Union supports socially balanced pupil intakes

In a statement the Director, Mark Langhammer described the ‘every school a good school’ process as “narrowly focussed and data obsessed”.

“ATL has strong views that micro target setting, over testing, over assessing and over prescription generally have had a debilitating effect of the quality of education. We cannot ‘fatten the pig’ by continually weighing it,” he said.

“That said, we recognize that, in order to improve matters at Lisneal College, in the here and now, there now needs to be a swift reaction from the WELB. We represent many good and dedicated teachers in Lisneal College. The morale of teachers in the school can only suffer, if tackling the issue of leadership in the school at Governor and executive level is not addressed.

“ATL is reluctant to speculate on the configuration of amalgamations and school re-organisation in the Foyle area, or their effect on communal segregation, but will study the Western Board’s proposals with interest. However, we accept the need for fewer, larger schools. ATL supports more socially balanced pupil intakes, for educational reasons. Socially balanced intakes work best for all, and improve results across the system.

“Academics analysis is clear, the external influences on pupil performance are more important, much more important, than what schools can reasonably affect,” Mr Langhammer said.

“These ‘externalities’ account for some 85 per cent of the differentials in school performance. It is now well understood that social class, income, family circumstances, the support of parents, and community culture are more important than what happens at school, although this does not generally feed into policy formation. So, if an amalgamated school, promoting socially balanced intakes is proposed in Foyle, ATL will support that.”