Our packed schools are a big issue
By Kent and Sussex Courier | Thursday, January 26, 2012, 08:00
Comment on Can our schools cope? from pages 6 and 7
TRYING to secure a school place for their child is among parents' most stressful experiences.
In Tunbridge Wells it is even more of a problem with several primary schools already horribly oversubscribed.
The situation is set to worsen over the next few years, forcing action to be taken.
As we reported last week, a group of parents is trying to create a new primary under the Government's "free school" initiative, and is looking for a suitable building that can converted, plus parents to register their interest.
Looking at the figures, which are nothing short of alarming, this kind of approach is what is required.
However, it is also clear that a new school will not solve the problem.
It will undoubtedly help ease the situation, but with an estimated 562 more children needing primary school places in Tunbridge Wells within three years, than in 2009/10, more needs to be done.
Kent County Council was reticent to comment this week on the primary school places crisis, an approach which will concern many parents.
What people need to see is a clear and workable solution to a problem which those in charge of our schools have known for several years was looming.
Comment on Mum slates 'offensive' images in high street from page 35
HAVE our morals collapsed along with our economy?
Has good old fashioned decency been further eroded from society?
Or is this example one that adds weight to the notion that we Brits are unnecessarily reserved?
Judging what might offend members of the public is a near impossible task.
One person's amusement at a racy joke is another's outrage over a public obscenity.
While one shopper will eagerly take a novelty item to the tills, another will storm there with a complaint.
We have sympathy with those shops trying to improve their sales who cater for an ever more liberal consumer, but they must be careful to what extent they push this boundary.
Comment on Hundreds more sign our petition to widen the A21 from page 18
THANK you to everyone who signed our petition at our day of action over the weekend.
Families turned up at 10am on the dot to add their support to our calls to widen the gridlocked road.
David Cameron asked for people to shout loudly if they want axed road projects to be revived.
Together, we are sending him a clear message.
Comments
So are you saying that the current situation with education and the country in general has nothing to do with Socialist Labour that was in power for much of the last decade but everything to do with Lady Thatcher who ceased to be prime minister 21 years ago.
Perhaps you could also expand on your definition of privatising schools because I am not aware of this program.
I have got children at an excellent school in Tunbridge Wells that has now got academy status-it was excellent and is still excellent.The only difference is the funding whereby schools can decide what they spend money on without interference from local politicians who know nothing about schooling and education but everything about political indoctrination.
By MrSwing at 22:30 on 02/02/12
Report"Socialist self loathing", Swing??? Not at all! I wear my symbol with pride!
And don't believe everything you read in the D(i)M, this site's newspaper brother.
By Jayaydee at 18:00 on 02/02/12
ReportCareful jayadee your socialist self loathing is clouding your judgement.
"Thatcher" as you charmingly refer to Margaret Thatcher hasnt been in power for 21 years so she cannot be blamed for the current mess in the education system or anywhere else come to that.
The blame for the current mess lies firmly with the Socialist Labour Party who have destroyed state education and the country in general for ideological reasons.
"Socialists always run out of other people money to spend."
By MrSwing at 09:12 on 02/02/12
ReportIn the light of this and recent reports in the national press, this government seems hellbent on privatising large swathes of our education system for ideological reasons. Perhaps aided and abetted by Conservative councils like Kent?
It has even been admitted by government that some of these privatised schools will fail. How will this help our children to achieve their full potential?.
This is true for the other major public sector "business"/employer too, ie, the NHS.
Finishing "Thatcher's work"?
By Jayaydee at 22:40 on 01/02/12
ReportI would be very interested to understand where the "estimated 562 more children needing primary school places in Tunbridge Wells" figure is sourced from. An update would be appreciated.
This seems to be a very important issue that is ignored by everyone at KCC - forcing members of the public to take matters into their own hands by trying to start a 'free school' - not a sustainable approach.
By CR555 at 08:56 on 31/01/12
Report