IT is sad to see the Chase School generating more negative publicity, as reported in the Gazette (October 10).
It seems the headteacher is intending the school to be an “elite” school.
His actions speak volumes, targeting additional needs support staff disproportionally, as well as the school counsellor and the school nurse for the bulk of recent redundancies. His claim that the school can provide caring support in the same way it has done in the past is untenable; the staff are no longer there to provide it.
Previous headteachers worked hard to ensure the school served the whole of the community, striving to provide the best for all children within it – the very definition of “every child matters”.
We should bear in mind that Richard Jacobs isn’t really saying anything new with regard to high standards and aspiration – they are what the school is famed for; its alumni grace all the professions.
In the past the school valued all students regardless of wealth, ability or attitude, being described by a leading national newspaper as offering “the best that money can’t buy”.
Mr Jacobs's ideas seem to be for an elitist school which, hopefully, the community of Malvern and the governors who appointed him will reject and make clear they want and expect the Chase to be an excellent school “serving its community” rather than just an excellent school.
Malcolm N Pearson
Malvern Wells
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