Letter to Editor: More concerns and worries over SFG College
General / Thu 9th Nov 2023 at 10:02am
Dear Robert Halfon, the DfE and SFG College,
IT’S Thursday, my child has been home educated for a week and four days today, thanks to an unsafe building being replaced by what turned out to be unfit temporary buildings.
During half term, when you all put your names to a letter that announced the latest shut down, you promised to let us know by the middle of this week if pupils would be back this Monday. I’ve heard nothing.
Yet again, many parents will be wondering if family and work life can return to normal on Monday, or will we have to yet again approach employers and ask for time off to be at home with our children.
By any measure it is now past the middle of the week. Can you please honour your promise and let me know today if my child will be able to attend school in person on Monday. That would give me a day to sort out work issues.
Yours
Mark Ingall
Mike Price
2023-11-09 11:19:56
Nobody it seems, has your concern of paramount importance in their total incompetence. Totally disgusting by all bureaucrats with lack of communication to all concerned parents. I doubt whether they have any sense of responsibility for the incompetence displayed.
David Forman
2023-11-09 11:23:22
A fair point well expressed by Mark Ingall. A little consideration for the needs of parents to have reasonable notice of change would be appreciated. After all, I thought the Conservative Party were the party of Business and local businesses are getting disrupted by their workers repeatedly taking time off at short notice.
Paul Fagan
2023-11-09 11:58:44
Probably busy stirring up knuckle scrapers
View from Afar
2023-11-09 14:12:56
Robert Halfon seems to be dodging this - preferring to go the University of East London, St Nicholas School, Bristol Street Motors amongst other photo opportunities
Davey D
2023-11-09 15:26:58
We've had enough. Our son starts at Stewards on Monday. At least 2 others are starting with him. They won't be the last to leave. It's shambolic.
Mark Ingall
2023-11-09 16:17:39
I don't blame you Davey. I'm looking too.
Parent
2023-11-09 17:54:37
I feel deeply saddened for SFG staff. They are trying their best in this situation and it’s not their fault, however it also isn’t our children’s faults. We made the difficult decision to move our children so they can experience a normal secondary school life. Year 7 being held in one room all day, missing an hour a day of learning, older years being taught in tents, then at home, then back in tents. The main reason for the move was lack of transparency. We are left in the dark constantly always being told information on the last day promoting troubles at home and work. Dfe have a lot to answer for. #helpsfg. I wish sfg staff and pupils all the best and a better future. It is very difficult for staff and I truly sympathise .
Mark Ingall
2023-11-09 19:33:21
Update. We have just been told the school is "confident" pupils will be back in the temporary temporary classrooms on Tuesday, missing "just" one more day of school. What appalling complacency to say "just" one more day!
Charlie
2023-11-09 20:07:38
We don't have children of school age, so it does not affect us. But these past few months we have been following what has been going on, which quite frankly is disgusting. But the thing we cannot understand is why the builders of the SFG College and the other schools affected across the country, have not been brought to account for the shoddy workmanship when constructing the schools. If they have been using cheap materials then surely they should be accountable for their actions. Or is it a case of the powers that be, passing the buck, as no one seems to be responsible for what has gone on.
Jenny
2023-11-09 20:12:34
The staff at Sfg are working hard to get the children back in school asap . Feel sorry for the staff and our children constant disruption especially our year 11s GCSEs. Hope the department of education takes this into account 😞
Davey D
2023-11-10 08:27:03
Charlie - because the company went into administration and no longer exists. As far as I understand from the minor snippets of info I've read here and there, it's not down to cheap materials, it's down to poor control. I.e. not bolting together the prefab sections together properly. They won't release the report, so we don't know the whole story to make a judgement.
Danny
2023-11-10 09:27:14
Mark who made and where was the remark "just" one more day of school made? I cant see that on the page or document sent yesterday https://www.sirfrederickgibberdcollege.org/1398/temporary-accommodation-communications
12 Comments for Letter to Editor: More concerns and worries over SFG College: