I have published all the points that were written down on the question sheets for people to consider for the next meeting. Some of the issues were raised and responded to during the meeting, but I think it is useful to have it documented and for those who were unable to attend the meeting to have the opportunity to learn about the interests and concerns raised at this early stage. I have copied the comments verbatim, though any typos are mine. There is no particular order to the comments, though I have tried to group comments that were on a similar theme.
Please feel free to respond to any of the comments through the blog and initiate discussion prior to the next meeting.
Responses from people attending 13th May 2008 meeting : Creating an Urban Village School for our Community
What features of Human Scale Education do you find attractive?
It’s small, child gets personal long term support from a teacher who has got to know them over a period of time
Small is beautiful – learning life skills
Size is important! Not getting lost in the machine
Continuity of contact with one teacher over time
Strong relationships, core stability
Contact with fewer teachers and visa versa to build relationship
Teachers getting to know learners – keeping communication channels open between home and school
Pupils are valued and known by staff
Support for child, teacher always available to help
Community engagement – education in a community context
Involved in community and not trapped in a big institution
School working as a community itself – coherent unit
Engagement in learning/ life/ community
Parental participation
More scope for involvement of parents in school
Testimony of children saying that they were safe
Thinking going into the structure of every aspect of the school, careful planning, wholesome approach to teaching
Small staff group – more able to meet and understand children
Good for vocational type lessons
Changing the curriculum – less emphasis on knowledge (more on learning skills)
What features of Human Scale Education concern you?
Potential lack of some facilities
Potential lack of some specialisms/ knowledge amongst staff
Access to resources? Facilities?
Will there be enough expertise?
Would the extra curricular activities be diminished? Not enough takers on groups, teams or lessons?
What are the implications of the curriculum?
Will standards and achievement be influenced?
Concerns about mixed ability teaching? Is it effective?
Can extreme ranges of ability be catered for?
Where it would be in Montpelier/ St. Pauls/ St. Werburghs
Selection criteria when over subscribed
Potential involvement in setting up
Not governmental support, could it really happen?
Surely we should be supporting the big schools rather than pulling resources away from them, i.e. fixing the big schools rather than starting something else
Fairfield School
Will small numbers on role mean that more limited funding is available to the school?
Too small classes can be a problem? We think there must be an optimum class size
Timescale
What would be your priorities in making an urban village school?
September 2011
No SATs
Contact with PGCE
Building lessons around the child and not fitting them into blocks
Wide variety of wholesome/ vocational lessons and activities
More flexibility for the school to determine curriculum
Parental participation, getting members of the community in to teach – demonstrate etc.
Integration – community involvement
Ensuring that the school is diverse and truly represents the community it will serve
Expertise – people like James to guide us through the system – advisory panel, steering group.
Making links with small schools – benefiting from their experience/ success
Inspirational headteacher!
Get political support for this project
More care for the children
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