Head warns teachers will turn their backs on schools if consultation drags on

West Sussex County Council recently held a consultation into plans to change the age at which children transfer to secondary school in the Storrington area.

Currently children attending Storrington Area Rural Schools (STARS) transfer to intermediate school at the age of 10 then secondary school at the age of 13.

The consultation to change that, in line with the rest of the county, has resulted in an emotional response from some and been branded “divisive” and “damaging” by others.

A public meeting was held on Monday (September 28) where, among concerns about the changes, the problems schools have attracting and keeping quality staff was raised.

Julian Rose, headteacher at West Chiltington School, called for a swift resolution to the consultation and warned those at the meeting new teachers would have no incentive to join the area’s schools if they did not detect a “compelling, exciting vision for learning”.

He said he had recently received just three applications for a teaching role compared to more than 30 for a similar role three years ago.

Mr Rose added: “The worst thing we can do is not get this sorted. The profession will turn its back on us.

“We’re just the custodians of your schools and your system and we have the opportunity to shape a system that will last for 50 years.

“Let’s get on with it. folks.”

Councillor Jeremy Hunt, cabinet member for education and skills, told the meeting he hoped the next stage of the consultation would get under way in November.

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