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SIX "FAILING" BRUM SCHOOLS TAKEN INTO TRUST

19-03-2010

The Stirrer understands that six struggling schools in Birmingham will shortly be designated as National Challenge Trusts and given a new management structure in a bid to improve results. They include Moseley School – which an ex-Chair of governors claims is being “victimised” by its inclusion.

The other schools affected are the worst performing in the city – Kings Norton High, Frankley, Castle Vale, the International School in Tile Cross, and Four Dwellings in Quinton.

They will be under the control of a separate Trusts, appointed by the local authority, which are likely to include South Birmingham Community College and Birmingham City University.

Moseley’s situation is curious as the key criterion for National Challenge status is the likelihood of a school achieving 30% five GCSE’s including English and Maths by 2011 – a landmark they have already achieved.

Another quirk of Moseley’s situation is that we understand the intention is to give nearby Queensbridge School a role in the Trust – even though its most recent results were less successful.

Dr David Simons-Jones who headed the recently deposed governing body commented, “We feel we are being victimised – and we have our own reasons why we think it’s happening.

“The school’s record doesn’t merit this, but the idea is to silence the governors.

“We didn’t always agree, but we never squabbled, and it was the governors who raised the issue about the schools standards.

“They want automatons, but we are not robots and we never will be. We want to run the school in the interests of parents, students and ratepayers.”

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