reason for an election on May 6th? Any earlier and IPSAs work will be undermined.

A test to how serious reform will be Mr Brown?