Letter to Editor: SFG College: Yet again, at the eleventh hour, the Department for Education has thrown family life and the education of its pupils into chaos
Politics / Mon 30th Oct 2023 at 05:36pm
Dear Editor,
YET again, at the eleventh hour, the DfE, via SFG, have thrown family life and the education of itS pupils into chaos.
I learnt today at 4.30pm, via email, that my child would not be attending school tomorrow or for the rest of this week and for all of next week. This is because the temporary temporary classrooms have become dangerous and it will take a further two weeks to make them safe.
This raises three questions.
- Why have they not been replaced with the more permanent classrooms that were promised by our MP Robert Halfon?
- Why will they not now be replaced until the spring?
- And what was so dangerous about them that it’s taking three weeks to fix?
How are working parents expected to manage this sudden change in their plans? What do employers think, Are they at the stage of sacking workers that have been frequently unable to attend work, at short notice, and for extended periods?
The school has now started thanking the DfE and Robert Halfon for their help at the end of each email. Well if this is the result of the help and support Robert Halfon gives, I think most residents of Harlow would rather do without it – and him.
Yours sincerely
Mark Ingall
Luke Burton
2023-10-30 19:12:44
Halfon doesn't care.
Adam
2023-10-30 23:00:53
You missed out Mark, you are are ex leader of the council and labour party member / ex-member so hardly going to say good things about Robert or the conservatives of course.
Cllr James Griggs
2023-10-31 08:23:51
Adam, Mark Ingall is commenting in a private capacity and as a parent of SFG students. His previous role in public office is irrelevant. If we follow your logic it would not be unreasonable to ask you to detail your previous employment or interests to determine if you have vested interest. At least Mr Ingall is prepared to identify himself by using his full name. Adam???
David Forman
2023-10-31 12:09:53
Mark Ingall makes a key point: "The school has now started thanking the DfE and Robert Halfon for their help at the end of each email." Page 9 of BMAT's 2022 audited financial statements declares the Trust's values, one of which is: "Being courageous enough to making tough decisions, doing what is right – even if it is not popular." Clearly, being unpopular by criticizing Robert Halfon is not "doing what is right"! See BMAT financial statements at https://bmat.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/key_information/BMAT-Education-Annual-Report-Audited-Financial-Statements-yr-ended-31-August-2022.pdf?t=1698752864
Seamus
2023-10-31 19:27:32
On Question 2 "Why will they not now be replaced until the spring?" Could I be cynical for a moment and suggest it would be closer to a general election? To even things out and be doubly cynical. Mr Ingall, no one is forgetting this school was planned, agreed and built during Harlow council's Labour party's control. To constantly snipe from the sidelines whilst claiming "nothing to do with me guv" would seem a bit, imprecise. When comes to SFG, our MP, the previous Labour council and current Conservative council have spent more time blaming each other than rectifying the issue. None of those mentioned fill the voters of Harlow with confidence.
Tony Edwards
2023-11-01 16:50:28
Seamus, Harlow Council had nothing whatever to do with the building the SFG school. This was and is the responsibility of the Department of Education. The responsibility for rectifying this dreadful situation is theirs. The school staff, parents and pupils need urgently to be told when and how this will be done.
Sarah
2023-11-01 20:48:22
I feel my child has been removed from an unsafe building to an unsafe tent. I also struggle to see how they are going to weather proof a tent for the children to return to. Why are dofe not contacting community spaces to avoid all the last min changes. My child has started year 10 and I’m really concerned for her learning and all the other students
7 Comments for Letter to Editor: SFG College: Yet again, at the eleventh hour, the Department for Education has thrown family life and the education of its pupils into chaos: