York secondary school closure shock (From York Press)
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Burnholme Community College faces closure by 2014
8:30am Tuesday 21st February 2012 in News
Exclusive By Haydn Lewis, Education reporter
Head teacher Simon Gumn
Updated: YORK’S education chiefs have begun talks to close one of the city’s secondary schools.
Only four years after a previous fight began to keep Burnholme Community College open, falling rolls have forced the council to consult on a phased closure of the school – as first revealed by thepress.co.uk yesterday.
The school, with 230 pupils, is York’s smallest secondary.
When the school was saved from closure in 2009 it had 360 pupils and a business plan was drawn up which should have seen 60, 70 and then 80 pupils starting in Year 7 year on year. But instead this year’s September intake stands at only 40 children.
If agreed, the phased closure would mean the school would shut in 2014. There would be no new intake in September and specific communication with the 40 parents who have made it their first choice for 2012 will take place.
The 66 children currently in Year 8 will transfer in groups to other secondary schools in September 2013 ready to begin their GCSE courses.
The 47 children currently in Year 7 will transfer in groups to other secondary schools in September 2014 so that they can begin their GCSE courses at their new school. This would mean the current Years 9, 10 and 11 – the CGSE years – would not be affected.
Simon Gumn, the school’s head teacher, said a fall in the birth rate 11 years ago coupled with an expansion in the number of student homes in their chief catchment area of Burnholme and Tang Hall meant that, despite a lot of hard work done over the last four years to attract more pupils, they have been fighting a losing battle.
Mr Gumn said: “We have done a good deal of work, but what’s beaten us is the numbers of pupils available and that’s why, when the governors met to talk about the school’s future, they realised that it would not be possible to provide the education we would like with the numbers we have.
"They also recognise that it’s not just about the young people at Burnholme, but the young people of York as a whole and if we went to the local authority to ask for further funds we would be taking money away from other schools.”
Kim Daniells, chairman of governors, said: “Three or four years ago the problem was we weren’t attracting enough children, but now there aren’t enough children to attract.
“It is heartbreaking to be where we are at. My son came to Burnholme, this is our community school – it’s deeply sad and I feel personally sad for all the people who are affected, but we are absolutely committed to maintaining the excellent standards of teaching at the school throughout the process and to making any transition as smooth as possible.”
As schools are paid on a per pupil basis the fact that Burnholme is such a small school means that in September £9,500 would be spent on every child at Burnholme per year compared with between £4,200 and £5,500 at other city secondaries and keeping the school open would mean the other eight secondary schools subsidising Burnholme to the tune of about £60,000 each.
Council chiefs have said the decision to start a consultation on closure was not to do with budget cuts.
Council leader, James Alexander, said: “You never want to close a school, especially one that has had good grades and a good Ofsted like Burnholme, but we have to plan for the future and a school year group of 40 children is not going to allow the school to offer a wide curriculum.”
Coun Janet Looker, cabinet member for education, children and young people’s services, said: “Burnholme School has had a long and good track record as the local secondary school serving its community well – not just as a school much appreciated by local children and their parents but also providing much needed community facilities to the area.
“But changes in population mean that fewer and fewer families are choosing Burnholme as their first choice of school and once a school dips below a certain number it becomes increasingly difficult to give the pupils the range of curriculum and sporting opportunities that the children deserve.
"I know these are difficult times for families, but I know we will work hard to support children and their families over the transition.”
Pupils, parents and staff have been told of the start of the consulation yesterday and there will be a special parents’ meeting at the school tomorrow night to talk through the consultation.
A formal consultation with the wider community will begin in the next few days when people will be able to have their say on the plan.
Are you affected by the closure? email haydn.lewis@thepress.co.uk or tweet us on @yorkpress
Comments(55)
marvell
says...
4:41pm Mon 20 Feb 12
"Not to do with budget cuts" - more mendacious spin that they expect us to fall for...
R'Marcus
says...
4:42pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Perhaps some other schools should also close, too.
R'Marcus
says...
4:44pm Mon 20 Feb 12
They waste valuable resources and funds.
Even AndyD
says...
4:50pm Mon 20 Feb 12
marvell wrote:Oh dear. Whichever school you went to didn't have reading on its syllabus. You can see the reasons for closure plainly in the article; if it was budget related, do you really think the headmaster and unions wouldn't be shouting foul play from the roof tops. Are you one of those people who thinks the world financial crisis is a Labour problem too?
Hasn't taken long for Labour to wreak havoc has it?
"Not to do with budget cuts" - more mendacious spin that they expect us to fall for...
LibDem
says...
5:22pm Mon 20 Feb 12
The funding found by the, then LibDem led, council in 2009 was enough to keep the college open.
Now Labour are dumping additional costs onto schools. The latest example is a £195,000 bill for broadband costs.
That would be enough to keep the school solvent.
The last independent report on Burholme cited an "outstanding" performance. Just the sort of good performing, neighbourhood school that should be "cut a bit of slack".
The Press report is just Labour spin.
tizme
says...
5:36pm Mon 20 Feb 12
tizme
says...
5:37pm Mon 20 Feb 12
roadwars
says...
5:59pm Mon 20 Feb 12
yorksman
says...
6:03pm Mon 20 Feb 12
1984-89 there was a terrible bullying problem that was left alone as nobody wanted to tackle it and if you didn't fit they farmed you out to lower groups or indeed something called special programm where an out of sight out of mind approach was practised,there was only a handful of descent teacher's the others were over bearing heavy handed and thugs.
I'm glad its closing as it serves as a reminder of ,5 horrendous years of my life ill never get back
MrsDingledongle
says...
6:03pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Magritte
says...
6:04pm Mon 20 Feb 12
roadwars wrote:Yeh, ded rite roadwars, cudent aggree
Skool is a wayst ov monee, thay shud klose dem all.
moor!
dolly30
says...
6:09pm Mon 20 Feb 12
YorkGirl5
says...
6:25pm Mon 20 Feb 12
yorksman wrote:This is a ridiculous comment, this happened years ago, so how the hell can you know what it is like now? While I was there, there was no bullying, and everybody knew everybody.
I live in burnholme and attended the school from
1984-89 there was a terrible bullying problem that was left alone as nobody wanted to tackle it and if you didn't fit they farmed you out to lower groups or indeed something called special programm where an out of sight out of mind approach was practised,there was only a handful of descent teacher's the others were over bearing heavy handed and thugs.
I'm glad its closing as it serves as a reminder of ,5 horrendous years of my life ill never get back
Buzz Light-year
says...
6:33pm Mon 20 Feb 12
marvell wrote:When I went to put the milk in my tea this morning it was sour. How could that blasted current labour council/last labour government do that to me?!
Hasn't taken long for Labour to wreak havoc has it? "Not to do with budget cuts" - more mendacious spin that they expect us to fall for...
Seriously, can you not approach any issue at all objectively?
If labour were stumping up the cash you'd be on here slagging them off for wasting money.
Ignatius Lumpopo
says...
6:58pm Mon 20 Feb 12
PKH
says...
7:06pm Mon 20 Feb 12
LibDem wrote:According to the article pupil numbers have dropped by a third since 2009, making the school a lot less viable therefore your post appears to be just sour grapes.
The decision is a budget one.
The funding found by the, then LibDem led, council in 2009 was enough to keep the college open.
Now Labour are dumping additional costs onto schools. The latest example is a £195,000 bill for broadband costs.
That would be enough to keep the school solvent.
The last independent report on Burholme cited an "outstanding" performance. Just the sort of good performing, neighbourhood school that should be "cut a bit of slack".
The Press report is just Labour spin.
jake_woodall
says...
7:13pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Daley Mayall
says...
7:27pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Daley Mayall
says...
7:28pm Mon 20 Feb 12
colette
says...
9:09pm Mon 20 Feb 12
marvell
says...
9:19pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Buzz Light-year wrote:When this intellectually moribund Cabinet produce a budget of any sort of reality then I'll be more "objective"...
marvell wrote:When I went to put the milk in my tea this morning it was sour. How could that blasted current labour council/last labour government do that to me?!
Hasn't taken long for Labour to wreak havoc has it? "Not to do with budget cuts" - more mendacious spin that they expect us to fall for...
Seriously, can you not approach any issue at all objectively?
If labour were stumping up the cash you'd be on here slagging them off for wasting money.
I'd bet that the milk turned sour when you looked at it... ;o)
The Straight Bat
says...
9:26pm Mon 20 Feb 12
LibDem wrote:That's a bit rich coming from the same LibDem that tried so hard to close the school a couple of years back. Only a vigorous local campaign saved it from the LibDem axe back then.
The decision is a budget one.
The funding found by the, then LibDem led, council in 2009 was enough to keep the college open.
Now Labour are dumping additional costs onto schools. The latest example is a £195,000 bill for broadband costs.
That would be enough to keep the school solvent.
The last independent report on Burholme cited an "outstanding" performance. Just the sort of good performing, neighbourhood school that should be "cut a bit of slack".
The Press report is just Labour spin.
The result of the nation LibDem/Tory govenrment's cuts and the LibDems councils failure to control the indiscriminate spread of student housing while in charge of the council has left this school with no future.
paulinesnowden
says...
9:32pm Mon 20 Feb 12
to hear burnholme school closing down
yes there was bullying i was !!!!!!!!!!
but especially in the 60's there was a lot of brilliant teachers
and pupils
any body remember
mr pinders cane
and mr pilboroughs!!!!!!!!!
!!the days of respect
Even AndyD
says...
9:42pm Mon 20 Feb 12
marvell wrote:Got to look at the facts, not make the facts fit prejudices. Seriously, we've all been there with our pet biases, but its not the best way to live one's life, surely?
Buzz Light-year wrote:When this intellectually moribund Cabinet produce a budget of any sort of reality then I'll be more "objective"...
marvell wrote:When I went to put the milk in my tea this morning it was sour. How could that blasted current labour council/last labour government do that to me?!
Hasn't taken long for Labour to wreak havoc has it? "Not to do with budget cuts" - more mendacious spin that they expect us to fall for...
Seriously, can you not approach any issue at all objectively?
If labour were stumping up the cash you'd be on here slagging them off for wasting money.
I'd bet that the milk turned sour when you looked at it... ;o)
servingwench
says...
9:52pm Mon 20 Feb 12
What sort of pressure is this going to put on Archbishops? Are they going to bring back the school bus that used to run for free between Osbaldwick and Huntington school, i very much doubt it. This is really going to upset my primary school aged daughter who was looking forward to going "Archies" because the girls in her year that bully her are/were going to burnholme.....its just madness......so the council are telling us that only 40 people applied, what happened to allocating children to certain schools? why not half all the year 7 intakes in the tang hall/burnholme area between burnholme and archies and sticking to the catchment area requirements?
Yorkshire Soph
says...
10:21pm Mon 20 Feb 12
servingwench wrote:If a school is putting a burden on the others and wasting money then it should close no question about it, as for your daughter being upset because her bullies may now go to archies that doesnt imply the school closure is madness, whether or not it stays open needs to be in the best interest of the majority, not one child. Hopefully at a much larger school the bullies will lose interest in your daughter.
I cannot believe this is happening with all the new proposed "family affordable housing" that is being built in Derwenthorpe.....is this because the council know that really the houses are going to be snapped up for student lets. What sort of pressure is this going to put on Archbishops? Are they going to bring back the school bus that used to run for free between Osbaldwick and Huntington school, i very much doubt it. This is really going to upset my primary school aged daughter who was looking forward to going "Archies" because the girls in her year that bully her are/were going to burnholme.....its just madness......so the council are telling us that only 40 people applied, what happened to allocating children to certain schools? why not half all the year 7 intakes in the tang hall/burnholme area between burnholme and archies and sticking to the catchment area requirements?
Yorkshire Soph
says...
10:21pm Mon 20 Feb 12
servingwench wrote:If a school is putting a burden on the others and wasting money then it should close no question about it, as for your daughter being upset because her bullies may now go to archies that doesnt imply the school closure is madness, whether or not it stays open needs to be in the best interest of the majority, not one child. Hopefully at a much larger school the bullies will lose interest in your daughter.
I cannot believe this is happening with all the new proposed "family affordable housing" that is being built in Derwenthorpe.....is this because the council know that really the houses are going to be snapped up for student lets. What sort of pressure is this going to put on Archbishops? Are they going to bring back the school bus that used to run for free between Osbaldwick and Huntington school, i very much doubt it. This is really going to upset my primary school aged daughter who was looking forward to going "Archies" because the girls in her year that bully her are/were going to burnholme.....its just madness......so the council are telling us that only 40 people applied, what happened to allocating children to certain schools? why not half all the year 7 intakes in the tang hall/burnholme area between burnholme and archies and sticking to the catchment area requirements?
Yeahbutno
says...
10:26pm Mon 20 Feb 12
How many Archbishop's and even All Saints pupils live in Burnholme's catchment area? LOADS. Exactly the same problem in the other side of town, where Manor have increased their capacity, and drain students from York High School, which has produced amazing exam results, and OFSTED praise in recent years, but can't compete with the snobbish attitude that prevails with many parents.
We can blame current or previous politicians at the Guildhall, but ultimately it's the selfish parents who live near Burnholme, but send their kids elsewhere who have caused this to happen.
Very sad.
servingwench
says...
10:37pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Yorkshire Soph wrote:But if the council stuck to catchment areas that they set out surely burnholme would have enough pupils? I know of children that walk past burnholme to get to their secondary school of choice. I didnt just imply my daughters bully problem was the reason why i believe burnholme closing is madness, i also raised questions about the derwenthorpe development.....as i said earlier does this imply that the housing being built there is already earmarked for student lets? I just dont know how archbishops will cope with the extra students unless more classrooms are built, or we will be back at the same crisis we encountered when our children were allocated primary schools....too many children not enough places...all friends split up and one was expected to get a bus across to fulford to take their child to school....it will come unstuck in 4 years time when the baby-boom hits yr7 age......
servingwench wrote:If a school is putting a burden on the others and wasting money then it should close no question about it, as for your daughter being upset because her bullies may now go to archies that doesnt imply the school closure is madness, whether or not it stays open needs to be in the best interest of the majority, not one child. Hopefully at a much larger school the bullies will lose interest in your daughter.
I cannot believe this is happening with all the new proposed "family affordable housing" that is being built in Derwenthorpe.....is this because the council know that really the houses are going to be snapped up for student lets. What sort of pressure is this going to put on Archbishops? Are they going to bring back the school bus that used to run for free between Osbaldwick and Huntington school, i very much doubt it. This is really going to upset my primary school aged daughter who was looking forward to going "Archies" because the girls in her year that bully her are/were going to burnholme.....its just madness......so the council are telling us that only 40 people applied, what happened to allocating children to certain schools? why not half all the year 7 intakes in the tang hall/burnholme area between burnholme and archies and sticking to the catchment area requirements?
RoseD
says...
11:28pm Mon 20 Feb 12
Stevie D
says...
11:34pm Mon 20 Feb 12
servingwench wrote:
I cannot believe this is happening with all the new proposed "family affordable housing" that is being built in Derwenthorpe
You would be surprised at how few secondary age kids that size of development will generate. When you think that the whole city only gives under 10,000 kids at state secondary schools, and that Burnholme needs an extra 300-400 kids to even be approaching a viable size, you're not likely to get anywhere near that number from just 500 new homes.
so the council are telling us that only 40 people applied, what happened to allocating children to certain schools? why not half all the year 7 intakes in the tang hall/burnholme area between burnholme and archies and sticking to the catchment area requirements?
The government's policy is to allow parents to choose a school for their kids, rather than simply be allocated one. Because of the falling pupil numbers in that part of the city, there are more places at Archies than there are kids in the catchment area, which means that Archies can take more kids from out of catchment (usually from Burnholme's catchment). And because Archies is an academy, the council has very little say in its admissions - as long as they aren't turning pupils away unfairly, the council can't stop them from taking pupils from out of catchment who have applied.
tangyang
says...
11:47pm Mon 20 Feb 12
We live in the area and for all Archbishops is still fairly handy and was our second choice I feel extremely sorry for the possible 20 kids that could be forced to make the daily journey to Huntington, although that was my school and a really good one.
I wonder if the free bus will still run and if these family's will be entitled to free travel, I lived in Tang Hall as a child and was not entitled to the free travel as the entitlement mileage which I believe at that time was 3 miles was actually measured as the crow flew!
I had to cycle it in all weathers!
It will be interesting to see if any of our opinions actually make a difference at these consultations or if there just a formality thing that they have to do to follow 'procedures'
powerwatt
says...
6:42am Tue 21 Feb 12
Would be interesting to know the birth rate in the area as well.
The political landscape may only allow them to think in 5 year terms, but the world works in a lot longer. If another school is needed in the next 50 years, then the shut down is a pointless exercise as a new school will cost millions to set up.
dolly30
says...
7:03am Tue 21 Feb 12
Buzz Light-year
says...
7:58am Tue 21 Feb 12
marvell wrote:I guess I set myself up for that :)
Buzz Light-year wrote:When this intellectually moribund Cabinet produce a budget of any sort of reality then I'll be more "objective"... I'd bet that the milk turned sour when you looked at it... ;o)marvell wrote: Hasn't taken long for Labour to wreak havoc has it? "Not to do with budget cuts" - more mendacious spin that they expect us to fall for...When I went to put the milk in my tea this morning it was sour. How could that blasted current labour council/last labour government do that to me?! Seriously, can you not approach any issue at all objectively? If labour were stumping up the cash you'd be on here slagging them off for wasting money.
taffywilliams
says...
9:35am Tue 21 Feb 12
askham73
says...
9:56am Tue 21 Feb 12
bloodaxe
says...
10:22am Tue 21 Feb 12
LibDem
says...
10:24am Tue 21 Feb 12
This is precipice planning of the worst kind. Problems don't arise overnight and good communications with the whole of the local community is essential, particularly if parents are to be persuaded that a particular school is the best choice for their child.
Burnholme is not just a school. It is a community resource and – as John Tomsett rightly says – that role needs to be recognised and sustained.
One of the options to be considered should be to extend partnership working with a neighbouring school, maintaining some curriculum work on the site together with the leisure and other community facilities.
The consultation timescale appears to be insufficient to allow such alternatives to be properly considered.
bloodaxe
says...
10:33am Tue 21 Feb 12
tangyang
says...
10:49am Tue 21 Feb 12
The council are now looking to cap the amount of local student lets in the area plus with the extension of homes in our area (Derwenthorpe estate)
Surely the council can see this will only increase year 7 applications from next year?
Presumably they have the stastisics for births 12 years ago?
What I do find hard to understand is if this was such a problem why was the catchment area not increased over previous years to encourage more kids?
I've just checked the catchment area for Burnholme school on the council's website and have just noticed Osbaldwick does'nt even fall in the catchment area!
Why? Burnholme school can be walked to far quicker and safer than Archbishops along Metcalfe lane / cycle path straight in to the rear of the school grounds!
It looks to me like this school has been deliberately run down.
Guy Fawkes
says...
11:03am Tue 21 Feb 12
stewiegriffin
says...
12:35pm Tue 21 Feb 12
yorksman wrote:I also attended Burnholme between 84-89, recall there been a terrible bullying problem when I first started, but think that was mainly down to the Head (Mellor??) not having any sort of grip on discipline etc, and that changed when he left and the new guy (Ivan Chaplin??) took over, things improved drastically from there on
I live in burnholme and attended the school from 1984-89 there was a terrible bullying problem that was left alone as nobody wanted to tackle it and if you didn't fit they farmed you out to lower groups or indeed something called special programm where an out of sight out of mind approach was practised,there was only a handful of descent teacher's the others were over bearing heavy handed and thugs. I'm glad its closing as it serves as a reminder of ,5 horrendous years of my life ill never get back
Barfield24
says...
1:01pm Tue 21 Feb 12
Barfield24
says...
1:01pm Tue 21 Feb 12
R'Marcus
says...
4:05pm Tue 21 Feb 12
PKH wrote:LibDem is spouting drivel, as usual.
LibDem wrote:According to the article pupil numbers have dropped by a third since 2009, making the school a lot less viable therefore your post appears to be just sour grapes.
The decision is a budget one.
The funding found by the, then LibDem led, council in 2009 was enough to keep the college open.
Now Labour are dumping additional costs onto schools. The latest example is a £195,000 bill for broadband costs.
That would be enough to keep the school solvent.
The last independent report on Burholme cited an "outstanding" performance. Just the sort of good performing, neighbourhood school that should be "cut a bit of slack".
The Press report is just Labour spin.
The simple fact is small schools, like Burnholme, are simply too expensive to run.
Economies of scale result in small schools being closed, and larger schools will thrive. It simple stands to reason, as any educated person knows.
cheekyteacher
says...
10:23am Wed 22 Feb 12
s and local pressure groups to get a new school built to replace Burnholme. This school is only closing because of its past reputation and lack of support from the generation who suffered there. Kids want to go to Archies, Jo-Ro's and Huntington because they are reaping the benefits of investment. I dont see any drop in Primary School classes, so where is this supposed fall in birth rate? Burnholme just needs rebuilding... Simple
tangyang
says...
10:32am Wed 22 Feb 12
cheekyteacher wrote:Don't think it's the school that needs rebuilding I think it the community!
Where are the Councillors/Governor
s and local pressure groups to get a new school built to replace Burnholme. This school is only closing because of its past reputation and lack of support from the generation who suffered there. Kids want to go to Archies, Jo-Ro's and Huntington because they are reaping the benefits of investment. I dont see any drop in Primary School classes, so where is this supposed fall in birth rate? Burnholme just needs rebuilding... Simple
clockwatcher
says...
3:41pm Wed 22 Feb 12
neilairstone
says...
6:51pm Wed 22 Feb 12
stewiegriffin wrote:what a stupid comment to put, i went to burnholme from 1979-1984 believe me pal you got away with everything, we got punished severely if stepped out of line by teachers and so be it if we did, trust me the school years was best of my life, **** shame it shutting down as my kids go there now, GOVERNMENT CUT BACKS END OFF
yorksman wrote:I also attended Burnholme between 84-89, recall there been a terrible bullying problem when I first started, but think that was mainly down to the Head (Mellor??) not having any sort of grip on discipline etc, and that changed when he left and the new guy (Ivan Chaplin??) took over, things improved drastically from there on
I live in burnholme and attended the school from 1984-89 there was a terrible bullying problem that was left alone as nobody wanted to tackle it and if you didn't fit they farmed you out to lower groups or indeed something called special programm where an out of sight out of mind approach was practised,there was only a handful of descent teacher's the others were over bearing heavy handed and thugs. I'm glad its closing as it serves as a reminder of ,5 horrendous years of my life ill never get back
stewiegriffin
says...
11:09pm Wed 22 Feb 12
stewiegriffin wrote:
yorksman wrote:
I live in burnholme and attended the school from 1984-89 there was a terrible bullying problem that was left alone as nobody wanted to tackle it and if you didn't fit they farmed you out to lower groups or indeed something called special programm where an out of sight out of mind approach was practised,there was only a handful of descent teacher's the others were over bearing heavy handed and thugs. I'm glad its closing as it serves as a reminder of ,5 horrendous years of my life ill never get backI also attended Burnholme between 84-89, recall there been a terrible bullying problem when I first started, but think that was mainly down to the Head (Mellor??) not having any sort of grip on discipline etc, and that changed when he left and the new guy (Ivan Chaplin??) took over, things improved drastically from there onwhat a stupid comment to put, i went to burnholme fromWho you having a pop at there Neilairstone, me or Yorksman? Either way, don't see why either of the comments are stupid, just peoples opinions
Burnholme lad
says...
1:15pm Fri 24 Feb 12
12:26pm Fri 24 Feb 12
The council representitives at the meeting held on Wednesday night were talking about this "proposal" and how it was the last thing they wanted. The other school heads present could not or would not say wether their schools would be over subscribed in taking on extra pupils. Concern was raised again about the lack of support from Burnholme's closest primary school, Hempland. It was confirmed that although local child population is down at the moment it would rise in the future. To stay open the school only needs another 30 children to choose to go there. Figures of children putting Burnholme as their second choice were not confirmed at the meeting. Now it appears all the parents of these children have been informed by letter that Burnholme will not be having an intake this year. This does not sound like a "proposal" to me. We have to remember that this is not just about a school, it's about a community college. A place of adult education, local sports facilities where various clubs meet and compete. There is also a very good nursery which will go out of business. Once all this is gone, it is gone for good.
Burnholme lad
says...
4:33pm Fri 24 Feb 12
yorksman wrote:It's because of people like you that the school is in the position it finds itself. You are referring to 20 odd years ago. There was bullying in every school then, that's how it was.
I live in burnholme and attended the school from 1984-89 there was a terrible bullying problem that was left alone as nobody wanted to tackle it and if you didn't fit they farmed you out to lower groups or indeed something called special programm where an out of sight out of mind approach was practised,there was only a handful of descent teacher's the others were over bearing heavy handed and thugs. I'm glad its closing as it serves as a reminder of ,5 horrendous years of my life ill never get back
Because you can't grasp that the school has changed and is now excellent you continue to moan about your own experience. I'm sure everyone of your age could name at least one bully from their school whichever it was.
daisydaresu
says...
1:53pm Sun 26 Feb 12
yorksman wrote:Wake up!! We are talking 2012 here not the 1980's.
I live in burnholme and attended the school from
1984-89 there was a terrible bullying problem that was left alone as nobody wanted to tackle it and if you didn't fit they farmed you out to lower groups or indeed something called special programm where an out of sight out of mind approach was practised,there was only a handful of descent teacher's the others were over bearing heavy handed and thugs.
I'm glad its closing as it serves as a reminder of ,5 horrendous years of my life ill never get back
It's time to wake up and see that this is a 'good' to 'outstanding' school right on our door step. You obviously want kids to be a statistic rather than an individual.
BCC art department won the prestigious Education Business Award for Arts and Crafts 2011.
YorkGirl5 says...
4:35pm Mon 20 Feb 12