10:20am Saturday 30th January 2010
Sir - Re the new business “initiative” in Skipton and Ripon involving the new Tory parliamentary candidate. Quite how a London city businessman can bring real help to ordinary small business people in our area does not seem immediately obvious. Leaving that aside, what was most disturbing was the announcement that the group would be looking at getting involved in local schools, “potentially through the Academy Programme”.
The Academy Programme was launched in 2000 by the Labour Government, with the aim of “raising standards” in low-achieving inner-city secondary schools where children typically live in very challenging socio-economic circumstances.
The Government felt “innovation” was needed to drive up standards in these schools. Labour’s experimental approach was to take these schools out of local authority control and allow businesses and charities (including religious groups) to take over running taxpayer-funded schools in exchange for £2 million. Academies had carte blanche on employment, exclusion policies and the curriculum. Essentially, academies are independent schools, funded by the taxpayer.
Governing bodies are appointed by the business or group, with only one parent governor, who is appointed rather than elected. Thus accountability to parents and the community at academies has disappeared and if parents have issues with the school their only recourse is to Whitehall.
Studies show the rate of exclusions at these schools has sky-rocketed, leaving the local authority to find places for these children at community schools. Also, the percentage of children receiving free school meals at many academies has actually gone down. Thus the recipe many of these organisations seem to use to raise standards is to shunt problem children on to community schools, thereby not tackling issues associated with low achievement in inner-city areas.
Both Labour and the Tories now want to expand the Academy Programme to areas away from inner-cities and the Tories have said they would like to see it extended to primary schools. This would be an unmitigated disaster in our area, as it would involve closing many small rural schools as they would be regarded as unviable. It is only through the long-term strategic planning of the local authority that the future of education in sparsely populated areas can be managed.
Just what this “business injection of innovation DNA” can bring to academies to “transform” learning is still unclear after 10 years. Results are patchy, with no consistent record of improvement. The only definite statements you can make about academies are that they: undermine local democracy; can open up schools to businesses or groups with vested interests and cannot yet be shown to have consistently “transformed” educational outcomes for pupils.
Nationally, Liberal Democrat policy would seek to bring academies back under local authority control and halt the programme. It is only through empowering locally- elected and accountable authorities to deliver education in accordance with local needs that people will get education that is fair and appropriate for their area. Taxpayer-funded education cannot be left to the whim of charities and businesses.
Helen Flynn, Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for Skipton and Ripon, Low Lane, Darley
Sir - I refer to the Transdev Burnley and Pendle service being extended from Barnoldswick to Skipton (Herald, January 14). So a bus war has arrived in Skipton.
The “new” service mirrors the same route taken by Pennine service 215. Sadly, it has not been timed to establish a half-hourly service, but two buses within 10 minutes of each other, then nothing for 50 minutes.
At 16:05, they leave together!
However, Pennine alone offers an evening service and a Sunday service. Transdev does not.
Skipton is now the only town where all Transdev northern companies meet – Harrogate & District, Keighley & District, Lancashire United (Spot On), now Burnley & Pendle. But they are not co-ordinated.
The Harrogate bus arrives at 21 minutes past the hour (every two hours), but the Lancashire-bound buses leave a few minutes before this.
David S Clarke, Crag View, Cononley
Sir - Regarding the new recycling scheme which comes into operation later this month.
While I agree there is far too much waste in the average household and recycling is the sensible approach, I must bring up the question of who is actually benefiting from this because, as far as I can see, it’s certainly not the householder.
It seems that by ordering every resident (under the threat of a fine) to sort their refuse into recyclables and waste, the council has pulled a masterstroke. Not only has it press-ganged thousands of people to do what is essentially the council’s job, but it has got them to do it for free into the bargain.
Finally (and this is the big one) I’m pretty sure, despite what the council says, there is going to be a tidy profit in it as recycling is big business.
Will we be rewarded for our efforts with a reduction or even a freeze on our council tax bills? I wouldn’t hold your breath.
On the bright side, at least we’ll have plenty of recycling practice with all the council tax reminders that will no doubt follow the extortionate increases.
Harvey Eshelby, Crofters Mill, Sutton
Sir - I have received a flyer from a private company “authorised by Craven District Council” advising me that, now my bins are only emptied every two weeks, it is vital that they are kept clean and offering to do this for a minimum £36 a year.
Why should I be expected to pay large amounts just to save the council a few pence for each household?
It would seem that Craven District Council has gone from being merely short-sighted to being completely blind to the needs of those of us paying for their deteriorating services.
Rod Meredith, West View, Langcliffe
Sir - As a town councillor and dog owner, I am getting heartily sick of complaints about – and experiencing at first hand – the results of some irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to foul footpaths, roads and other places and who do not pick up the offending mess.
It is not the fault of the animal.
The problem, although bad enough before, has got worse during and since the snow and ice of the last few weeks.
Can I appeal to these owners to realise that this is not just an offensive eyesore but also a health hazard.
Please, please show consideration for others, some community spirit and pride in our area.
We are a community and a tourist area, not just one large dog toilet!
Councillor Barbara McLernon, Kirkgate, Settle
Sir - Here in this local area we have great potential and strong communities, but people’s needs are so often neglected.
The issue of safety is one that is not often enough addressed and tragically comes to the forefront of discussions when accidents occur, yet still not enough action is taken.
The road at Niffany Corner, beside the Leeds-Liverpool canal in Skipton, still remains incredibly dangerous for drivers and is still just as hazardous as it was in April 2008 when two young women drowned.
Despite a further fatality in May 2009, I do not believe anything near enough has been done in order to prevent yet another tragic loss of life.
I am sending a copy of this letter to the council to urge a further, more-in-depth look at this real and present danger to all people on that road and to act sooner rather than later.
Accidents like these should be prevented. One sign warning of bends and another asking drivers to reduce speed is absolutely not enough. It is unbelievable that neither a safety barrier nor a lower fixed speed limit has yet been put in place.
These precautions are taken by other councils across the country and I think people deserve to know why their local council has not put these very same measures in place here.
I want to ask local councillors, on behalf of all residents, not only why this danger has been neglected for quite so long, but what action they are going to take and when?
Claire Hazelgrove, Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Skipton and Ripon, Skipton Road, Cononley
Sir - Government tables published this month show students at South Craven making outstanding progress at GCSE. However, the tables now only show five A*-C percentage including English and maths, where 61 per cent of our students gained the benchmark; a 10 per cent improvement.
They do not illustrate that 97 per cent of our students gained the 5 A*-C measure, or that we have seen results rise by 47 per cent in just four years!
The progress measure (CVA) does demonstrate just how well our students did. This measure takes a student’s starting point and finishing point. A student making good progress will get a figure of around 1000. South Craven’s overall figure was 1028.8 – a figure which bears comparison with any school in North Yorkshire and Bradford.
While I am not sure about the use of these tables to compare schools, I am very happy to see celebrated the success of our students and the hard work of staff, supported by parents, that led to excellent results last summer.
Dr Andrew Cummings, Headteacher, South Craven School, Holme Lane, Cross Hills
Sir - North Yorkshire Police Authority’s role is to maintain an efficient and effective police service throughout North Yorkshire and the City of York.
This is one of the UK’s largest geographical policing areas – and one of the safest. The authority seeks to ensure the local police service is accountable and that you have a say in how you are policed. Of particular importance at this time of year is that it is also responsible for setting the policing element of council tax.
The police authority is an independent body made up of local people: nine councillors – seven from the North Yorkshire County Council and two from the City of York Council – and eight independent members of the public. A key role of a member is to be in touch with the local community and ensure its voice is heard when setting local policing priorities.
You can get involved by attending a meeting or getting in touch with your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team (for details see northyorkshire.police.uk or telephone 0845 6060 247). We, as members, meet regularly with your teams so, alternatively, you can contact us.
The authority is currently considering the police budget requirements for 2010/11 and is carrying out a consultation exercise (closing February 4). You can access this on nypa.gov.uk or give us your views by ringing 01765 641839.
Polly English and David Ireton, members of North Yorkshire Police Authority, PO Box 106, Ripon
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