Kings College Guildford Parents

Kings’ College education is Off course

As a parent of one of the young people who have attended Kings’ College sixth form, Guildford, for the last two years, I feel I must respond to comments in your article (Surrey Advertiser, July 27) about the IB results.

The co-principals refer to a group of parents who “have been canvassing a vindictive campaign to undermine the IB course at Kings’ College”.

I must confess I know of many who have serious concerns about the delivery of the IB at Kings’ and the woeful lack of information about the course provided to parents and students at the outset.

However, to label them as “vindictive” seems to completely misunderstand the point, something I’m shocked to find they appear happy to admit. “Deeply dissatisfied”, “disappointed” and “worried about the future of the IB at Kings’” would seem more appropriate labels for these genuinely worried parents.

Our son had aspired to being a primary teacher for the last eight years or so, but as Year 13 progressed he began to say he no longer wished to continue to higher education. We felt increasingly worried that he was beginning to disengage. Throughout this time his reports from the school continued to indicate that he was putting in every effort and should attain good grades at the end of the course. Then the spring term open evening revealed that he was not attending college consistently and that something was seriously wrong. He has never been a truant, and is generally a mature and polite young man, but his attitude was clearly becoming very nonchalant. Our concern over the lack of communication from the school about his absences was one issue – when would we have been informed? – but then a conversation with another sixth former’s parent revealed that other families also had concerns over their children’s experiences at the college. In fact, I have since spoken with parents from past years who had expressed similar concerns to ours, but the overall impression is that these are repeatedly swept under the carpet.

Indeed, a later interview with Graeme Hawkett thoroughly endorsed this view. The same interview also led to the comment that whatever our son’s predicted results may be, a point below on each one would still yield an IB certificate – dumbing down would be fine then!

Sadly, however, his predicted results were to be proved painfully over optimistic, and his final results fell below even their mild downgrade in expectations. Mr Hawkett also said at that time that the anticipated average for this year’s cohort of students would be 26 – the best ever (against an international average of 30). How sad then that the reality is an average of about 23.

A handful of students did well – though still not enough to guarantee their university places – and most did not achieve even the 24 points required for the diploma.

A worrying aspect of my dealings with the school seems to be that if the student can be blamed for shortcomings, he or she will be, and failing the success of that strategy, blame the teacher. Senior management at Kings’ seem unable to accept any responsibility for what are blatantly poor results and can only try to claim they are good. I personally don’t find this an example of good or inspiring leadership. Your article concluded with the co principals expressing their complete loss of understanding about the intentions of these parents. Maybe they have failed to read or understand the many communications they and the governing body have received. Perhaps if they met with them, as has been requested on many occasions, they would discover what it’s all about, and perhaps start to address the very real concerns felt by parents across recent years and across several subjects to prevent them continuing on into the future.

Chris McSween (MRS)

Address supplied.