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‘Consultation’? I might as well be talking to myself
• IT will soon be necessary for a new definition of ‘consultation’ to be considered for the Oxford English Dictionary.
‘Consultation’ under New Labour has come to mean a loaded, biased questionnaire amid much propaganda which, if the result is unfavourable, is reinterpreted or ignored in favour of what the powers that be wanted in the first place.
Westminster Council, Jo Shuter, interim head of Pimlico comprehensive school, its interim executive board, and its standards improvement board, all subscribe to this new definition.
The consultation about the future status of Pimlico School resulted in 70 per cent favouring a community comprehensive school.
Only 4 per cent favoured academy status. Yet the overview and scrutiny committee on June 20 chose to redefine the meaning of community school to encompass academies and trusts, thereby instantaneously wiping out our vote and redelegating it.
The lack of proper consultation and subsequent implementation of the new school uniform is indicative of the petty- minded and arrogant attitude of those in charge.
It should be challenged, since it apparently isn’t a legitimate change of policy.
The latest consultation about the restructuring of the school day was recently reported in the West End Extra (July 20) in an interview with Jo Shuter, who proclaimed that 91 per cent of responses favoured a shorter lunch break, a somewhat disingenuous claim when you know the facts. Other proposals were invited, presumably at least 9 per cent did so, but who knows what they were?
I presumed, naively, that since the new structure was not to be implemented until January 2008, further meetings to provide feedback on the proposals would ensue. Just days before the end of term I received a letter saying that proposals would be adopted, commencing in September 2007, yet there wasn’t even a deadline given on the questionnaire.
No wonder Pimlico teachers (and parents) feel angry and frustrated. The NUT has such an important role in defending teachers’ rights and working conditions. It is unreasonable to expect students and teachers to study and work well with only a 30-minute lunch break, however extreme the circumstances.
Sadly, Jo Shuter continues to court the press, and slate Pimlico at every opportunity, while refusing actively to engage and genuinely consult with parents and teachers alike.
To date, despite assurances given in March that parental involvement was desired, there is still no parental representation on either the standards improvement board or the interim executive board. This is no way to win hearts and minds.
Jo Shuter and the new regime appear to be fattening up Pimlico and the academy, despite Jo being anti-academy. Motive? Could it be that a proposed annual £100,000 is on its way to Quintin Kynaston School to keep Jo on board at Pimlico until September 2008 if academy status is imposed upon Pimlico by that time?
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
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