A LEADING councillor has dismissed criticism of changes to the schools system in Dunstable and Houghton Regis as ‘histrionics’.
Concerns have been raised that children’s education will suffer because of a raft of changes to schools in the area, with many becoming academies and changing their age ranges.
In a recent letter to the Dunstable Gazette, former Priory Middle School headteacher Roger Pepworth said the system had become “chaotic and confusing” after the decision last summer by Central Bedfordshire Council not to change the local education system from three-tier to two-tier.
Instead, schools were encouraged by the council to pursue their own plans indiviually or as part of academy chains.
Mr Pepworth, now a Central Beds councillor for Dunstable Manshead ward, said this had resulted in a “mess”, with parents now struggling to choose an effective route through the schools system.
Of Dunstable’s upper schools, All Saints Academy will change its age range to 11 to 18 from September 2013, and it is rumoured that Queensbury, which will become an academy this September under academy chain CfBT, also wants to go the same way.
Four lower schools in Houghton Regis – Hawthorn Park, Thomas Whitehead, Thornhill and Tithe Farm – were given the go-ahead in April to change their age ranges to three to 11.
And Kings Houghton Middle School, which is to become an academy under the Greenwood Dale Foundation, wants to change its age range to 11 to 18, from nine to 13.
Brewers Hill and Mill Vale middle schools, both of which have been taken over by the Barnfield Federation, are seeking to become primary schools.
Also in the mix is the new Central Bedfordshire University Technical College, on the site of the old Houghton Regis Upper School, which will cater for students aged 14 to 19.
Another senior school staff member in Dunstable this week added to the criticism, saying Central Beds Council had “abandoned” the educational well-being of children in the area, and had “passed the buck” to central government.
But Mark Versallion, executive member for children’s services at the council, accused those who had spoken out of misleading parents, saying their actions were “at best disappointing and at worst shameful”.
“It is absolutely true to say that the system is changing,” he said. “I do appreciate that change is unsettling.
“The rationale for the increased independence is that it will allow schools and parents greater power to raise standards in our schools.
“As a council we remain absolutely committed to do all we can to ensure our children get the best education they can.
“Regardless of whether schools are academies or council maintained, the council continues to support them.”
Saying the council could no longer impose structures and systems upon schools, Mr Versallion added: “Individual schools and parents are in the driving seat now.”
