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Mr Mac’s unique school would be lost in merger
• AS the parent of a year 10 girl attending Highbury Fields I’m writing to say how refreshing it was to read the heartfelt comments of the head, Bernie McWilliams (Head tells school to reject £10m, May 23).
It’s tragic that this government’s so-called educational priorities have slavishly adopted the model of business management, with our children as the “products” in a production line system more appropriate to factory financial accounting.
This approach is in stark contrast to the real goals of education which include bringing out the strengths in each girl by nurturing her social as well as academic development, as she goes through her teenage years.
“Mr Mac”, as he is universally referred to by the girls, knows each of them by name and personality. This means he is well-placed to intervene on disciplinary matters when required and to encourage achievement when praise is due, a personal touch which stems from the priority given to building a community within what is a small school by London standards.
I fear for the uniqueness of Highbury Fields, which would be lost for ever in any merger with the much-larger Elizabeth Garrett Anderson.
I very much urge parents and governors to voice their opposition to these plans and I thank the Tribune for drawing our attention to them.
Kay Norman
Upper Street, N1
• AS an ex-pupil of Highbury Fields School, I would like to express my firm support for the views expressed by Bernie McWilliams.
The growing trend for producing “results” – in terms of SAT or GCSE grades – and overlooking other issues such as teacher-pupil relations is very worrying, as are the plans for a merger with Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, a school with as much of a unique identity as Fields.
Throughout my time at Fields, I felt respected and cared for by teachers, not just as a pupil, “another brick in the wall”, but as an individual person.
It is in smaller schools such as Fields that these levels of pastoral care are able to be forged and nurtured successfully.
I hope I speak for many when I say that it is this – and not high grades or top-notch classrooms – which would truly benefit a young person today.
Name and address supplied
• I read with sadness the news of Bernard McWilliams’ coming retirement. He has been an excellent headteacher at Highbury Fields School for many years.
My neighbours and I have very much appreciated his help in dealing with matters of bad behaviour on the streets of Highbury.
I agree strongly with him that it would be a mistake for the educational authorities to merge his school with another and to remove the post of headteacher at his school.
The community in Highbury has put up for many years with persistent poor behaviour from a handful of pupils from local schools. Many of these children are not locals and treat our streets with great disrespect.
They throw their lunchtime food on the pavement, invade private residential areas and harass locals to buy them cigarettes at shops.
A strong headteacher is needed to keep this bad behaviour under control.
It has reached the stage where the education authorities should consider keeping all children within the boundaries of their Highbury schools at lunchtime.
The community of Highbury would welcome some reassurance on this matter.
Otherwise, we all look forward to the school holidays with a great sense of relief as Highbury is returned to the peaceful, attractive place it should be.
Tim Newark
(Address supplied) N5
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