Rethink over school play
Wednesday 12th December 2007, 12:30PM GMT.
A Shropshire school’s nativity play threatened by red tape will go ahead after all – despite initially being told it did not have the correct licence.
Children and staff at Buildwas Primary School were told it had sent back forms too late to Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council to be given a temporary event licence.
But the authority has performed a U-turn after realising the school does not need a licence at all to stage the three plays in Buildwas Village Hall.
Headteacher Helen Whittaker said she had told the borough council all along that the school did not need a licence because nativity plays are part of the national curriculum.
She said: “Suddenly the Star got involved and I got the answer I always knew was right. I had a call from the borough council assistant chief executive to say we were exempt from the need for a licence.
“You wouldn’t believe how much time has been wasted. I’m fed up with bureaucracy. My job as headteacher is difficult enough as it is. The children are delighted though.”
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So who at the council is getting sacked for this – or are the public sector will all pay dearly for exempt from the consequences of their ongoing incompetence?
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all ends well but trust the teaching brigade to jump at every chance of saying how hard there job is , if its to hot in the kitchen get out.
many are waiting to take your place.
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Well done at least I will get to see my god children perform for the first time.
The borough council havent got a clue what they are doing half the time. I am surprise you need permission to do anything in the village Hall it isnt exactly a theatre or well decorated.
The nativity is an institution every school in Shropshire will be holding a nativity or christmas play this month.
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If the head teacher knew it all, all along then why did she apply for the licenece ?
It is nice of her to thank the team at SABC for helping her out, oh sorry she has not she has blamed them for wasting her time.
Thankyou for this Christmas gesture
Cllr Charles Armstrong
Severn Valley Ward
SABC
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well done buildwas school, good luck with your nativity play, another blow against the bah humbug brigade of s and a council. floreat salopia and festive greetings from deepest devon
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If we didn’t pay this lots wages it would be funny
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Andrew ?? Absolute tosh mate.Many are getting out and I can tell you that there are NOT that many busting a gut to replace them. The job has become tougher over the last 5 – 10 years, red tape has replaced chalk and board even before whiteboards did. Kids are hard work even as they come into school at 4/5 much more streetwise than years ago.Schools are suppposed to produce results like a factory BUT there is no quality control on the raw materials involved.Try it for a day, a week Andrew and then tell us whether it is hot or not in there.
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I assume Cllr Armstrong she was forced to apply because she was told she had to have a licence under the 2003 licensing act.
Which states that “provision of regulated entertainment is a licensable activity” and “performance of a play is classed as entertainment”.
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geoff , heads are paid very well and i do not agree there is not a que of people waiting to take the head jobs there is .
a persons job is a choice they make and as i have said you can always leave it and get another job etc etc .
It is a case a 15 or so years ago teachers / police / firemen/ etc were middle classed jobs which paid well in todays world it is not the case unless you are fairly high up the ladder, now selfemployed plumbers , bricklayers, electricians , and entrepeners , can earn money which dwarfs the old so called job for life well paid jobs.
But people still want the old use to be well paid jobs and a good job too as it is a job which appeals to them , but it is a choice they make and the conditions and salarys will never be what they once were,im self employed after years in a low paid job with poor conditions i did not wish to remain in that job so did something about it and any one who finds there job under paid , stressfull, and with poor conditions the only thing they can do is move on, in order to improve there life. not whinge about it
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I am dissappointed that the leadership of the school have sought to act so publically over this issue.If parents went to the press so readily on issues to do with school leadership would the local education authority consider it acceptable.
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I am very concerned that the head teacher Mrs H.whittaker has acted in such fashion as to draw attention to, in my view; the poor provisions of facility available to Buildwas Primary School.When one considers the recorded complaints of her manner this issue demonstates clear concerns. Whenst one considers that this is a small school that has until recently held pupil numbers less than 90 ,given the L.E.A’s small school’s policy review I feel that Mrs Whittakers conduct is the final nail in the coffin for a school that has existed for 151 years. It is clear from councillor Armstrongs comment that the leadership of the school has acted improperly over this issue and caused unnecessary anxiety to pupils of this school . As a parent of a child attending this school I too will be making enquiry regarding the conduct and leadership of this school.The stress caused to child and parent over this issue has been unecessary and clearly avoidable had the schools leadership acted properly by, firstly making a licence application on time; then by seeking a proper resolution avoiding unecessary anxiety to the chidren that they have a legal responsibility to act for under common law of “LOCO PARENTIS”.
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The naive actions of Mrs Whittaker are no surprise to me.
I have attended nativity plays starring my grandchildren at Buildwas Primary and they were held in school. Why the unexplained need to use the village hall this year?
Now Mrs Whittaker complains about negative publicity and how difficult her job really is.
Perhaps it is time to review her career choice.
I want my grandchildren to be educated in a caring, astute environment, given clear concise instruction and set positive example.
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The notice placed on the school gate reads ” Thanyou for all the complaints by parents to the Council” .
How embarrassing this must be for the Chair of Governors of Buildwas Primary School whose wife sits on the local parish council !
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As Chair of Governors at Buildwas Primary School I’d like to make a few comments:-
There is actually a shortage of teaching heads in Shropshire ( small schools invariably have teaching heads ), with more leaving these posts than being appointed. The pay is also nowhere near as high as many assume ( to earn a high salary one needs to be a head of a large comprehensive school ).
I come from outside the teaching profession and until I became a governor I did not realise just how hard head teachers work.
The ‘ high publicity ‘ action was taken by the head teacher, because she considered that all other avenues had already been explored. The decision was not taken lightly. I was away during the week in question but, had I been present, I would have taken the same action. The Shropshire Star was not the first port of call – there had already been discussions directly with the local authority, to no avail. Faced with a choice of this sort of publicity or cancelling a childrens’ nativity play, I know which option I would take. Our head teacher’s concern was ( as it always is ) for the children.
I have concerns regarding both the involvement and attitude of Councillor Armstrong, over this matter; however I will communicate these directly with him.
SP Williams has, on a number of occasions, questioned the running / conduct within the school. Should he wish to do so again then we will clearly and fairly consider his concerns. However he should also consider that, under the leadership of the current head teacher, the school has gone from special measures to one of the six best performing primary schools in Shropshire in less than six years. He has a daughter who has benefitted from this and a son who will hopefully do the same. In addition the care and well being of the children is of paramount importance to the school.
Our school has used the village hall for events, including nativity plays for many years – I have attended several, as my son used to attend the school and my daughter currently does. The local authority has a long term agreement for the rental of the hall. This agreement has been in place for many years.
I am proud to be associated with such a good and successful school and I am very proud of the school itself. I can not take credit for its success – that credit should go to the head and her staff for making the school what it is. The fact that we are oversubscribed, when other nearby schools are strugging for numbers must say something about the school’s reputation.
Finally I am not embarassed by the notice on the school board and the fact that my wife is on the parish council. The parish council has absolutely no juristiction or influence over this type of matter. These decisions lie solely with the local authority.
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My sincere apologies for a serious omission – huge credit and thanks should also go to the large number of parents who work so hard and support the school so well. Their contribution should be recognised.
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