This article is a follow-up from my previous, below, which reported that I am retiring from running this website, KentAdvice, and probably my involvement in education. It looks across the fifteen years the site has run, at some of the highlights and key issues that have featured. During most of that time, and for two years previously, I ran a parallel personal consultation service supporting families who had problems with schools or the education service across Kent and Medway.
Can I begin by thanking the many correspondents, both parents and professionals, who have sent messages of appreciation following my initial article, with two very different messages: firstly from the many families who have written to thank me for the advice and information on the site and/or my consultation service, from which they have benefitted; and secondly as summarised by a headteacher - ‘Your tenacity in ensuring no stone was left unturned in exposing situations that were harming the educational chances of Kent children needs to be applauded’.
As well as the website and my consultation service, I have also worked extensively behind the scenes with some schools, together with individual governors, headteachers, staff and parents, where there have been problems in their institutions. These have all contributed to my unique insight into schools across Kent and Medway.
As a result, I am aware I have not reported on many of the consequences of the biggest challenge to schools for generations, that of the Covid pandemic which is regularly covered by national media. I have even resisted commenting on the appalling actions of so called ‘Anti Vaxers’ who have targeted schoolchildren, teachers and staff, many with a belief in a fantasy world of conspiracy. Headteachers have been a particular prey to add to their other Covid challenges, many receiving threats of different natures, whilst some have even had death threats issued.
Amazingly, school staff still get a bad press through the pandemic from some ignoramuses. All those I know, both teachers and support staff, are working flat out to support children some of whom are still at home with remote learning and some at school, along with filling in for other teachers who have either succumbed to Covid or are being told to isolate,dealing with a regime of regular Covid testing, and the ever changing rules for managing schools during the pandemic . Yes, headteachers are having to use extensive supply staff to cover absences, along with other strategies to minimise the effect on children and keep schools open, with the effects of Covid varying enormously from school to school. Of course, the NHS comes first, but spare a thought for our wonderful teachers and support staff, who are responsible for the country’s most important asset bar none, our children. It is too soon to assess the emotional and educational damage inflicted on a generation of children, but please care for the many whose lives will be permanently damaged through mental illness, or a ruptured education. Like many others, I also fear for the supply of the next generation of headteachers, as the role becomes ever more challenging and less attractive to many, especially in the more difficult schools.
Earlier this year, I published a Guide to Academies, Free Schools and UTCs in Kent and Medway, which surveyed the whole field of academisation, and provides links to other features. I have also published several guides to Sixth Form choices, most recently here, which has been widely read, and is reproduced in part in the annual Kent Messenger The Next Step, distributed to Year 11 pupils in most Kent schools.
If you believe I have omitted a major theme in this article, please let me know and I will consider adding it in.
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