Chris. I don’t agree with you here. The meeting was open to all parents of FHS. Any parent on SE23.life could’ve gone and discussion entered into. I now understand Nicola though made notes available to the FHS PAG which is a closed group.
Seems a shame that people who were not able to make the meeting, including future parents and ex-pupils of the school, are not able to understand the problems faced by the school, the council, and by current parents.
The notes from the meeting were very useful in understanding some of the issues and the position of different groups.
It is such a shame that after the school was completely rebuilt 10 years ago that this is how it has ended up. Even with the PFI contract, it shouldn’t have ended up like this. I really hope that this year’s results are better than last year, and I wish every success to all the pupils and teachers at my old school.
I’ve been through periods of massive cuts, teacher redundancies, and strikes at the school in the 1980s. It wasn’t a pleasant atmosphere at the school and it wasn’t a pleasant period in my life.
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Is there any reason to suppose this information won’t be made available in due course via official channels?
Perhaps what is needed is an edited summary of the key points raised and answers. However because some of the actions here and general accusatory tone of some I suspect Nicola will probably be unwilling to do that herself now.
I am keen that everyone manages to be reasonable and polite to each other and not hostile. As you can imagine that is tricky enough within an informal group with a range of different views and a complex set of issues, let alone when others wade in too.
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But the Facebook group were not the only people at the meeting, yes? I’m just wondering if there will be any official minutes released by any parties present.
I am very appreciative of having had the chance to read Nicola’s minutes. I have young girls, so will never be sending them to FHS, but it was a real eye-opener in terms of understanding how the relationship between government and council and school works.
It’s a really difficult problem, with no easy solution. As Councillor Maslin said, we have to live within our means, and this is a direct result of not doing that. On the other hand, we’re talking about the future of hundreds of boys, so it’s a very emotive issue.
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As Nicola has made it clear that her notes were never intended for public consumption and they are no longer publicly accessible, I think we should refrain from referring to their content, however obliquely. I don’t think anyone has stepped over the line here, but I think it’s a courtesy we could extend to her from this point forwards.
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I have amended the title of this thread to reflect the latest update.
I have changed it back - I didn’t think it was particularly helpful
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I don’t want to reply to this thread with any info without any official or concrete updates, but what I will say is that small meetings with core groups etc & emails with small groups are going on to try to help the situation in the best way possible & all are responding with positive feedback, comments, and looking into things as far as I can see.
These are different groups & I’m happy to be part of all. But can say this is a very difficult situation for all involved
I must stress personally I don’t think shouting, striking & being rude in any form to anyone helps, that’s from no group in particular but just overall my view - I think it is much more constructive to try to speak to each other & work on what is possibly achievable to help the School & the boys - And move forward realistically from there on.
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I’ve just spoke to my friend @JohnRussell & no official minutes were taken at this meeting he chaired very diplomatically.
So no official minutes on this.
I also think he should be thanked by all parties for stepping in and chairing this meeting neutrally last minute when asked!
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Maybe I am being naive, but it seems very unusual for a public official like a councillor to meet with selected members of the public with an interest in a highly controversial situation and for no record to be kept of what was discussed.
Is anyone else highly uncomfortable with this?
I don’t know Cllr Paul Maislin personally so can’t answer this.
I do know @JohnRussell personally & as a friend and know he is doing all he can to help FHS even though he is not a Cllr & just as a resident like myself.
Happy to speak to you anytime with suggestions that may help. I’m a parent.
Also speaking to other local Cllrs that are trying to help, so please do come speak to me with any ideas.
I want to find a solution that works best for the kids & parents & teachers (who all that have left have found jobs already, so I’m m not sure of the NUT position here) and the head teacher especially needs our support I think.
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I see there’s a big article about FH School in today’s ‘Guardian’.
Here’s that article, containing interviews with:
- Trade Union and Socialist Coalition activist Martin Powell-Davis
- NUT representative for Forest Hill school, Joe Cowley, described simply as a history teacher
- Guardian columnist Phil Beadle, described simply as a parent
- Co-leader of the “Forest Hill School Action Group,” Zoe Camenzuli, described simply as a parent
Disappointing at the lack of investigative journalism into the 2008 PFI contract, and lack of comparison to other local schools that haven’t run up a deficit.
Actually it does do this and also compares with a local school that has (Ladywell Prendergast, though this is interesting as it is in a consortium AFAIK).
Posting the link to the article was helpful, thanks. The misleading comments less so.
Where in the article is FHS compared to a local school that hasn’t run up a deficit?
Forest Hill’s current predicament is partly a consequence of the funding constraints affecting all schools. It was particularly badly affected by cuts to post-16 funding, losing £150,000 from its annual budget. But the council claims that other specific factors have played a part – one document suggests that teaching costs at Forest Hill are £125 per pupil above the average for similar-sized schools within Lewisham.
There have also been claims that, historically, the school’s financial management has “been unable to adequately monitor the school’s budget position to allow early identification of issues”.
Nevertheless, Forest Hill is not the only state school in Lewisham to be in financial difficulty. Prendergast Ladywell school, a mixed secondary in the south London borough, overspent its budget by £173,000, according to a council document dating back to November. The same document reveals that eight secondary schools were in deficit at that point, up from two in the previous financial year.
Prendergast has run up a deficit.
Yes but am sure you can read the rest of the quote without my help. I included the Prendergast Ladywell part as it puts the rest in context.