Tomlinscote Kings Merger - 4 Days Left before the Consultation Closes!

Four Days to Go! before the public consultation on the merger of Tomlinscote and Kings College closes.   CAM, the Campaign Against Merger, has been and is still working hard to ensure that the proposed merger does not happen.  Surrey County Council is proposing to merge Kings and Tomlinscote, creating a split site mega school, which is predicted to reach 14 form entry by 2020 – potentially 420 children entering Year 7.  As someone who believes our secondary schools are already too big, I find the thought of a school that size horrifyingly impersonal and not how education should be provided – we come out in our thousands against factory farming, so why not come out and support CAM.

CAM has produced a response form and asks everyone who is affected by the proposed merger and those who are not directly affected but concerned by the issues a merger would raise for Camberley's school children, the schools involved, the traffic implications in the area etc to download the form and complete it and return to Surrey County Council by Friday 17th June (if posting it needs to be posted by Wednesday 15th June).  CAM has provided some guidance and help by highlighting the issues they would place on the form, but know that each person will have their own priorities and answers, but hope that their answers give a starting point.  Delete arguments you disagree with and add any other points you wish to make.  You can download the form here.

CAM is raising money to pay for legal advice and have engaged a firm to help in the fight to prevent the merger.  Currently they have raised over £2,600 and are hoping to reach £4,500.  Last week there was a curry night at the Mogul Restaurant in Bagshot to raise funds – the next curry night is on Tuesday 21st June – or if curry is not your thing you can donate via Paypal on the CAM website or send a cheque payable to Campaign Against Merger to 22 Glenmount Road, Mytchett GU16 6AY.

There is strong support for Kings International to become an academy and Oasis Community Learning has been approached to see whether they would be interested in taking Kings on as a new academy.  Academies are schools funded by the state, but rather than the local council being accountable for the finance of the school, the academy is free to choose how it spends its money. Academies must follow the national curriculum for English, Maths and Science, but can choose their own specialisms.   So an academy is independent of local authority control, but still a state school that pupils attend at no cost.  

There are now many academy providers running schools around the country. Oasis opened is twelfth academy in September 2010 in Oldham, three years after it opened its first three academies in Enfield, Immingham and Grimsby.  Oasis Community Learning is an educational foundation that was set up in 2004 and works very closely with Oasis UK founded in 1985 by Rev Steve Chalke MBE.  Oasis describe their mission "to create and sustain a network of excellent learning communities where everyone can realise their full potential.  Oasis Community Learning is clear about the ethos and values that underpin our Academies.  The person and life of Christ inspire this ethos and because of this our whole approach is inclusive."  The Oasis Academies are linked with one or two Oasis global country bases and "maximise opportunities for their students to experience first hand diversity of culture, and to build knowledge, understanding and empathy through establishing relationships with their linked countries."

CAM believes that "the ethos of Oasis closely mirrors the current ethos of Kings International, that of an inclusive nurturing environment where every child is encourage to reach their full potential" and want Kings to become an academy school. To read more about the academy proposal click here.

Tomorrow – Tuesday 14th June - there is a drop in session at Krooner Park, Camberley Football Club from 1.00pm until 10.30pm.  If you would like to drop in and find out more about CAM and the Academy option for Kings International, or ask advice about the consultation forms, CAM looks forward to seeing you and answering your questions.