I am afraid that there are people out there who are publicly saying that Tunstall will be filled up with the wrong sort of children who will be "shipped in". Most worryingly, there is a teacher at Murston Junior School who has stood up at the last two formal meetings and told everyone that increased numbers will mean more children with free school meals, children with English as a foreign language, Romany's, travellers , SEN children, etc
I hope that tho isn't the general view of everyone else?

#179: Guest - re; undesirables

I need to make it clear that I have NEVER called these children undesirables - I love my job and I love working at Murston Junior School and I am very proud of working there, I first started teaching there in 1985. I now teach the children of the children I first taught.   All children bring with them a uniqueness that makes teaching the vocation and the joy that it is. The point that I am making is that there are peaks and troughs in the birth rate. The new school will not always be full and so it is important that you understand the implications of when there is a dip. We do a fantastic job with the children who come our way, not everyone appreciates the time and care we give.Ofsted rated us Good with Outstanding Features. When a new school opens in the Sittingbourne area it will be hugely popular because of all its new facilities. If the other schools are full, as County seems to imply is the case, then this new school will be the place that the children will be placed. You never know County might even place an English as an Additional Language Specialist Unit in said new build wherever it ends up. Focus on the main point, this site is not the correct site to build a new school for 420 children.

#179: Guest - re; undesirables

I understand all the children will have free schools meals for the first 3 years before long thanks to the Clegg.   Are you saying that what this teacher said isn't potentially true?   As a retired teacher I would say it is rather naive of you to think that these FACTS wouldn't have an impact on the children in the school and the school community.  The make up of the intake would certainly impact on the kind of school it would become and it certainly wouldn't be the same school that it currently is.  Those are FACTS (just wish to make that clear to whoever it is that likes to insist on 'facts').  For those mums and dads who argue that it is imperative that the new school is built to secure an excellent education for their children need to address that this will most probably be the case.  Whether it is thought it makes for a better school or not, or whether it is to be considered of no consequence either way to the education of mums and dads little ones, is up to them to consider and contemplate but to suggest that it is abhorrent to think about at all is to be in a pc denial.   The school itself will need to address those issues and use of resources and it most certainly will. It won't be allowed not too.