Three into Two Will Go

The future is looking bright for Bradford schools as they enter the new Millennium.

Head teachers are unashamedly optimistic about the prospects to really improve schools and push up exam results.

"We are really looking forward to it, there is a feeling of optimism and a sense of anticipation," said John Fowler, head teacher of Rhodesway School, which celebrates its 40th birthday this year.

Rhodesway will expand under reorganisation to become one of the biggest secondaries in the district, with more than 1,300 pupils.

A new £4.5 million block will house a kitchen, dining room, science labs, classrooms and a drama studio.

But for Mr Fowler, the key to making a success of a new secondary school was getting the team of staff right. "We have to create a new atmosphere among staff.

"Next September it is the beginning of the new Rhodesway Secondary School. It is not the old one with two new years tacked on to the bottom.

"We are talking with and listening to teachers about how we can create a new atmosphere for staff and children. Creating that new spirit takes second place to structural and building work.

"This is a tremendously exciting time for Bradford schools and Bradford children and we must get it right."

A total of £4.5 million will be spent on Belle Vue Boys School to create state-of-the-art science and technology facilities.

But, said head teacher Bruce Berry, that would be worthless without the positive ethos of education that exists and must continue to thrive in the school.

"We must keep the good ethos that exists if we are to make sure that young children arrive at the school and feel happy, protected and looked after. Without that they will not want to come to school or work hard while they are here."

Mr Berry said staff were geared up and looking ahead with optimism at the changes which will see the school numbers swell from the current level of around 350 to 1,000.

Trina Hagerty, head teacher of Salt Grammar, is looking forward to her school expanding from 1,000 pupils by half as much again. The school will welcome 19 new members of staff from closing middle schools - 16 are already in post. New buildings will be complete by the deadline of September.

The 26 additional classrooms, new science labs and ICT areas will be connected to the old school via a covered walkway.

Mrs Hagerty is certain the new system will benefit children as they will have longer to 'fit' into their secondary education before buckling down to GCSEs. "When children join us now they will be 11 and I am confident that it will be a good for them.

"They will be able to get more involved in the ethos of the school. We will have them for their whole five years of statutory secondary education."

The transition to a two-tier system of education began in September 1999 when primary schools retained their oldest year who would have previously gone on to middle schools.

This left three years of pupils in middle schools. In September they will move en bloc to their designated secondary schools., forming the year group that would have gone up normally as well as the other two 'middle years'.

Councillor Susanne Rooney is the former chairman of the Education Committee, and is now the Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning on Bradford Council.

Before she took up the top job, Coun Rooney was chairman of the Schools Review team which steered through the momentous decision.

She is confident that the schools review will achieve its end - to raise academic standards throughout the district.

"I am very optimistic," she said. "We have all got to work together as a team because we all have a common goal, to raise standards and give our young people the education they deserve.

"There will be problems. There will be building work going on at schools, but we must all work together."

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