The Burns Report

Change in the transfer procedure has been long anticipated but it is probably true to say that the Burns Report took everyone by surprise. So many suggestions which involved either tinkering with the present system or wholesale change had been hotly debated that an innovative approach was going to be necessary to avoid a ‘knee-jerk’ response.

Year 7 teachers and primary school principals may be apprehensive remembering the last time parents and teachers made ‘informed choices’ - it is going to be a long time before all schools are going to be regarded as equally desirable.

Grammar schools are already beginning to think through the implications for them. Whatever ‘informed choices’ parents make it is inevitable that the ability range in grammar schools will broaden.

The idea of ‘collegiates’ made up of secondary level schools in an area (in some cases a very wide area) addresses the requirement for equality among schools for the new system to work but the reality of pupils and teachers moving between geographically dispersed schools needs to be properly thought through and worked out in detail.

Continue to pray about the decisions which need to be made. Let us also pray for all those who will be directly affected by the changes. Many of our colleagues have already been under great strain, we need to ask God to sustain and protect them.