Dear Bill
The record of Everton
in the Community is absolutely exemplary, fans are extremely proud of
the outreach work with young people and in particular the campaigns
to combat racism. However, all of this excellent work is at risk of
being indelibly tarnished and compromised by Everton's sponsorship of
a Free School.
Many fans have raised
that basic question – what is a football club doing trying to run a
school? In the club's original proposals published in November 2011
the last page carries a general statement by the Conservative
Education Minister, Michael Gove, extolling the virtues of Free
Schools. I am seriously concerned how the club has become involved
with such a controversial policy that is attempting to undermine
state education.
The Everton Free School
Consultation document also refers to the recent Taylor Report on
alternative provision for excluded and disadvantaged children. Again,
another reading of this report is to bring private providers into
education and undermine the pay and conditions of teachers and other
staff.
It's claimed that the
Everton Free School will 'not compete' with state education, I think
this is a misleading claim. If the Everton Free School enrols
excluded young people the Consultation Document claims that the
'indicative funding' could be from ₤11,000 to ₤13,000 per pupil,
so with 200 pupils (the target in three year's time) that would be
over ₤2 million taken from schools in the state system. Inevitably
special schools and Pupil Referral Units will close as a result of
the Everton Free School. The danger is that our education system will
end up like America's, with different private companies and charities
providing education, leaving an underfunded, broken public education
system.
I am also extremely
concerned about the actual proposals for the Everton Free School and
its state of readiness. The recent public consultation is being
carried out over two days in the Liverpool Community College Learning
Exchange in the city centre. From talking to fans who attended, there
hasn't been a great turnout. Why not have the consultation at Everton
or call a meeting for fans where alternative points of view could be
expressed?
The consultation
document outlines how the Free School will work with the
'marginalised and excluded' and a date of September 2012 is given for
the opening. Given that, why was a Principal only appointed on a full
time basis from the beginning of June (six weeks before the end of
the school term)? Apparently no other staff have been appointed up to
date. When will other staff be appointed and as teachers have to give
a term's notice to their previous employer, how does the Free School
propose to recruit experienced teachers?
Another point of
concern with Free Schools is the loss of democratic control and
accountability. Who will be on the governing body of the Free School?
Will fans, parents and staff be included? How will the local
community be represented?
Please could someone
explain why the Everton Free School has called in as 'project
managers' the Place Group (based in Manchester) which is overseeing
scores of applications for academies and free schools from all over
the country. Is the Everton Free School really a community driven
project or part of an ideological attempt to introduce the profit
motive into education?
Also the Everton Free
School does not have its own purpose built premises but will be using
the Liverpool Community College Learning Exchange. Given that two
thirds of the pupils in the Everton Free School will be under 16,
what separate provision is there in the building for these children?
From the evidence it
appears that the Everton Free School is a reckless gamble,untried and
untested staff (not even appointed yet) working with the most
vulnerable, the marginalised and excluded children who have failed to
thrive in mainstream schools and in a building that is designed for
adult education.
The Everton Free School
has attracted support because of the club's name and history. It can
work both ways, because if there are problems with the Free School
this will forever tarnish Everton's reputation. There is still time
for the club to withdraw from the Free School and concentrate on
running a football team.
Yours sincerely
Richard Knights
Evertonians Against a
Free School
I'd like to support your camapaign Richard, as I'm sure would many others.
ReplyDeleteLet us know what we can do to help.
Thanks. Come along to the meeting on July 17th.
DeleteThe arguments you make are sound and sensible. In theory teachers would still be employed, however, but their paymasters would be different. Would they be part of a union? One has to wonder if this has been sold to Everton FC as a package by the Place Group with the PR opportunities as the selling point. Incidentally this cant be good news for existing users of the college knowing that its corridors will soon be filled with marginalised and excluded youths. Frequently they are marginalised and excluded for a reason.
ReplyDelete