Your Comments on South Middlesbrough City Academy
email us via SMCAparents@coulbynet.co.uk
5th December 2002
I would like to add these thoughts to the issue of the Vardy Foundation
building a new school in Coulby Newham.
I think that whatever feelings about the place while we were there, all people who leave secondary school feel an attachment to their school. I left Coulby Newham School in 1990 and as with any other ex pupil, it is a significant part of my heritage and my past and these feelings are personal to anyone who has left their school.
Personally, I think that although people are right to ask questions, I
do strongly believe that they are asking questions about the wrong problem.
The fact that the new school will have a a strong Christian emphasis is
surely a good thing. Our society suffers significantly from all of todays
problems. I think it is fair to say that in times gone by, these problems
didn't exist in anywhere near the proportions that they do today and a lot
of that was down to Christian teaching and living in a more honourable way.
Honourable to our friends, family, neighbours and the community we live
in. Society today is of the none-caring, me me me, selfish mentality. Christian
teaching and Christian living is an excellent way to resolve the problems
we have in our society today - so I find myself asking : what is there to
be concerned about? Why is there a problem with teaching creationism and
teaching evolution. Evolution is a theory - it has yet to be proven or disproven!
That is a fact. And before anyone argues, I am a scientist and a Christian.
I believe that there is more evidence pointing towards the existence of
creation than there is for evolution. Besides, I would much rather think
of myself as created for a purpose out of love, than think of myself as
a
cosmic accident and just existing in the world for a time. Wouldn't you?The
more important issue here is that of a waste of millions of money
whatever the source. Coulby Newham School is less than 25 years old. It
is a relatively new building. Why knock down a new building and spend £20m
on another new building (which probably won't be big enough), when all they
need to do is extend the existing school building for far less cash. There
are schools in Middlesbrough crying out for cash to spend on serious and
urgent building needs. OK, so this is private money, but the question still
remains - why waste cash on a new building, when it would be easier and
cheaper to extend the existing one - the newest secondary school building
in Middlesbrough. It is almost sticking 2 fingers up at those schools struggling
with delapidated buildings. If I was still at school or about to send a
child there myself, this is the issue that would concern me.
It maybe a little late, but if people had concentrated on real issues instead
of relatively insignificant worries, then part of mine and a few
thousand others heritages wouldn't be flattened next year. It would have
been better for people to stop battling about issues which are good and
decent and concentrate on the issue which grates on every taxpayer - wasting
much needed money on things that aren't needed - even if the money is private
cash. I know that there is nothing to stop things progressing the way they
are, but I hope these thoughts get people to concentrate more on the issues
that REALLY affect our society and DO something about them. Teaching Christian
living is anything but bad and if it had been taught up to now the way it
used to be, then our society would surely be much better to live in than
it actually is? This new school and its ethos has a huge potential to create,
over time, a much better Coulby Newham for all to live
in. Isn't that what people really want?
Stewart Ashcroft (Class of 1990, Coulby Newham School)
26th June
2002
Having
heard that Rev. Dr. Alan Leighton, a well known and well respected local
clergyman, was to sit on our Board of Directors, we asked him for any comments
or advice for parents. He very kindly sent this reply:
" I have accepted the SMCA's invitation to be a director of the
school.
I have had quite a lot of experience in education having been a school governor
for over 15 years, both on Staplyton and Gillbrook Secondary Schools. I
have been Chair of Gillbrook Technology for the last four years.
I have also been a member of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious
Education since the days of Cleveland CC. I now serve both on Redcar and
Middlesbrough SACREs as Vice Chair. I write a daily RE/Assembly resource
sheet for many schools. You can access these at any time by logging on to
www.schoolweb.middlesbrough.gov.uk
and click on Staff Room and then SACRE Assemblies. Please feel to have a
good read! If you would like a personal reference please ring the Head of
Gillbrook Mrs Hillary Ellis.
Please free to look at St.George's web site www.st-georges-org.uk
where you will see that I am Chair of both the Hope Foundation and Teen
Challenge Teesside. I have lived in the area for 23 years and my daughter
and her family live in Coulby Newham.
It is my opinion that the school is a fantastic opportunity for the children
of SM and I have great faith that it will produce good academic results
and cooperating with parents help to develop our childrens' full potential.The
Board has first class directors who will fulfil their duty to make SMCA
a school to be proud of. Children from all back grounds, all faiths and
non faiths will be respected and taught to respect others. The Christian
ethos will not be denominational like C of E and RC schools but giving an
atmosphere of peace, honesty, care, respect and achedemic achievement.
I know there has been a concern about creational theology but the SMCA will
teach the current 'Evolutionary' theories including 'The Steady State' and
'The Big Bang' Theories as well as what Christians (And all other faiths)
believe which is that God is the Creator.
I will promise that you can always contact me about any matter regarding
the SMCA at anytime.
Alan
--
Rev. Dr. Alan GC Leighton,
The Rectory, 429,
Normanby Rd,
Normanby,
Middlesbrough,
TS6 0ED Website
--
www.schoolweb.middlesbrough.gov.uk
Dr.Alan Leighton --mailto:aleighton@argonet.co.uk"
Thanks Dr Leighton
26 June
2002
Extract from an email from Secondary Schools Campaign In Lambeth
"We
have had the same problem as you in that we have always been outside the
loop as far as information is concerned, we have had to fight very hard
for every bit of information & to be involved & consulted. One positive
we have had more or less from the beginning is the active support & help
of one of our local MPs Kate Hoey. She has supported local parents/governors
right to have a say over the proposals, & for an accountable governing body
for the school. She got us in to see the Minister Steven Timms & has come
to public meetings & demonstrations. I dont know who your local MP is but
you need to get them informed & involved as soon as possible, meet up &
demonstrate that you have legitimate concerns about the way that the new
school is going to be run. You already know you need to inform local parents
& get them to lobby MPs & councillors. We have also managed to get good
coverage in the local papers for our campaign, so talk to journalists on
the local papers & get them interested. Secondary transfer problems for
families have certainly been a big story in London over the last year or
two.
The consultation report on our new school is due to come out tomorrow, we
will find out then whether the points parents made during consultation have
been registered. Good luck & please get in touch again if there is any assistance
we can give.
Eileen Hogan Chair Secondary Schools Campaign In Lambeth"
Their web site
is:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/stevemalone/sscil/welcome.html
25 May 2002
It is quite clear from Mr John Burn's writings in his other guise as Chairman of the Christian Institute, that his whole purpose in being involved in running schools is to convert children to his own brand of Christianity, which claims that everything in the Bible is absolute historical fact. In his article "Christian Influence in Education" for the Faith in Education Newsletter - Issue 3, July 2001, he asks:So presumably no
Harry Potter or Philip Pullman.
He recognises the importance and influence, then, of parent governors. However,
he appears to be fairly keen on the idea of reducing parental influence, as
in the "Smaller and more focused" set up of the governing bodies
of the City Academies.
"Within the state sector there is already the emergence of ten City Academies modelled on, but not identical to, the City Technology Colleges. These are currently 11-18 institutions but soon may be 5-16 or 5-18 institutions. They are independent of Local Authorities and non-fee paying. They are comprehensive schools. The governing bodies of these Academies will be smaller and more focused. They will be partnerships between the business community and the government. If Christians are alert to the opportunity and prepared to work hard at it, some of these schools can be established as being clearly Christian."
So it appears to
be desirable for " Biblical Christians " to exert influence
on the governing bodies of state schools, but less desirable for the rest of
us, the 'godless majority' to have an equal amount of influence in so-called
nondenominational, non-faith, Christian sponsored City Academies!
God help (if a heathen like myself is allowed to pray) our poor infants when
these "currently 11-18 institutions" become " 5-16
or 5-18 institutions." We may look forward to a generation of well
qualified, narrow-minded 'stepford children'.
25 May 2002
Look out for a report on Tyne Tees Television this Tuesday 28/05/02
24 May 2002
"Having
attended the recent meeting at Coulby School, I feel very strongly that the
Vardy Foundation and the LEA have much to explain about this City Academy.
The vast majority of parents are blissfully unaware of the consequences of
having such an Academy set up in Coulby Newham, and having researched this,
I am sure that most people would feel quite angry to find out that the sponsor
of this Academy advocates Christian Fundamentalism. The Vardy foundation are
committed Christians or better still, 'Creationists'. In fact, one of the
Governors, Mr Burn, has lectured on this and was once the Head of the Emmanuel
college. His articles on the Internet are scary reading, and they openly state
that they would like 'Christianity' to have a more prominent place across
the whole curriculum. They are worried about the demise of Christianity in
schools, but feel sure that more Christians could be persuaded by their cause.
What better way to propagate their beliefs, than to put money into Schools.
£2 million has guaranteed the Vardy Foundation all the control that
they need, as the LEA will have no real input once the school is up and running,
apart from one seat on the board of governors and one parent governor seat.
Proportional representation is what, as parents, we should demand.
As parents, we should not feel bullied into accepting the inevitable. We can
make a difference.
We need another open forum with the councillors/M'bro council/our M.P's and
even our 'elected' Mayor and Mr Burn, in order to further discuss our concerns.
People need to ask more questions before it is too late!!
A very concerned parent!!"
24 May 2002
"Let's
not forget this is not just about creationism. It's about parent's and children's
rights.
I wish Mr Blair could explain to me how knocking down 2 schools and building
1, then giving control of it away, and only having one parent on the board,
is increasing parent's choice, 'cause I can't see it!"
24 May 2002
Professor Richard Dawkins has pledged his support to us and allows us to publish this statement about Emmanuel College
"It is a matter of public record that the Head of Science at Emmanuel, Steven Layfield, is a Young Earth Creationist who believes that the Universe is only a few thousand years old, contradicting not just biology but physics, geology, geography, cosmology and archeology too. When I raised this preposterous fact with Sir Peter Vardy, he said that "Whilst he is entitled absolutely to his own personal view, he is not teaching this in the College's science lessons." So that's all right then! But if the Head of Classics went on record as believing that Tennyson was the author of the Iliad, should we be reassured if he promised to keep his private beliefs to himself and not mention them in class? On the contrary, we would agree that anybody capable of having such screwy beliefs is not qualified to teach classics. If Ofsted have not similarly lost confidence in Steven Layfield's ability to run a school science department, this seems to be good grounds for losing confidence in Ofsted."
24 May 2002
Bravo for all your hard work.
As an American who has been quite active in fighting against the creationists, I applaud you. You may wish to take a look at this website as well - very scary!
http://www.answersingenesis.org/events/
Good luck!
r. elisabeth cornwell
elbert, colorado
23 May 2002
Evening
Gazette
Concerns about academy backer
Ross Smith And Lyndsay Emmett, Evening Gazette
Worried parents are banding together to fight the influence of a Christian
organisation at a new city academy on Teesside.
They fear the Vardy Foundation will have too much clout at the new academy at Coulby Newham and have demanded a meeting to thrash out parents' concerns.
The Vardy Foundation, which runs Gateshead's controversial Emmanuel College, has donated £2m towards the £15m school due to open next year.
Five out of seven governors at the new school would be nominated by the foundation alongside one parent and one representative from the local education authority.
Now a local councillor has taken up the protest on behalf of parents, and is seeking assurances the school would meet the needs of all pupils whatever their religious needs or cultural background.
The Vardy Foundation today assured parents they had nothing to fear.
Emmanuel hit the headlines earlier this year after an MP raised concerns in the House of Commons about its creationist teaching, which presents the Bible's account of creation as more acceptable than scientific explanations.
Coulby Newham - where the new academy will be based - and Brackenhoe Schools are due to close in August next year, with their pupils switching to the new academy.
Tom Mawston, Liberal Democrat leader on Middlesbrough Council is to raise concerns over the academy with the council's corporate director of education.
"This would be the only secondary school in South Middlesbrough," he said. "If parents do not want their children to go to this school because of its 'Christian ethos' they will be forced to look elsewhere."
Councillor Mawston, a Marton Ward councillor, said there were also concerns about the Creationist teaching and issues about the school uniform.
"A proportion of children who would go to this academy are from ethnic minority groups and I am seeking assurances the needs of pupils whatever their religious or cultural background is met."
But Vardy Foundation spokesman John Burn insists parents have nothing to fear, adding: "We are not going to manipulate children. We will teach the National Curriculum, including Darwin's theory of evolution.
"We will seek to provide what other schools do very well. We will teach children about other religions and we will seek to do so well."
Mrs Linda McEvoy, whose two daughters will go to the school, told the Gazette: "We want a public meeting with the council, Ray Mallon and the Vardy Foundation.
"And we want parents to get in touch because a lot of parents won't know about the foundation's Christian ethos."
Stuart Parker, of Marton, whose son is also a Coulby Newham student, said: "I'm very concerned about creationist teaching - these are impressionable young kids."
Ethnic minority groups fear children will be forced to learn something that goes against their culture.
Roopinder Singh, secretary of the Gurwara Sikh Temple in Howard Street, said. "If this is what they are going to be taught then it is wrong. The children shouldn't be forced down one avenue."
Parents will be asked to sign a contract saying the 1200 children at the academy will stick to school rules.
A spokesman for Middlesbrough LEA said reservations had been made about the governor set-up at public meetings.
He said: "This is the way the Department for Education and Skills have set up the city academy. We are willing to look into the matter further."
Barbara
Comiskey, corporate director of education at Middlesbrough Council, said:
"In our extensive discussions with the foundation and with Government,
there has been nothing to concern us about the standards and content of teaching
at the school."
16 May 2002
"In
a radio interview following the last meeting at Coulby School, Mr Ray Mallon
and others suggested that those worried about the school's ethos were "ill
informed". He didn't appear to have been"informed" about the unfair
arrangements of the school board. One seat for parents, one for the LEA and
Five for the Vardy Foundation? This can't be right..
Let's get informed. Share information, and keep asking questions.
Comments were made about the unreliability of journalists and the Internet.
Presumably the website of Emmanuel college is considered reliable:
http://www.emmanuelctc.org.uk/
The Christian Institute's site must also be reliable as Mr Burn has his
own articles published on it along with Mr. McQuoid of Emmanuel College:
http://www.christian.org.uk/html-publications/pub_education.htm
They make interesting reading. Maybe Mr Mallon should take a look.
Few of us will argue with many of the Vardy Corporation's aims. Many are laudable
and to be welcomed, if the methods may me questionable.
So many of us will have put C of E or RC or the like, on the Census form.
There are few if any "Christian bashers" around. Every parent recognises the
importance of a spiritual or pastoral element in education. It is Extremism
and Fundamentalism, in any form, which so alarms people. Its dangers have
been so evident around the world in recent months.
It is vitally important that we do not descend into pointless theological
arguments over the Academy. There can never be a winner. Everyone's right
to their own personal beliefs must be respected.
It's been suggested that we had been fed information on a "need to know basis".
As parents we need to know Everything.
At this late stage in the proceedings we simply cannot afford for this scheme
to collapse. The LEA, the people we expect to represent our children's interests,
appear to have been effectively dealt out of the game. Do we allow an organisation
that has put up 10% of the funds to claim a disproportionate number of seats
at the table? Don't forget, the remaining 90% comes from us, along with the
school's most valuable asset, its students.
A Parent "