Editor Argus

SL AM

The Editor Brighton Evening Argus Hollingbury BRIGHTON, 15th October 2008

St Luke’s Against Merger

Dear Sir

593 REASONS NOT TO MERGE ST LUKE’S...

That’s the forecast for the number of children whose education will be disrupted if the proposed merger all through primary goes through. St Luke's Infants and St Luke's Juniors schools 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. The councils own deputy head and the cabinet member with responsibility for the St Luke’s decision praised the parents, staff and governors of the Balfour Infant and Junior schools who successfully fought off a similar merger in 2002. Please urge Mrs Brown to show the same common sense with regard to St Luke’s.

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 don’t let the Council’s ill considered policy undo all that has been achieved.Please lend your support and let your readers know what’s going on.

Cabinet Member Mrs Brown says..

“In sheer desperation, the action group BAGAM was set up because the Labour administration and the education department seemed determined to ignore their concerns.

The independent government adjudicator recognised there were insufficient sound educational reasons for the merger because they were two high-achieving, oversubscribed schools and has rejected the proposal. After all these months of worry and uncertainty, both schools can now get on with what they do best educating the local children to a high standard in a caring environment. I wish them well.”

Coun Vanessa Brown, Conservative deputy leader and education spokeswoman Brighton and Hove City Council Archive Home From the archive

http://www.theargus.co.uk© Newsquest Media Group 2002

Please help us. Yours sincerely

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

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

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