Looking forward to education on Sheppey

Gordon Henderson is urging Islanders to help make Sheppey's new academy work. In a message relayed via an article in a local newspaper Gordon said:

"I was a staunch supporter of the Island’s middle schools, not only because they provided our children with an excellent education, but because I happen to believe that the three tier system itself was better for our young people.

"During the debate about changing to a two tier system, the middle schools were blamed for Sheppey’s poor attainment record at secondary level. However, none of the critics ever presented any supportable evidence to back up this argument. In my view, rather than change the system it would have been better to address the long standing and deep seated problems of Minster College.

"But we move on; we have a two tier system and we all have to pull together to make that system work in a way that provides our children and grandchildren with the secondary education they deserve. With the opening of the new Sheppey Academy we have the chance to draw a line under the past problems and start afresh.

"Islanders have been promised a better school, with better buildings, better facilities, better courses and better discipline. We all need to work hard to see that those promises are delivered.

"We also need to ensure that the transition period goes as smoothly as possible. It will be a trying time for the pupils and staff who will have to work in existing buildings until the new schools are built. If a single child’s education is affected during this period then we will have failed."