'Every headteacher I've spoken to feels let down by Central Bedfordshire Council'

Harlington Upper School head Helen Harris told a Central Bedfordshire Council meeting headteachers are frustrated in their conversations with education officers.

Independent Leighton Linslade West councillor Steve Owen promised a written reply on any concerns which he was unable to address immediately, without prior notice of her questions.

Ms Harris recalled a motion passed in July “requesting that local authority officers form a working party, including school leaders” to develop a comprehensive education strategy.

“Councillor Owen responded, and this was ultimately rejected by the executive committee in October,” she explained. “A report dated October 7 called for a developed plan to return to the executive in the autumn.

“I’ve yet to have sight of a detailed plan and would like to know at what point any strategies are going to be shared with school leaders. The report states the formation of working groups is taking place already. Neither myself or other headteachers I’ve spoken to are aware of any such working group.

“I was in meetings where that was requested by the headteachers, but wasn’t agreed to and to my knowledge hasn’t happened. Are there plans for these groups to be formed and, if so, when? It’s intended the planning process will be one of co-production. I’m keen to know what that looks like and when it might happen.

“It’s frustrating that a motion brought forward with the best of intentions for school leaders to work in genuine collaboration with the council to improve the education of our young people was rejected by the executive.

“Every headteacher I’ve spoken to feels let down by this council. I again ask the executive to reconsider its position and fully involve school leaders in bringing about the improvements in education our children desperately need.”

Executive member for children’s services councillor Owen acknowledged a promise to bring reports back to scrutiny and executive around now on two key plans.

“One was the attainment plan to consider the disappointing performance result of schools, which scrutiny decided to revisit in January. That delay is of some disappointment to me because it’s a very important report and key to turning round the long-standing attainment problem with our schools.

“The second report concerns the proposed transition from three- to two-tier, which got plenty of attention at scrutiny, without covering all aspects. This will now be considered at the executive on Tuesday (December 2) and we’ll progress it from there.

“There’s a perfectly good education strategy to be found on the council’s website, with a strategic document listing the children’s services department aims. It’s a moving strategy, which aims to progress the key problem areas of our time.

“The interaction between children’s services officers and headteachers is also a priority for us that has been allowed to wither in recent years, and we’re keen to see vigour and purpose return to those discussions and more frequency.

“I attended several meetings with school cluster heads and academy leads last month, where it was agreed the process of consultation and communication between officers, headteachers and myself ought to continue.”