Meeting documents

Statement from Mrs Kay Carpenter for the cabinet meeting 14^th May 2008 at 10.00am

As a member of the bath electorate and parent of a young woman currently being educated at Oldfield School I was interested to hear how the council would manage the problem of the reducing numbers of children forecast to need places at secondary school in the coming years.

When looking for a secondary place for my oldest daughter some 6 years ago Oldfield School stood out as providing the best for girls both academically and due to its sport's specialism, in the range of wider activities available to my daughter.

Six years on that has changed. Oldfield has managed to become even better. It is one of the few schools to be invited and to apply for a second specialism in Arts. Which it achieved.

You will all know that last year Oldfield was assessed as an outstanding school by Ofsted. I was not surprised by this assessment. From my own experience I believe that the school is managed by an excellent team who are forward thinking and committed to embracing new challenges for the benefits of students of all abilities within the school. Oldfield has a robust governing body and inspirational teachers who are committed to their subjects and give freely of their time to ensure that every student within the school achieves her very best. During my many discussions with staff over the years I have noted that the school does not view its pupils solely on their academic potential but as individuals who will need to learn values and skills to enable them to become productive members of society. Students are encouraged to question and to look at how they can make a difference for the benefit of others.

So, how does this Local Authority look to nurture and expand this expertise and excellence for the benefit of students in the years ahead. It suggests that Oldfield should close.

If the council's assessment is that there is a demand for single sex education within the Local Authority then why is the school which has proved to be consistently better at providing that education for girls earmarked for closure? Is excellent educational provision only to be made available to boys in this authority in the future?

If the council believe that there is only a limited demand for single sex education and that more co-educational places should be provided then why was Oldfield's offer to move to co-education ignored?

Currently St.Marks school is undersubscribed which would suggest to me that there is little demand for an Anglican secondary school within this Local Authority. Why then is it suggested that Oldfield's replacement should be another Anglican school?

I look to this meeting to think very hard about the proposals you have made. I can see no benefit in spending council tax payers' money in removing an excellent school from the education available in this area and then replace it with a school which it would appear that nobody wants.