Ed Ball Letter

Ed Balls Secretary of State Department for Children, Schools and Families Sanctuary Buildings Great Smith Street London SW1P 3BT 15th October 2008

SL AM

St Luke’s Against Merger

Dear Mr Balls

593 REASONS NOT TO MERGE ST LUKE’S...

That’s the forecast for the number of children who may not have an exciting and fulfilling time if the proposed merger of our schools goes ahead. St Luke's Infants and St Luke's Juniors schools in Brighton are exceptional schools with great kids and great teachers. The Infants received an OUTSTANDING OFSTED report, the Juniors a GOOD. Closing St Luke's Infants and merging it with ST Luke's Juniors puts all this at RISK FOR NO GOOD REASON. One size does not fit all. We should be celebrating good practice not throwing it away. I am asking you to help us fight this ill considered proposal. The councils own deputy head of the council and the cabinet member with reponsibility for the St Luke’s decision, Vanessa Brown praised the parents, staff and governors of another local school Balfour who successfully fought off a merger in 2002.

There are no good educational reasons to merge St Luke’s .

Overleaf we have listed the concerns of the parents at St Luke’s both the Infants and the Juniors. Please take the time to read them. At the very least the council needs to address these concerns before they rush through a merger not after. We are all proud of St Luke’s let all that has been achieved go to waste.Your the boss, why not give Vanessa Brown Brighton Council a quick call now on 01273 291143 or e-mail [email protected] and ask her why the council wants to ruin 593 kids educations?

Ed Balls Says

Childhood should be the most exciting and fulfilling period in a person's life – a time to feel safe, loved and encouraged to believe anything is possible.

OFSTED Says...

• Teaching and learning are outstanding… By the end of Year 2 in 2006, achievement was outstanding and standards were nearly all significantly above the national average, with different groups of pupils achieving equally well Standards in 2007 are now exceptionally high. Here, 50% of the pupils reached the higher levels in reading, and 44% the higher levels in numeracy. • Pupils leave the school with exceedingly good skills in numeracy, literacy and information and communication technology, balanced with excellent personal skills. They are well prepared for the next stage in their education and later life. ST LUKES OFSTED REPORT ~JUNE 2007

Unique Reference Number 114375 www.ofsted.gov.uk Yours sincerely

Name......................................................................................................................................... Address.................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................. Post Code.............................................Tel:...............................................................................

❑ Parent/Carer St Lukes Infants ❑ Parent/Carer St Lukes Juniors ❑ Both ❑ Other.........................................