SMCA Parents

30th June 2002
The selection procedure is over for parent representatives on the temporary Parents Consultative Committee. According to the Vardy Foundation, 22 people applied for the 4 seats, which is apparently more than they expected. For those unsuccessful applicants the Foundation expressed a wish that they would still consult with the successful parents in order to make their views known. We hope that the Foundation will supply other parents with the representatives names, or that they will come forward and make themselves known, so that this is possible. We are sure that the involvement of Mr. Gaskell and Teachers from Coulby School ensured that the draw for representatives was conducted in a fair manner.

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
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www.schoolweb.middlesbrough.gov.uk
Dr.Alan Leighton --mailto:aleighton@argonet.co.uk"
Thanks Dr Leighton

This will also be placed on our comments page.

26th June 2002
Email contact from David Vardy:
"Thank you for your email to Val Boyers dated 22 June 2002.
We are happy to keep parents involved in all that is going on and are presently setting up a Parents Consultative Group which is due to meet for the first time on Monday 8 July. Through that group we will disseminate information to the parent body at Brackenhoe, Beverley and Coulby Newham Schools.
Details of the governing body and the structures will be announced in the forthcoming newsletter and will be posted on the Academy website. We would ask for your patience for a few days until these are produced and then the information you request will be in the public domain. Please be assured of our desire to keep you informed and to ensure parents are perfectly content with all that is going on.
Kind regards, David Vardy Project Director "

22nd June 2002
Email to Val Boyers EC Educational Services Ltd (Vardy Foundation):
"Dear Ms Boyers,
Thank you for contacting SMCA Parents. We hope you will not object to our publishing your contact details on the SMCA website so that parents will be able to contact you individually with their concerns.
We also hope that you will be able to address and answer queries put to you on their behalf, and that you will not object to your answers being published.
Such a dialogue will help to dispel any unhelpful rumours etc. which may have been circulating, and allow us to proceed in building the sort of educational estabishment which we all believe our children deserve.
Many parents have been asking what and who actually make up existing governing body of the Academy . As you may be aware, the lack of parental and local representation on this body is one of the main concerns of parents. Would you be able to tell us who the present sponsor nominees for the board are, and who has been guiding the development of the Academy so far?
Regards SMCA Parents "

21st June 2002
We finally have a contact email address for the Vardy Foundation that works, courtesy of this email received today:

" As you are aware we still do not have an office in Middlesbrough and probably won't now until September however, you can contact me by telephone, mobile or email if you have any questions or require any further information.
Best regards
Val Boyers Project Administrator
EC Educational Services Ltd (Vardy Foundation)
Tel: 01642 647673 Mobile: 07748 153563
Email: val.boyers@ntlworld.com "

Hopefully Ms Boyers will be able to answer some of our questions.

11th June 2002
We hope that as many people as possible will fill in their forms to take part in the "Parents' Consultative Group". While this may be merely a "talking shop" and must not be mistaken for the Governing Body/Board of Directors, it is important that everyone shows how seriously parents take their involvement with the running of the New Academy.

05th June 2002
The Northern Echo reports on a planned visit to Emmanuel College by Middlesbrough Councillor's including Paul Thompson, to address Parents' concerns