The Abbey Wood Challenge

Greenwich Council have announced plans to close Abbey Wood School. The Abbey Wood Challenge Trust has been set up by friends of the school to counter these proposals and to tell people the other side of the story.

The Facts

The Government

* has decided that all schools must reach its targets for 5 A-C grades at GCSE over the next 4 years. These are called 'floor targets'. (20% by 2004 and 25% by 2006).

* recognises that some schools serving areas with high levels of disadvantage need substantial additional support.

* has established the City Academy scheme to direct large sums of money into these areas.

City Academies

* are all-ability schools with the capacity to transform the education of children in disadvantaged areas.

* receive major investment for refurbishment, ICT and learning resources (£2 million from sponsors and up to £28 million from government).

* bring a new and distinctive approach to school management and governance.

* have the right to set their own admissions policies.

Many local education authorities are now applying for city academies to be established in their boroughs.

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Outline of Greenwich LEA's proposal:

* Closure of Abbey Wood School regardless of further decision about St. Paul's or any other alternative. This would be a gradual ('slow death') closure of the school.

* Build a £20 million new building on the Abbey Wood School site and for St. Paul's Roman Catholic Secondary School to move there and open as a new Roman Catholic City Academy.

* The proposal is to extend the percentage of non-Catholics to 25 - 35% (currently St. Paul's takes less than 10% non-Catholics).

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Our Interpretation

* Whatever happens to the St. Paul's proposal, the LEA will continue with the 'slow death' closure of Abbey Wood School - probably starting the process in January '03.

* Abbey Wood will cease to have a school that reflects the diversity of the local community.

* As this closure will be phased over several years there will be a negative effect on students already attending the school including:

* A large number of high quality staff looking for other posts in other schools to secure their future.

* Difficulties recruiting good quality teachers to a school that is closing.

* It will be almost impossible to recruit staff in shortage subject areas.

* The school community will continue to "shrink" over the years.

* As students leave, Abbey Wood will be forced to take other pupils who have been told to leave their current schools.

* In the unlikely event of St. Paul's agreeing to a 25-35% non-catholic intake there will be around 60 places in each year group for all non-catholic students from Abbey Wood and elsewhere.

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Our Proposal

* A new City Academy to develop citizens of the future - specialising in Maths and Computing.

* This would be a multi faith, multicultural institution that would be a flagship school for Greenwich in the 21st century.

* Funding would come from a consortium of interested parties that are Greenwich "approved".

* The Academy would become a training school for the development of teachers in an urban environment.

* A significant proportion of time would be set aside for citizenship related activities with a strong focus on vocational education, business, further education and community partnerships.

* E-Learning opportunities will be developed with links to other schools via the City Learning Centre.

* The Academy would seek to develop strong partnerships with other schools in Greenwich and other boroughs, building on the work started at Abbey Wood.

* The Academy would continue to take students of all ability bands, faiths and cultures. The intake would truly reflect the diverse nature of the community.

* The Academy would seek to create a world class institution in all respects, promoting inclusion and excellence for all.

In this proposal Abbey Wood School will cease to exist on the day that the new Citizenship Academy opens. All students and most staff would automatically transfer to the new school.

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So What Can We Do?

We believe that the Abbey Wood Community deserves to have a 'state of the art' institution as outlined above. To achieve this we need the support of the staff, students, parents and friends of Abbey Wood School. You can help us by:

* Making your voice heard in the consultation process. This finishes on 24th March 2003.

* Coming into the school to sign the petition.

* Volunteering to be involved in a group helping to shape the future of the City Academy.

* Contacting your local councillor and M.P.

* Attending the very important public meetings:

* Sending an email of support to saveabbeywood@yahoo.co.uk these will be forwarded together with the petition.

Abbey Wood School, Eynsham Drive - 18th February at 7pm..

St. Paul's, Wickham Lane - 19th February at 7pm.

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People to Contact

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