tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post7107698282558421476..comments2024-03-28T19:20:52.408+00:00Comments on WEMBLEY MATTERS: What's the WHIF over West Hampstead?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-42084467399850054642014-11-25T18:04:07.922+00:002014-11-25T18:04:07.922+00:00The campaign has fallen apart and they are not rea...The campaign has fallen apart and they are not reapplying to the DfE. Dr Craig is moving to New York.<br /><br />The End. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-25271748295694644432014-05-14T20:00:51.157+01:002014-05-14T20:00:51.157+01:00I'm intrigued as to why you have deleted a rep...I'm intrigued as to why you have deleted a reply that Anne made (or perhaps Anne requested it ?) to the points I made above. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-11503049498495161102014-05-14T19:58:33.690+01:002014-05-14T19:58:33.690+01:00a) A Head will be appointed by the Governing Body ...a) A Head will be appointed by the Governing Body of the School. As Clare is a doctor, not a teacher, it's unlikely to be her (but stranger things have happened - Pimlico Primary Academy appointed a head with no teaching experience whatsoever - she last 4 weeks)<br /><br />b) Are they paying people to give them advices who are these people that are taking £650? I don't know where the funds are coming from, but the advisors are the potential sponsors of the school - partially and completely selective schools in Hertfordshire, in the main, and members of the Senior Leadership Team. <br /><br />c) Can Camden not build a new secondary school in our area ? No,not allowed. It has to be an academy or free school. If you want this situation to change, you need to vote for a party that doesn't forbid councils from building schools...<br /><br />d) "no building means no school so maybe we should campaign for Camden not to sale of the land and build a bigger school on the land"; Well, quite. The campaign didn't prove that there was any need for a secondary school, whereas there was for a primary. Which is why it's going to be a primary. And the only way to make the site bigger would be to build on Maygrove Park...now that's going to go down well, isn't it ?<br /><br />e) "not so keen on Hampstead" - can I ask why ? What attracts you to UCL, other than the fact it's a new school ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-42351793462897737512014-05-14T19:25:50.016+01:002014-05-14T19:25:50.016+01:00According to the report, it will depend on the hou...According to the report, it will depend on the housing market at the time of the sale. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-88945256474382863992014-05-14T19:24:33.825+01:002014-05-14T19:24:33.825+01:00Martin - I know you'd rather we said who we we...Martin - I know you'd rather we said who we were, but some of us have good reason to remain anonymous. I will, however, sign off with an email address. I am the same poster who posted the contribution that starts "It's also worth noting that all the partner schools that Dr Craig..." on the 26th April at 18:02. <br /><br />Working backwards through some of the contributions.<br /><br />I'm intrigued by Michaela's school's proposed 'rigorous academic approach'. I think this conflates Ms Birbalsingh's disregard for most other schools, most of which, through necessity these days, are already 'rigorously academic' in any case, and an idea that times tables, learning Latin, rote learning, sitting in rows, teachers wearing gowns and strict discipline will always work whatever the environment. What Ms Birbalsingh really wants is a selective grammar school (or at least partially so), as I suspect, does Ms Craig and her cohort. <br /><br />To the poster who says that people are "grateful to Clare for volunteering to address a real problem" - I would contend that, outside of a small circle of disgruntled middle class parents, there is actually no problem. There is no shortage of secondary pupil places - by any estimation - in Brent or Camden, and to try and say there is, is utterly ridiculous. Sadly, the NW6 school campaign go in search of evidence solely to support their dubious claims, and disregard any evidence to the contrary, whereas decision makers have to balance the argument. If the issue is around quality of education - where is the evidence. Has Ofsted failed Hampstead School ? No, the school was "Good", under the much stricter regime adopted in 2012. Performance of % achieving 5+ A*-C GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and maths GCSEs ? 63%. National and Camden average ? 59%. So it can't be that either. I suspect the diversity and lack of a Conservative style educational atmosphere is probably what's really behind this prejudice. <br /><br />stonefoxchase@arcticmail.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-91090629026348992072014-05-03T15:53:36.245+01:002014-05-03T15:53:36.245+01:00This blog aims to encourage debate and I am reluct...This blog aims to encourage debate and I am reluctant to censor contributions. Could I appeal to commenters to avoid personal attacks and concentrate on the issues and facts. I also prefer it if names are used at the end of contributions even if the 'Anon' option is used for posting. Thank you.Martin Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02194641151012303116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-82457432081033601952014-05-03T10:47:05.572+01:002014-05-03T10:47:05.572+01:00The campaigner of the NW6 free-school has promoted...The campaigner of the NW6 free-school has promoted a negative portrayal of Camden Education and has openly been negative in the press about the local authority and the Hampstead School. I find this crass and the campaign crass but I find some comments on here equally crass. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-83861783262986706752014-05-03T09:41:55.030+01:002014-05-03T09:41:55.030+01:00But Camden needs urgent primary places and not sec...But Camden needs urgent primary places and not secondary so opening a massive secondary years in advance of it's need will be a huge waste of money. <br /><br />The real problem is the free school policy itself. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-86743628959499007162014-05-03T00:09:44.092+01:002014-05-03T00:09:44.092+01:00Michaela free school says it will be "rigorou...Michaela free school says it will be "rigorously academic" and West Hampstead Free School says it will be "unashamedly academic" both in desperate attempts to appear like they will compete with private schools. Why? Both, if they ever materialise, will be state funded and in theory should serve all local children but not all children are academic so what happens to them? <br /><br />These two schools are aiming to exclude the average child and their websites are perhaps deliberately off putting to ordinary parents of ordinary children, aimed at middle class. <br /><br />One is aiming to open in an asbestos filled building which is going through a rush refurbishment. The other is at early campaign stage and is like a cult with brigades of them clustered outside schools, nurseries, coffee shops and parks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-58788384089919073952014-05-02T23:28:47.290+01:002014-05-02T23:28:47.290+01:00I am a local parent and my child is due to start p...I am a local parent and my child is due to start primary school in September 2015. As far as I have seen, the free school campaign has not been about slagging off or undermining other primary schools in the area but dealing with the places problem. We live very close to both Beckford and Emmanuel, yet last year we would have fallen outside the catchment areas. The Kingsgate expansion does not help my child or others of the same age and seems a pretty imperfect result for existing parents.<br /><br />I've talked to loads of people who are just grateful to Clare for volunteering to address a real problem. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-34891894389738546552014-05-02T23:17:23.403+01:002014-05-02T23:17:23.403+01:00Ok all of this is really silly its a school that&#...Ok all of this is really silly its a school that's it a school they are not planning to build a nuclear station in west Hampstead its a school shouldn't we be embracing them. As a few of people on the board has said the problem isn't the people trying to get the school built but the government shouldn't we be putting them down not the people trying to build a new school<br /><br />I have seen these people outside schools campaigning trying to get people to sign up I have kids a part time job and do not understand how these people are doing this.<br /><br />From what you have said this lady is a Dr has children goes to work / or has her own business or both and wants to start a new school I bet its hard work to try and start a school, and she's a doctor I bet she could just send her kids to private school if she wants why is she bothering <br /><br />I have gone through this board and Anne and Mark and a few anonymous people are talking about what really matters which is we need more school places and the local council can not build it and I want my kids to go to a local school I would like a choice of schools which are not miles from my home<br /><br />I went to a crap school and I buy all the books to try and teach my children more than I know and I know Anne you said Hampstead is a great school thank you for that I will go and visit it but I do like the idea of a new school and the things there are trying to do - does that make me pushy (LOL)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-47150731003371586962014-05-02T23:15:24.399+01:002014-05-02T23:15:24.399+01:00Seems like a waste of energy spending three months...Seems like a waste of energy spending three months mugging parents at school gates for signatures that will likely never even get checked by the DfE. A big publicity stunt for a non existent school which may never actually be established. All courtesy of the tax payer.<br /><br />These free school campaigns are not based on any long term views as the parents here are only doing this now in readiness for their own children's move to secondary. Giving £millions to inexperienced parents to run a school is lunacy. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-4722934644607754602014-05-02T22:01:56.101+01:002014-05-02T22:01:56.101+01:00No one can doubt the primary school crisis in Camd...No one can doubt the primary school crisis in Camden, this must be addressed fast and can be done so by expanding Kingsgate school.<br /><br />The free school campaign have encouraged parents to oppose Kingsgate because they no longer have a need for primary places as most them have their children at a Camden school in West Hampstead. <br /><br />The campaigners original campaign was for a secondary school based on their dissatisfaction of secondary choice on offer. They disguise their disdain by continually and incorrectly stating their is a secondary places crisis.<br /><br />I do not believe any of the campaigners have made the effort to tour Hampstead School. Perhaps that is where they should have started and shown an interest in the existing community. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-58840655613873414522014-05-02T21:20:39.981+01:002014-05-02T21:20:39.981+01:00I have put my child down to a school this year and...I have put my child down to a school this year and named it our first choice. I know this must sound totally insane, but my first choice was given to a school that actually exists. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-36780732529310341842014-05-02T18:57:54.247+01:002014-05-02T18:57:54.247+01:00Camden needs urgent primary places, not secondary....Camden needs urgent primary places, not secondary. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-84294915279198925962014-05-02T18:47:12.084+01:002014-05-02T18:47:12.084+01:00She has said negative things about Hampstead Schoo...She has said negative things about Hampstead School in published media. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-74122015873092526082014-05-02T18:36:19.699+01:002014-05-02T18:36:19.699+01:00Thank you for your answer both of you Yes it helps...Thank you for your answer both of you Yes it helps I have heard some good things about Hampstead 6th Form but have heard negative things about the school from people who's children go to the school and I understand everyone's experience is different wouldn't it be nice to have a choices of schools locally why can't Camden and the free schools people work together? As some of you know the free school people couldn't you ask if that's possible or are the simplistic ideas the most complicated ones Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-66723931910738180182014-05-02T17:39:07.564+01:002014-05-02T17:39:07.564+01:00Clare Craig has e-mailed me to deny that she has e...Clare Craig has e-mailed me to deny that she has ever said anything negative about Beckford school.Martin Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02194641151012303116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-23779199599827704562014-05-02T16:53:28.496+01:002014-05-02T16:53:28.496+01:00Are some of the homes Council homes?Are some of the homes Council homes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-79928181607501322182014-05-02T16:46:28.633+01:002014-05-02T16:46:28.633+01:00Thank you for the above just what i wanted to say ...Thank you for the above just what i wanted to say I'm like you don't mind the idea of free schools and love the idea of a school that starts from primary all the way to secondary. I know they have to choose the children who are closest to the school and I understand that a few may be chosen by lottery, when I signed up I thought if they got the ok the school would be built but as we can see that's not the case its mad. <br /><br />Looking at whats happening in Brent has made my worry for a school for my child Im like you not really wanting to go to Hampstead. Why would they do this say to parents yes you can have the school in September and then say no<br /><br />My message to the Government - please stop playing with our children's school either let Camden build or don't ok the free school and not allow them to open its not right Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-40185613323040370072014-05-02T15:06:31.760+01:002014-05-02T15:06:31.760+01:00I don't know what to do and at first I thought...I don't know what to do and at first I thought the free school would be good and it would be local, that would be what I want. I don't think the new housing will effect West Hampstead as no family can afford them and they are all for foreign buyers anyway. <br /><br />I can see that no one is helping the problems with the plans all skewed and asking us to apply for schools that bfore they are built is madness really. The Brent problem has me questioning now and I don't want to end up running around trying to find a school in May because the school is not opening in September. How and why can this happening?<br /><br />I think there should be a protest with elections coming up as these policies are not working and the government is not providing any options except free schools which mostly can't open because they can't find sites.<br /><br />Hampstead is a bit of a trek for ours and not everyone can get in so what happens then? It has good results now so that makes it popular. I despair and it is agonising for parents but I think it's all politics they don't care about the children's education. <br />Now that the councils can't build schools anymore and it feel like our kids are being used for profit as these new schools hire their families and pay Lord or Lady who ever via supposed charities into the firms that they run for profit. it's all corruption. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-13252586237517578962014-05-02T12:48:57.953+01:002014-05-02T12:48:57.953+01:00Thank you for your comment, I find other people...Thank you for your comment, I find other people's experiences and views on this free school very interesting.<br /><br />As Martin said above, Camden can't simply build a new school which is why they are expanding Kingsgate primary. Camden's projection for school place planning goes runs up to 2022/2023 school year and they have enough secondary places at least until that time, however, they are currently short of primary places. In the current school year, only 2 Camden secondary schools are full and they are UCL and Camden School for Girls. Camden has so many excellent choices and I encourage you to visit them.<br /><br />I wouldn't write off Hampstead without visiting. It is one of the most improved schools in the country and has a very good recent Ofsted inspection report. As the parent of a current student, I can tell you that my daughter is doing exceptionally well and the school is truly representative and inclusive of the community which it serves. The quality of the teaching staff and the management of the school is superb. Also, they have at least 3 or 4 free after school clubs everyday, there is endless choice in sports and both academic and non-academic clubs. They also run a low cost early morning and breakfast club.<br /><br />According to the free school website, Clare and the parents involved with setting up the school would be on the governing body of the school. I imagine Clare would naturally be chair of governors. As free schools are not locally accountable, the relationship between the free school and the head teachers from Hertfordshire is entirely their business and we will never see monetary transactions. <br /><br />The head teacher for the free school would be appointed by the governing body of the school. Free schools have had a hard time hiring and retaining head teachers and often end up with short term or inexperienced heads because the future for the programme is unclear. Also, many, if not most, qualified teachers don't like the idea of free schools because they do not require teachers to be qualified. This undermines their profession. <br /><br />Camden has had some money to provide new places in the borough but it is for the whole borough and there are places of greater need than West Hampstead. It would take the whole budget to build a new primary in NW6 and would leave nothing for the rest of the borough.<br /><br />Personally, I would love Camden to be able to build a new primary but it is not allowed under the current Tory/LibDem government policy. <br /><br />Since writing this blog post, another free school which had the green light in Brent has also announced that it won't open in September as planned. So that's 2 secondary free schools now not opening in Brent this September and one that will open.<br /><br />My fear is that to risk the expansion of Kingsgate school and bet on a free school getting final approval and actually opening on Liddell Road would get Camden nowhere in terms of addressing the desperate need for primary school places.<br /><br />I hope this helps.<br /><br />Anne Clarkenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-2646884123623284812014-05-02T11:50:54.681+01:002014-05-02T11:50:54.681+01:00With all the new housing developments and a growin...With all the new housing developments and a growing population don't you think there is a need in west Hampstead also I don't want to send my child to Hampstead and with the things I've been reading about Free schools I don't think I want a free school but want a choice and would like my child to stay local what do I do? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-78397144639212291442014-05-02T10:27:14.575+01:002014-05-02T10:27:14.575+01:00Thanks for your comment. I will just answer on the...Thanks for your comment. I will just answer on the Camden building a new school issue. Under the Coalition local councils no longer have the power to build new schools themselves and have to rely on academy or free school providers coming forward. Councils can get around this by expanding existing good or outstanding LA schools as they were proposing for Kingsgate Primary or opening 'sattelites' under the management of existing schools and this has happened with Leopold in Brent. This is much easier to do with primary schools. The problem is that Councils can't plan ahead for an increasing population on the basis of the whim of academy or free school providers and the possibility that they might open in an area of shortage. In fact they have often appeared where there is no shortage and so compete with existing schools rather than provide the needed additional places.<br /><br />This is why there is a campaign, supported by the Green Party, to give local councils back the powers to build new schools where they are needed. Google School Places Crisis for details.Martin Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02194641151012303116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-70613559809631565012014-05-02T10:17:12.139+01:002014-05-02T10:17:12.139+01:00A person came up to me I signed and so did quite ...A person came up to me I signed and so did quite a lot of my friends ( i'm not a emmanuel parent) The person who came up to me Not this Clare person who you all seem to dislike she told me it was a free school and that the only way that it was going to open if parents supported it. I'm not a big fan of Free schools I have seen the press about some who have been badly managed <br /><br />Just a few questions<br /><br />Is this Clair going to be running the school or would a Head be?<br /><br />Are they paying people to give them advices who are these people that are taking £650?<br /><br />If they are saying things about our primary schools in Camden which are outstanding shouldn't we be complaining to the people who are funding them? ( the person who asked me to sign didn't say anything bad about schools to me)<br /><br />Also i thought all schools free schools or state schools (except church schools) all have to have distances from your home to your school<br /><br />Can Camden not build a new secondary school in our area or do what the Free school people are doing (I was so happy when UCL opened because I believed it would be a option but its not) reading somewhere else it seems Camden have the money now and doesn't need to sale of the land to build the school<br /><br /><br />Also even if they get the green light as we have seen from other schools that got the green light but are not opening no building means no school so maybe we should campaign for Camden not to sale of the land and build a bigger school on the land <br /><br />I have a child going to secondary school soon I would think about sending my child to UCL but I'm not close enough, not so keen on Hampstead so going down the church school and hopefully sending her to St M she doesn't start for 2 years maybe Ill start my own campaign for Camden to build a bigger school on that land i'm not as articulate as some of you but i would like another school (new baby on the way and would like her /him to have a place) i would like to move closer to UCL but live in affordable housing<br /><br />Maybe what we should do is form our own group and forget about the Free school people and get Camden to build this school under Camden power so it covers both primary and secondary<br /><br />What do you think? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com