School news

Oaklands is to close!

There are too few students in Southampton with too many school places available alongside too many parents, dissatisfied with education in the city, sending their children to schools in Hampshire such as Eastleigh, Romsey and Winchester. As a result the city council have embarked upon a consultation which put forward a number of proposals including the possible closure of four schools.

After the consultation Oaklands was to have remained open and absorbed the other local school, Millbrook. This came as something of a surprise to everyone because it was an option that hadn't even been put forward. Consequently the whole process was repeated and this time the decision taken means 4 schools, including Oaklands and Millbrook, will close with a new school to be built on the Oaklands site. The longer term will see a new school built a few hundred yards away in the form of a learning campus. That means a lot of uncertainty for all staff over the next few months and a lot depends on who is appointed Head.

It's a good thing I'm doing my Headteacher qualification!

Actually, my job's ring-fenced apparently although I don't know why.

Despite that the school's going fine although we have had some pretty frightening scenes over the past 10 days or so. More news to follow.