Coleridge School

Invest in children - Published 26/10/04

IT IS WITH great sadness, although not unexpectedly, that I read (News, October 22) of another closure threat faced by Coleridge Community College.

The staff, pupils, Ridgefield Primary and the community facilities all stand to lose because of Blair's commitment to furthering the Tory Party policies of tests, targets, finance initiatives and performancerelated pay.

Ofsted, the body that inspects schools at a cost to us of £200 million a year, inspires little confidence amongst education professionals, but its tests and targets are linked to the funding of schools and teachers' pay. As a result, Coleridge is not eligible for the same kind of funding or status as a school like Parkside.

Respect believes that the Government should not be funding our children and teachers in this way as it is once again creating a tiered education system.

In an authority with a growing population and two to three new secondary schools predicted to be needed in the near future, and with all of the nearest schools bursting to the brim, does it make sense to close such an undervalued community resource?

I think we should spend the Ofsted money investing in staff and resources for schools like Coleridge, invest it in children and not on inspecting.

Good luck, Coleridge!

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© 2007 Tom Woodcock