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The proposed merger of St Bernard's and St Joseph's may not occur and is, in any event, some years away, so why rock the boat? As I see it, it's because this proposal will have the greatest effect on a relatively few number of children, so if you are the parent of one of those children and don't take an interest then the proposal will be waved through.
Parents with children in the later year groups of Primary schools now face the choice of sending their children to a Grammar school that may cease to be a Grammar school in a few years or choosing one of the three other Grammar schools in Slough (Langley, Slough and Herschel) or a Grammar school in Bucks such as Burnham that has no such plans. Which will they chose? Faith or education? I believe the majority will choose education and send their children elsewhere. I can forsee St Bernard's having to lower its pass mark for the Eleven Plus as a result. Parents with children in the early year groups of St Bernard's face the same uncertainty. They have the prospect of St Bernard's losing its Grammar status at around the time their children are studying for their GCSEs. The teaching staff applied to work in a Grammar school, not a Secondary Modern. I'm sure many will jump ship. The important difference with these parents, of which I am one, is that transferring their child to another Grammar school is not a straightforward matter. For parents with children in the upper year groups of St Bernard's or those with children in early years Primary education, the proposed merger is of far less concern. So too, parents with children in the early years of St Joseph's and those with children in Slough's Catholic primary schools who are not planning to enter their children for the Eleven Plus are doubtless mostly in favour of the merger. So, those of us with most to lose are relatively few in number. Therefore, it's very important that we get organised as quickly as possible and get our voices heard. Those who are driving this proposal forward must be well aware that strong opposition to it is relatively limited. To comment on this article, go to our dedicated message board. |
