UPDATE 14/03/10
After speculation and open discussions on various websites, over the type of attendance at the motion at Stormont on Monday 15th March, our parents group agreed at a meeting on Thursday night that the consensus of our group was that only named parents who have accepted the invitation of Michelle McIlveen to attend the motion will be doing so. RHS parent's group have no plans to bring children to the motion or to demonstrate our feelings in any other way.
We understand that all parents have their own choice to take their children to Stormont of their own accord, but it is reminded that this will not have been organised by the RHS parent group and that any other show of support would need to be confirmed with officials are Stormont independently.
We understand that all parents have their own choice to take their children to Stormont of their own accord, but it is reminded that this will not have been organised by the RHS parent group and that any other show of support would need to be confirmed with officials are Stormont independently.
UPDATE - 05/03/10
Just because the deadline for a response to the Dept of Education Impact Assessment passed on Thursday 4th March), does not mean that we can't continue to write to everyone else. WE CAN KEEP WRITING TO OTHERS. THERE IS NO OTHER DEADLINE FOR THEM. KEEP THE PRESSURE UP AND WRITE TO MLA'S, COMMISSIONERS, AND OTHER RELEVANT PEOPLE.
FYI, I have been doing as I recommended below ie emailing letters to
MLAs requesting acknowledgements to be sent back by email - in almost
all cases to date the acknowledgement is very prompt - so it works,
saves time & extends your mailing deadline so you can get as many
letters out as poss.
Liz Breadon
MLAs requesting acknowledgements to be sent back by email - in almost
all cases to date the acknowledgement is very prompt - so it works,
saves time & extends your mailing deadline so you can get as many
letters out as poss.
Liz Breadon
UPDATE 28/02/2010
As you are aware, we received information last week from Mr. R. McFerran, Chairman, Board of Governors. The information provided recommended that parents ought to lodge their objections to the proposed removal of the partial funding of prep schools with effect from 1st Sept, 2010.
Since this letter was received, there has been widespread concern amongst parents about the future financial implications this would have on families. The meeting on Thursday has been arranged to give parents the opportunity to raise these concerns with Dr. McCavery and the Board of Governors.
By Thursday, 4th March 2010, objections to the proposed removal of partial funding must be lodged. It is vital that parents take the time to lodge their objections to local MLAs, local councillors, the Education Minister, and to MP’s before this date. There is a legal obligation to respond to each and every letter received, and the more objections received , the stronger the case to be put forward to the Executive.
The intention is simply to try to give parents all the information they need in the short timescale which has been given, to formulate a weighty response which will have an impact on stalling Caitriona Ruane’ proposals indefinitely.
This is a difficult time for the Preparatory Department. It is a time when parents need to be well informed on a regular basis about the progress being made by the Board of Governors. As parents we are sure that a common desire would be to minimize any disruption to our children and with this in mind we would urge you to reflect on your initial reasons for choosing Regent House Preparatory Department over mainstream schools for your child / childrens' education. Despite the uncertainty, there is a need for parents to remain calm and to remain loyal to the Prep.
Please do your utmost to attend the meeting on Thursday 25th February. This will be an opportunity to answer all those questions you may have, and hopefully to reassure you that if we remain supportive to the school, the school will remain supportive to parents / children, and we can focus on the common objective of ensuring our children gain an excellent standard of education.
Some additional points that where discussed on Thursday night to add within your letters.....
Assembly budget/financial issues
Executive needs to find £70m savings. Despite this, should proposals go ahead, the additional cost of prep school pupils moving to mainstream will be £3,186k pa, excluding redundancy costs of teachers & other staff in 17 schools
Equality/Human Rights/Discrimination/Legislation issues
C Ruane calls grammar schools ‘breakaway schools’ despite them educating 42% of post-primary school aged children in NI. Compare this to SF’s share of vote in last Assembly elections being 26%
Current DENI funding already promotes 2 sectors (integrated & Irish medium) to the disadvantage of others. Integrated/Irish medium sectors are fully funded compared to Prep schools 30%. All sectors of education system should be valued
All Prep schools are Protestant or non-denominational – discrimination issue re. SF proposals directly affecting only 1 side of the community
Note unfair treatment of Prep Schools to date in gradual decrease in funding from 80% to current 30% with current proposal now for nil
Educational standards
How can proposals be consistent with desire to raise standards?– refer to KS2 results table v. mainstream primary schools
Adding to existing problem of NI having largest class sizes in UK
CR should be ashamed of decline in primary schools – SF support smaller class numbers but not delivered. Key issue – raising standards
Consideration for funding schools based on outcomes/results – Irish medium schools are not value for money in this regard. Performance of schools should be key, not socio-economic factors
Sedley requirements re. consultation
DENI’s decision does not meet these due to its predetermined outcome. This makes it a political decision & M McIlveen has called for reversal. Evidence of this:
Discussion was not entered as required to include representations from schools’ bursars
DE have already reduced their bid to SEELB
Report completed in late 09, not received by Education Committee until mid Jan 10
3 DUP MLA’s(Basil, Michelle, Mervyn) have signed a motion under cross-cutting/contentious/novel agenda advising debate/decision must go to Executive
General
Personalise letters
Write to First Minister as then also goes to Martin McGuinness
Write to all 108 MLA’s – plague them
Ensure you write to Human Rights Commission & Equality Commission on basis of unsettling/treated unfairly agenda
Assembly budget/financial issues
Executive needs to find £70m savings. Despite this, should proposals go ahead, the additional cost of prep school pupils moving to mainstream will be £3,186k pa, excluding redundancy costs of teachers & other staff in 17 schools
Equality/Human Rights/Discrimination/Legislation issues
C Ruane calls grammar schools ‘breakaway schools’ despite them educating 42% of post-primary school aged children in NI. Compare this to SF’s share of vote in last Assembly elections being 26%
Current DENI funding already promotes 2 sectors (integrated & Irish medium) to the disadvantage of others. Integrated/Irish medium sectors are fully funded compared to Prep schools 30%. All sectors of education system should be valued
All Prep schools are Protestant or non-denominational – discrimination issue re. SF proposals directly affecting only 1 side of the community
Note unfair treatment of Prep Schools to date in gradual decrease in funding from 80% to current 30% with current proposal now for nil
Educational standards
How can proposals be consistent with desire to raise standards?– refer to KS2 results table v. mainstream primary schools
Adding to existing problem of NI having largest class sizes in UK
CR should be ashamed of decline in primary schools – SF support smaller class numbers but not delivered. Key issue – raising standards
Consideration for funding schools based on outcomes/results – Irish medium schools are not value for money in this regard. Performance of schools should be key, not socio-economic factors
Sedley requirements re. consultation
DENI’s decision does not meet these due to its predetermined outcome. This makes it a political decision & M McIlveen has called for reversal. Evidence of this:
Discussion was not entered as required to include representations from schools’ bursars
DE have already reduced their bid to SEELB
Report completed in late 09, not received by Education Committee until mid Jan 10
3 DUP MLA’s(Basil, Michelle, Mervyn) have signed a motion under cross-cutting/contentious/novel agenda advising debate/decision must go to Executive
General
Personalise letters
Write to First Minister as then also goes to Martin McGuinness
Write to all 108 MLA’s – plague them
Ensure you write to Human Rights Commission & Equality Commission on basis of unsettling/treated unfairly agenda
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Wk commencing 22nd Feb
Since this letter was received, there has been widespread concern amongst parents about the future financial implications this would have on families. The meeting on Thursday has been arranged to give parents the opportunity to raise these concerns with Dr. McCavery and the Board of Governors.
By Thursday, 4th March 2010, objections to the proposed removal of partial funding must be lodged. It is vital that parents take the time to lodge their objections to local MLAs, local councillors, the Education Minister, and to MP’s before this date. There is a legal obligation to respond to each and every letter received, and the more objections received , the stronger the case to be put forward to the Executive.
The intention is simply to try to give parents all the information they need in the short timescale which has been given, to formulate a weighty response which will have an impact on stalling Caitriona Ruane’ proposals indefinitely.
This is a difficult time for the Preparatory Department. It is a time when parents need to be well informed on a regular basis about the progress being made by the Board of Governors. As parents we are sure that a common desire would be to minimize any disruption to our children and with this in mind we would urge you to reflect on your initial reasons for choosing Regent House Preparatory Department over mainstream schools for your child / childrens' education. Despite the uncertainty, there is a need for parents to remain calm and to remain loyal to the Prep.
Please do your utmost to attend the meeting on Thursday 25th February. This will be an opportunity to answer all those questions you may have, and hopefully to reassure you that if we remain supportive to the school, the school will remain supportive to parents / children, and we can focus on the common objective of ensuring our children gain an excellent standard of education.
This is a really important meeting to be at please attend if you can
ReplyDeletemany thanks to all who are working hard on this, your dedication is appreciated
ReplyDeleteMy thanks to all who have given up their valuable time and worked hard on this very important issue...it is a good thing that decent people like you exist in this world!Know that your efforts are appreciated by my family and I.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the words of encouragement Paul D. We can only try our best.
ReplyDeleteThere is now a new SEARCH feature on the blog which can be used to search our blog for various topics.
ReplyDeleteThis can be found on the right hand side column of the blog on the home page.
After speculation and open discussions on various websites, over the type of attendance at the motion at Stormont on Monday 15th March, our parents group agreed at a meeting on Thursday night that the consensus of our group was that only named parents who have accepted the invitation of Michelle McIlveen to attend the motion will be doing so. RHS parent's group have no plans to bring children to the motion or to demonstrate our feelings in any other way.
ReplyDeleteWe understand that all parents have their own choice to take their children to Stormont of their own accord, but it is reminded that this will not have been organised by the RHS parent group and that any other show of support would need to be confirmed with officials are Stormont independently.