Well done to all those parents who have managed to get their views published in the Argus over the last few weeks.
1. Mark Bannister of Withdean Crescent who writes in support of FSM banding (Friday 29th December)
2. Sam Type wrote the following letter, which was published on 23rd December (letters published between 23-26th December are not available online)
Dear Paul,
As a parent living in the BN1 9 postcode, I am astounded by the proposed changes to secondary school catchment areas, like Kevin Legan (23rd November). Have the council completely lost sight of their own goals of inclusiveness and fairness?
Along with many others in this less-affluent area of Brighton, I am placed in the ‘dual’ catchment area for the two worst performing schools in Brighton and Hove (according to OFSTED) – Patcham High and Falmer. In fact, as a result of successful petitioning by parents, it seems even Patcham High will not be available to my son because we don’t live in Patcham.
Why have the proposals failed us?
The first failing appears to have been the selection of the Working Group. No one seems able to explain how the group of parents was chosen. They were supposed to represent us all. I wasn’t asked, nor were any other parents from Coombe Road. There were no representatives from Coldean, Moulscoomb, Coombe Road, Bevendean, Hollingdean or Hollingbury and, not-surprisingly, those areas will suffer the most from the proposed scheme.
The parents who were chosen live in Queen’s Park, Hanover and Hove Park. All areas that have now been included within the proposed catchment areas for the best-performing schools (according to OFSTED) – Dorothy Stringer and Varndean.
I am not suggesting that those parents connived to be chosen and then sat down and came up with a proposal aimed solely at benefiting their own children, but without an equal voice given to parents representing all areas of our City, how can the Working Group have been expected to fully understand all our needs?
If the group is supposed to be truly inclusive, then why were only the affluent areas of the City represented?
Having failed so miserably to chose a truly comprehensive group, I supposed it should not be a surprise that the resulting scheme is also not 'comprehensive'.
It seems that the proposed catchment areas have been drawn along lines of affluence in our City. Most evident, perhaps, in the crooked line that marks delineation between Kemp Town and Whitehawk – only the residents of Kemp Town can send their children to Dorothy Stringer and Varndean.
The average house-prices for the catchment areas (taken from the Land Registry figures for July 2006) is an interesting point of reference. The average house-price for the Dorothy Stringer/Varndean catchment area is £225,026. At almost £20,000 less, the average for Falmer/Patcham is £205,876.
So it seems that £20,000 is the cost of better education for Children in Brighton and Hove. Nice if you can afford it.
We are told the consultation process is still going, at least until 12th January 2007. But the people who decide which proposal goes forward is exactly the same Working Group who made the proposals in the first place.
And the response of the Working Group to our concerns?
Sam Type
Coombe Road parent
3. Mr A Craggs on the school admissions lottery
4. Sue Dawson, Canfield Road, Brighton
Further letters to come. I am waiting for a copy of the paper so that I can type them out.
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