Fortismere School

[Chris]

Next Tuesday the BBC begin a documentary set in Fortismere School - just
around the corner from Fairport; alma mater of some in and around the band
in the early days.

Jude?.....Simon?.....Were either of you at that school?

[Simon Nicol]

When I was of school-going age, no educational establishment in the area rejoiced in such a name. I suspect that in an attempt to be seen as "thrusting" "improved" or "offering a more independent-style standard" a bit of re-branding has occurred. I bet it was the old Tollington High, round the corner in Tetherdown, which was the largest secondary school with Grammarschool aspirations, a bit smaller than the William Grimshaw Secondary Modern further down the road. I attended neither. And for anyone in the USA, all you need to know is that our British Politicians find nothing more rewarding than regularly re-organizing the structure, administration, and ethos of businesses best left to those professionals who have heard the call of vocation: teachers in education and Doctors in the NHS. It's a game to see which government can add the most top-heavy administrative superstructure at the highest cost to these vital public assets.

[jude]

No it wasn't my school either.

Mine was Minchenden in Southgate (last heard of as a corporate sales training something or another!.

Same bus that  would take me to Fairport, but in the opposite direction 

Jude

[Anne T]

Hey Simon, thanks for the vote of confidence in teachers etc to run their establishments. Would be nice to be free of some of the stuff imposed from above. But we do still manage to have fun in the classroom. I wonder what my Year 7 group will make of "The Gresford Disaster", which I am going to play to them this week, as they have been researching ballads (and acting them out!). Hope the people in the classroom next door enjoy the loud part in the middle...