Tag: Newall Green High School

Community News, News, Politics

MP warns closure will lead to Wythenshawe school places squeeze

SaveNewall

Wythenshawe  MP  Mike Kane is calling on the government to reverse the controversial plans to close Newall Green High School.

The Shadow School’s Minister has told Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, he opposes the DfE decision to shut the school saying it could lead to a shortage of school places.

In a letter to the DfE boss he said: “Manchester City Council’s place planning shows the secondary school population in south Manchester will increase in the next two to three years. With the school closing, how will the DfE ensure the area has enough school places for our community’s children in the years ahead?”

Parents were told earlier this month that the DfE will close the academy school because of falling numbers.

A petition to save the school has been launched, signed by more than 650 people and students staged a protest calling on the decision to be reversed.

The school had been put in special measures following an OFSTED inspection, but in its latest monitoring report, inspectors said the school had made improvements.

Mike Kane was involved in establishing a Wythenshawe Education Board with the Regional Schools Commissioner, Vicky Beer.

All four Wythenshawe high schools are on board, aiming to raise standards and give a ‘good offer’ for schools in the town. The schools board aims combat o raise OFSTED.

The MP says  he is very disappointed the school is being closed while we’re in the middle of this project.

 

In his letter to education bosses, Mr Kane has also asked: “How did this once desirable and popular school end up being so under-subscribed that it is no longer financially viable to remain open?

“When the school closes and the land returns to the Department for Education, what will become of the buildings and large open spaces?”

The Department for Education has been approached by the Wythenshawe Reporter for a comment.

Community News, News, Politics

Save Newall Green High School

The Wythenshawe Reporter is backing a campaign by parents, students and councillors to save Newall Green High School, earmarked for closure by the Government.

Parents were told this week that the Department for Education will close the school because of falling numbers.

A petition to save the school has been launched and students staged a protest calling on the decision to be reversed.

newall green school

And today, Manchester City Council’s executive committee pledged to fight the DfE’s decision.

The council’s deputy leader and Wythenshawe councillor, Sue Murphy tweeted: “We need to oppose the closure. Potentially devastating for young people in school there.”

Baguley councillor,  Tracey Rawlins led the calls for the council to fight the closure.

Dawn Fairweather, who started the petition which has already attracted nearly 400 signatures, says the closure will impact on other schools in Wythenshawe, by increasing class sizes and piling more pressure on teachers.

She said: “This is not acceptable for children in the Wythenshawe area who through no fault of their own may not get the education they rightfully deserve which could affect their future employment prospects.

“This could also mean that children have to travel further to and from school and cost more money that some parents do not have.Please sign this petition to stop the closure of this school.

“The education minister and Prime minister need to know that the people in Wythenshawe will do their upmost to stop the closure of this school.”

Sign the petition here.

Newall Green School was put in special measures following an inspection by the schools watchdog, OFSTED.

But following the school’s latest monitoring visit in November last year, inspectors said there had been improvements in their report.

Inspector, David Selby said: “Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.”

The report summarised the strengths in the school’s approaches to securing improvement as:

  • Leaders have continued to develop the wider opportunities that the school offers
    to pupils. These opportunities often involve local businesses.
  • Leaders have continued their careful focus on the urgent priorities identified at
    the previous inspection. However, they have now started to widen their view and
    to identify and enhance aspects of the school that were already working well.
  • Leaders are seeking ways for pupils to be more involved in their school. Leaders
    intend to find out more about what pupils think of the school. Staff have just
    introduced a prefect system and they intend that a pupil council will soon be reestablished.
  • The reducing role of the executive principal in supporting other leaders has
    allowed leaders within the school to become increasingly more confident and self reliant.

And the weakness was summarised as:

  • Despite the improvement in the school and the increasing number of things that
    pupils can be proud of, some pupils lack pride in what the school offers them and
    is achieving.

 

Community News, News

Newall Green High School gets £60,000 cash boost from businesses
Newall Green cheque
Marie Carmody (Cardinal Maritime), Janet Parish (Timpson) and Andy Park (Executive Head, Newall Green High School)

Four businesses in South Manchester have donated £60,000 to Newall Green High School in Wythenshawe to provide additional cultural and social experiences for students.

The money, which will be used to provide “extra curricular activities they may not normally experience during the course of the childhood”, has been given by freight services provider Cardinal Maritime, engineering firm Endress+Hauser, jam maker Duerr’s and shoe repair to dry cleaning giant Timpson.

Executive head teacher Andy Park said the school was extremely fortunate to have found four companies willing to invest time, facilities and finance into supporting the development of young people.

He added that it was vital for the children to “develop good levels of knowledge and experience the widest range of cultural and social experiences if they are to succeed in their GCSE / Key Stage 4 examinations and go on to secure the very best employment opportunities in the future”.

The activities will involve working with the Manchester International Festival, John Rylands Library and the National Trust, among others.

“The companies who are supporting us financially are also working with us creatively to develop opportunities to enhance the careers education we offer our students,” he said.

“They are providing a range of learning experiences such as employer visits, mentoring, mock interviews, world of work days, extended work experience placements and supported routes into apprenticeships.”

“Businesses talk about CSR, we call it CSO – corporate social opportunity,” said Brian Hay, chief executive at Cardinal Maritime. “Business can be a force for good, spending time mentoring young people and inviting 16-to-18-year olds into our business.

“Here’s a group of companies that recruit lots of head office staff in the area and want to do what they can to make a difference to these children’s lives.”

Steven Endress, managing director, Endress+Hauser added: “Endress+Hauser Ltd is headquartered in Wythenshawe and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

“We recognise that we couldn’t have achieved this significant milestone without the support of the local community and schools within. We hope that our donation will be recognised as a big ‘thank you’ to both children and teachers and a reminder that we support them whole heartedly.”

In addition to the £60,000, Timpson has also donated a further £10,000 to local charity BW3, which which runs mentoring and development programmes in the Wythenshawe area and is backed by funding from Manchester City Council.

Helen Oakley, trustee at the Alex Timpson Trust said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the other businesses and with BW3 to support Newall Green.

“When we were first introduced to the school we were struck by the passion and drive of the leadership team and their genuine care for each individual student and we wanted this bursary to support them in broadening the horizons and experiences of their young people, some of whom will become our colleagues of the future.”

BW3 was founded in 2002 and stands for Businesses Working With Wythenshawe. Key partners include Cardinal Maritime, Manchester Airports Group, Manchester City Council and Wythenshawe Housing Trust.

Timpson has donated £30,000 to Newall Green School, with £10,000 each from Cardinal Maritime, Duerr’s and Endress+Hauser.