Class War

Yesterday, Hertfordshire County councillors backed plans to abolish middle schools, expand first schools into primaries, close the town's two upper schools and develop a super secondary on the Hawksmoor Upper and Holmshill Middle school sites.

In a joint statement the three members representing families in and around Borehamwood said although changes demanded courage they would raise standards -- and said they believed a super secondary is an "exciting rather than a worrying prospect".

Labour councillors Brian York and John Metcalf, together with Tory Anthony Kilkerr, said: "Change is never easy. Many feel threatened and find it difficult to embrace the chance to improve. It cannot be overlooked, however, that many children do not do as well as their peers in nearby towns."

Even before the education committee came to its decision, the first battle in the war over the future of Borehamwood schools was hotting up -- as Hillside Upper School head teacher Tim Westrip poured scorn on the county's arguments for shutting down his school.

The head, who believes the plans put financial considerations above the best interests of students, said he was "angry and alarmed" by the education authority's selective use of information and statistics.

Although Hawksmoor and Hillside upper schools together are only 59 per cent full, he said, 88 per cent of places at his school are occupied.

While the education authority claims 64 per cent of parents are in favour of change, response to the recent Borehamwood Challenge consultation was very low, Mr Westrip said, and only eight per cent of parents want a two tier system.

He said the argument that Hillside's site is not big enough for a super secondary, and the Hawksmoor site is, is "doubtful".

And sixth formers have proved the Hawksmoor site does not offer easier access to Oaklands College, he said, by timing the route on foot.

Although the Holmshill Middle School site, which education bosses want to use as the super secondary's sixth form centre, is a few minutes nearer to Oaklands, that is no reason for closing Hillside, the school is arguing.

Mr Westrip added: "The two reasons they have so far given to back their proposal to close Hillside are simply not valid. It is not surprising therefore that parents are contacting us to say that the reasons given do not really stand up."

Writing to the Borehamwood Times this week, angry Hillside parents and students defended their school and voiced their fears about a super secondary, which they said would be impersonal, breed bullying and cause travel chaos with more than 2,000 students attending each day.

Responding to Mr Westrip's arguments, a spokesman for the county's education department insisted that raising standards was at the centre of the plans.

But he admitted the amount of cash raised from the sale of school land was an issue because a lot of money would be needed to develop first schools. He added councillors must now work to enthuse people about the opportunities afforded by a single, large secondary school.

Supporters of Furzehill Middle School also took their fight to County Hall yesterday -- to tell councillors who hold the school's future in their hands that the three-tier system is not to blame for Borehamwood pupils' under achievement.

Led by Furzehill PTA chairman Karen Kingston, the newly-formed Save Our Schools Association is opposed to all school closures and says relatively poor performance is explained by social problems in the town -- and the fact that many parents send able children out of Borehamwood to be educated.

The fledgling pressure group sent a four-page letter to members of Hertfordshire County Council's education committee before yesterday's meeting, asking them to oppose plans for a return to the two-tier system abandoned in 1973.

Speaking after the meeting, in which politicians ignored the group's appeal and called for further public consultation on the plans, Mrs Kingston said she was "disgusted" by the decision.

She added that at a public meeting at Furzehill School, set to take place last night, supporters would gather to discuss the way forward for their campaign.

And this week Lyndhurst Middle School head teacher Mike Howell joined Furzehill head Phil Fryer in defending the middle school system. He said he would have accepted change if he thought it would raise standards -- but he said he did not believe the plans on the table would help.

But in a letter to the Borehamwood Times this week, a rival pressure group supporting a return to the two-tier system welcomed the plans.

"Now that we have had an opportunity to study the report," said Sue Gordon of CHO1CE (Children Have Only 1 Chance at Education), "we are delighted and relieved that county are proposing a two-tier system in line with the national curriculum. This will raise standards of education."

And Monksmead First School head teacher John Cooper added his support to the plans.

At age seven, he said, Borehamwood pupils' performance was above the county average, and he welcomed the opportunity to keep children for two more years.

Many parents he had spoken to welcomed the changes, he added.

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