Mark Ereira-Guyer
Suffolk: Education boss urged to quit
By Matt Gaw
Saturday, January 19, 2013
10:00 AM
THE performance of Suffolk’s schools has led to a councillor calling for the county’s education boss to “fall on his sword”.
The comments from Mark Ereira-Guyer come after Suffolk County Council chief executive Deborah Cadman told a high-level gathering of education professionals in London that the region’s current standing near the foot of Key Stage Two league tables was “not good enough.”
In an open letter to the chief executive, Mr Ereira-Guyer, who represents Tower district in Bury St Edmunds, called for cabinet members to take responsibility.
He added: “So who is to blame for such appalling mismanagement to bring us down to this pitiful level of performance? Many would contend that it results from 10 years of consistent and monumental ineptitude/incompetence, from not listening to schools, parents, pupils – everyone in fact who has been asking that the county desist from its ill-conceived and drawn out destruction of the three-tier system with spurious ‘evidence’; and failure to secure the resources.
“Will the cabinet member ever take some responsibility and fall on his sword?”
Mr Ereira-Guyer, a Green Party councillor, said he felt he had to make the point on behalf of residents, governors and parents who have approached him with their concerns.
However, Conservative councillor Graham Newman, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for education and young people, said: “What Suffolk needs is strong and determined political and professional leadership to improve educational attainment in our schools.
“We are providing that leadership. In areas which have already gone through reorganisation, schools have produced significant improvements at Key Stage Two.
“The county council has supported schools going through this change process, ensuring standards do not drop.
“The outcomes of our Raising the Bar inquiry will add further drive to this key political priority and I will do everything in my power to ensure improvements are made.
“Cheap political point-scoring on what is a serious political issue achieves nothing in the drive to improve educational attainment in Suffolk.”
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4 comments
...results from 10 years of consistent and monumental ineptitudeincompetence..., - Funny how OP and Dogberry blame the Tories...typical. The problem began with Labour (hence ten years ago). It was their mismanagement of the economy that led to cuts, including closures of the 3 tier system. Nevertheless, how about hearing positive words from Mr Guyer proposing what needs to be done within the current system rather than taking the all too easy, but pointless, cheapshot which is calling for resignations. Then what do you get? Yes, more redundancy packages, expensive interviewing shennanigans and new leaders who have no idea of Suffolk's issues. (Anyone mentioned that Suffolk has one of the lowest funding pools of any education authority?) No, didn't think so.
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The Bard
Sunday, January 20, 2013
The rapid decimation of the County Advisory Service should be looked at as the lack of Schools Advisors has meant that very little monitoring has been going on - also the devovling of budgets directly to schools means that they can choose not to have external Advisory support if they want- being forced to spend this money on more immediate needs! Of course the drop in standards is nothing to do with the fact that Education is lumped together with Children's Services with a Director who doesn't have a background in Education. Suffolk were at the top of tables 10 years ago...this is what happens when you let politicians loose on education. The quote..."results from 10 years of consistent and monumental ineptitudeincompetence, from not listening to schools, parents, pupils – everyone in fact who has been asking that the county desist from its ill-conceived and drawn out destruction of the three-tier system with spurious ‘evidence’; and failure to secure the resources."...is absolutely spot on...but then why should the Tories listen...Raising the Bar is just another pathetic gesture...but of course will be the best thing since jam once the spin-doctors have finished with it!!!
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Dogberry
Saturday, January 19, 2013
The problem is this - very few people on the "gravy train" want to accept responsibility and resign. So I don't expect any change ...... or improvement.
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Red Robbo
Saturday, January 19, 2013
"Cheap political points scoring" seems to be the standard Tory reply when they have no real reply to make. The current government and their county enablers are the problem, and not the solution.
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Origami Penguin
Saturday, January 19, 2013