Furious parents and students face a major shake-up of their school curriculum just a week before the end of term.
Sandy Upper School has said that teenagers entering Years 10 and 11 will have to drop a GCSE subject.
The Barnfield Federation, which will run the school from September, wants students to take 10 subjects instead of the current 11 – but to do this they have axed one column of the timetable. This leaves the students going into Year 11 with a year’s worth of study and coursework that may never be accredited.
The school says that radical change is need to improve standards.
But one student said: “Some people are losing the course they have planned their lives around. I know someone who aspired to be a dancer but has had to drop dance.”
On Tuesday around 70 students gathered in the school’s cafe to protest.
Parent Michael Watson said this does not leave enough time for students to reconsider their options. Parents say they were not consulted and they demand a meeting with Barnfield before the holidays.
Parent Michael Watson said this does not leave enough time for students to reconsider their options. Parents say they were not consulted and they demand a meeting with Barnfield before the holidays.
Head Ursula Byrne, who leaves at the end of term, chaired a meeting crammed with angry parents and students on Wednesday. She said: “Are you prepared that only 54 per cent of your children get English and only 56 per cent get mathematics?
“That’s the data if we continue in this way. I believe it’s right to have four options because I believe the results will be better.”
She said that if a student wants to continue taking all five options, which she is convinced will lower results, they can do so in a twilight session. Students may also be able to replace a subject in a different column with their lost subject.
Parents felt the changes should not affect students who are mid-GCSE.
A meeting for parents and students will be held the day before term starts but they demanded one now. Parents’ opinions are being fed back to the federation, which, the school says, is committed to consulting fully with parents and students.
What do you think of the decision? Email letters@biggleswadechronicle.co.uk