Corby Community College or Beanfield in Disguise?

The announcement in the local media that Beanfield Comprehensive...sorry I mean Corby Community College is to adopt a four day week may come as a surprise to some, but not to this former Beanfield pupil!

Corby Community College, one of Labour's "Fresh start" schools was born out of the closure of Beanfield Comprehensive and Queen Elizabeth (QE). Until the summer it looked as if it was Beanfield that was set for the proverbial chop with the relocation of it's sixth form to Oundle, much to the dismay of it's pupils.

With the prospect of redundancy, many of the teachers found employment in other educational institutions before the new term, leaving the new school understaffed and reliant upon relief-teachers. This resulted in the problem of the four day week that the Community College has now.

So how can a school whose motto was Carpe Diem or "Seize the day" turn into a school with the worst reputation in Northamptonshire?

Quite easily in the opinion of this Internet Journalist! Beanfield is and has always been a bit of a blot on the educational landscape of Nortamptonshire and having read the yearly A-level/GCSE standings in the National Press both when I was at college and university, it was clear to see that it was one of the worst schools in Northamptonshire

Had Beanfield been a Football team it would be constantly in the relegation zone!, and the fact that it has a new name does not alter it's less than enticing heritage. If Kettering Town FC changed it's name to Robbie Williams United, it would not stop them from being a bad team and neither does changing Beanfield's name.

You could argue that it is not all the fault of the teachers. They take around 30% of the blame another 30% must go to a select percentage of the pupils who hinder the brighter ones from achieving their goals, while 40% of the blame lies in the hands of the Nortamptionshire's education authority.

The Education Authority were the ones that initially amalgamated Beanfield with Firdale ( a school for children with learning disabilities) and then due to a drop in pupils decided on the amalgamation QE with Beanfield that has become Corby Community College.

Great idea put two low scoring schools together and make an educational blot on the landscape. At least the failure is confined.

Speaking from experience, while I was at Beanfield I was never encouraged to follow my dreams or given the proper career advice. It was only by accident that I found out about Tresham college and their Media course that eventually got me into University.

Now that the school has changed hands and become part of the Educational Action Zone to improve the situation I would love to see the school turn itself around, but as they saying goes "You can't fix what's already broken". See if they can prove me wrong!