The letter below was written in response to the GEMS letter we received last Thursday:
Dear Ms Atack,
Many thanks for your prompt response.
Also, thank you for the note that went out from school on Thursday.
We are delighted that Gems recognises the strength of concerns felt by the parent body of JPS and has shown willingness to repsond positively. I think this will help restore faith and trust in Gems. Parents need to know that their collective voice is listened to, responded to, and where reasonable, heeded. So a big thank you for what you have done so far.
The parking measures you have suggested will hopefully help the drop off problems in the morning, so thank you for that initiative. However, the dangers inherent in over-crowding remain at pick up time.
We thank you too for your willingess to reduce class sizes through natural wastage. It is fantastic that you have responded in this way. However, 27 students per class from Years 1 on is still way too many:
1) The academic interests of our children are not adequately served in a class of that size and
2) the over crowding and associated dangers therein -parking and safe movement of children around school -remain.
So we reiterate: we wish you to allow class numbers to fall via natural wastage and a freeze on new places so that numbers are capped at 24.
We would all actually like class sizes capped at 22, but we recognise the environment in which Gems operates and so in the name of compromise we suggest 24.
We look forward to your positive response.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Dear "Concerned Parents",
Below you will find an article published on Times in 2005. It seems that this is not the first time GEMS is facing angry parents because of class size increases.
We need to put pressure on them in a structured and organized way and it has to media driven.
Please come up with suggestions on how to channel the info between the 200 different families and how to take decisions - Thanks
From The Times
May 25, 2005
Private school parents in revolt
Sunny Varkey promised top quality schools at bargain basement prices, but after four head teachers in a year his first venture has hit troubled waters
By Alexandra Blair, Education Correspondent
THE company that promised to introduce “no frills” private education to England is facing a revolt from parents at the first school that it took over.
Parents of pupils at Bury Lawn school in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, passed a vote of no confidence in Global Enterprise Management Systems (Gems) after the departure of four headteachers within a year.
Hundreds of parents complaining of an “atmosphere of fear” and a collapse in morale will present Gems today with an ultimatum to hand control of Bury Lawn back to the headteacher and demand that they have a say in hiring staff.
Before the action plan had even been submitted, however, parents had received a letter from the company’s lawyers warning them that a meeting on school grounds “without consent is totally irresponsible and will not be tolerated”.
Gems promises “no frills” private education at low prices and with 13 schools is the second largest provider of independent education in the country. Sunny Varkey, the Indian-born chairman, who runs the schools “for profit”, said he aimed to manage 200 schools and has been in talks about investing in two city academies.
Related Links
Education: Independent schools must ignore the government, not parents
Private companies urged to compete with state schools
More choose private education as parents lose faith in state schools
Parents were reassured of Gems “gold standard” with high-profile advisers, such as Sir Gareth Roberts, an education adviser to Tony Blair, Sir Mike Tomlinson, the former chief inspector of schools and Sir Michael Bichard, who led the Soham inquiry.
Gems schools are day-schools and claim to provide a service like an airline, from “no frills” economy to business class. But with fees of around £6,000 for 5-year-olds at Bury Lawn to just under £10,000 a year at “premium schools” such as Sherfield, they can cost much the same as more prestigious institutions.
Parents say that with 500 pupils from nursery to 18, Bury Lawn was the model school — small, with a family ethos that nurtured its children. But within months of Gems taking over, class sizes had grown from 18 to 24 and they became concerned.
“Bury Lawn school was different, a caring school where each child was treated as an individual. But since July that’s changed, now it’s being run more as a business,” Sue Plummer, mother of Christopher, 14, said. She said her son had grown into a bright outgoing boy, but she claimed that his progress had been hampered after four headteachers and more than a dozen senior staff left in the past year. For the parents the tipping-point came last week, when Mark Olejnik, deputy head for 15 years, was dismissed to be replaced by the fifth head, Dr Sheila Kaye. With a week’s tuition to go, A2 level history students broke down in tears.
Ms Plummer, 43, is now considering removing her son. She said: “We are paying for a service we’re no longer getting. We were told classes would be 15-18 and yet Gems is trying to force 24 into the rooms.” She went on to claim that some children did not have desks or chairs and sometimes had to stand during lessons. Other parents are also considering removing their children. Phil Martin, 32, has three daughters at the school and moved to Milton Keynes because of Bury Lawn.
He alleged that there was an “atmosphere of fear” in the school and, like others, was concerned that the profits were being ploughed into the company and not back into the school.
“Gems is very quick to say they’ve invested £2 million into a new sports hall but now there’s not even enough money to buy a new Hoover,” he said.
Dr Kaye, who has been head for just a week, promised yesterday to meet parents and hear their allegations. No one was available at Gems to comment.
At his suite in the Dorchester hotel, Sunny Varkey told The Times in February, however, that his schools could deliver a good education cheaply by maximising economies of scale.
With 55,000 students and 4,900 staff in 120 countries, he said he was well placed to transfer best practice and dismissed concerns about class sizes. He said: “If a parent has 24 children in a class, he says it’s too much. But we charge less than £5,000. If he really wants 18 or 20 in a class he should send them to Eton for £25,000.”
The Independent Schools Association confirmed that the Independent Schools Inspectorate would investigate “governing and management issues” at the school.
Below you will find an article published on Times in 2005. It seems that this is not the first time GEMS is facing angry parents because of class size increases.
We need to put pressure on them in a structured and organized way and it has to media driven.
Please come up with suggestions on how to channel the info between the 200 different families and how to take decisions - Thanks
From The Times
May 25, 2005
Private school parents in revolt
Sunny Varkey promised top quality schools at bargain basement prices, but after four head teachers in a year his first venture has hit troubled waters
By Alexandra Blair, Education Correspondent
THE company that promised to introduce “no frills” private education to England is facing a revolt from parents at the first school that it took over.
Parents of pupils at Bury Lawn school in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, passed a vote of no confidence in Global Enterprise Management Systems (Gems) after the departure of four headteachers within a year.
Hundreds of parents complaining of an “atmosphere of fear” and a collapse in morale will present Gems today with an ultimatum to hand control of Bury Lawn back to the headteacher and demand that they have a say in hiring staff.
Before the action plan had even been submitted, however, parents had received a letter from the company’s lawyers warning them that a meeting on school grounds “without consent is totally irresponsible and will not be tolerated”.
Gems promises “no frills” private education at low prices and with 13 schools is the second largest provider of independent education in the country. Sunny Varkey, the Indian-born chairman, who runs the schools “for profit”, said he aimed to manage 200 schools and has been in talks about investing in two city academies.
Related Links
Education: Independent schools must ignore the government, not parents
Private companies urged to compete with state schools
More choose private education as parents lose faith in state schools
Parents were reassured of Gems “gold standard” with high-profile advisers, such as Sir Gareth Roberts, an education adviser to Tony Blair, Sir Mike Tomlinson, the former chief inspector of schools and Sir Michael Bichard, who led the Soham inquiry.
Gems schools are day-schools and claim to provide a service like an airline, from “no frills” economy to business class. But with fees of around £6,000 for 5-year-olds at Bury Lawn to just under £10,000 a year at “premium schools” such as Sherfield, they can cost much the same as more prestigious institutions.
Parents say that with 500 pupils from nursery to 18, Bury Lawn was the model school — small, with a family ethos that nurtured its children. But within months of Gems taking over, class sizes had grown from 18 to 24 and they became concerned.
“Bury Lawn school was different, a caring school where each child was treated as an individual. But since July that’s changed, now it’s being run more as a business,” Sue Plummer, mother of Christopher, 14, said. She said her son had grown into a bright outgoing boy, but she claimed that his progress had been hampered after four headteachers and more than a dozen senior staff left in the past year. For the parents the tipping-point came last week, when Mark Olejnik, deputy head for 15 years, was dismissed to be replaced by the fifth head, Dr Sheila Kaye. With a week’s tuition to go, A2 level history students broke down in tears.
Ms Plummer, 43, is now considering removing her son. She said: “We are paying for a service we’re no longer getting. We were told classes would be 15-18 and yet Gems is trying to force 24 into the rooms.” She went on to claim that some children did not have desks or chairs and sometimes had to stand during lessons. Other parents are also considering removing their children. Phil Martin, 32, has three daughters at the school and moved to Milton Keynes because of Bury Lawn.
He alleged that there was an “atmosphere of fear” in the school and, like others, was concerned that the profits were being ploughed into the company and not back into the school.
“Gems is very quick to say they’ve invested £2 million into a new sports hall but now there’s not even enough money to buy a new Hoover,” he said.
Dr Kaye, who has been head for just a week, promised yesterday to meet parents and hear their allegations. No one was available at Gems to comment.
At his suite in the Dorchester hotel, Sunny Varkey told The Times in February, however, that his schools could deliver a good education cheaply by maximising economies of scale.
With 55,000 students and 4,900 staff in 120 countries, he said he was well placed to transfer best practice and dismissed concerns about class sizes. He said: “If a parent has 24 children in a class, he says it’s too much. But we charge less than £5,000. If he really wants 18 or 20 in a class he should send them to Eton for £25,000.”
The Independent Schools Association confirmed that the Independent Schools Inspectorate would investigate “governing and management issues” at the school.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Dear "Concerned Parents",
The letter received on Thursday is useless and contains no solution to our problems.
There were more than 200 emails sent to JPS and/or GEMS - 200 emails means 200 families. Assuming an average of two children per family, in simple mathematics, we would have a minimum of 400 children representing 40% of JPS' students.
It is time to unite all concerned parents into one organized "Parental Body" represented by one person, preferably a lawyer, taking the following actions:
1- Submitting a formal request to GEMS. The request should include our demands and to some extent solutions to the mess GEMS has created. We need to help them getting out of the "hole".
2- Organizing a petition and sending it to the relevant parties (ie Minister of Education) and following up with them.
3- Check HEALTH ans SAFETY issues and take necessary actions.
4- Contact local and international MEDIA and make sure that they publish our concerns.
5- Contact international private school associations and let them know what is happening in the "GEMS WORLD".
6- Contact educational experts and get advice from them.
7- Check whether we can legally establish an escrow account and have the future term fees blocked until solutions are found.
8- Inform parental bodies of the other GEMS schools as it seems that they are going through the same problems.
GEMS management and shareholders cannot act as they want.
We need to show them that they can have major reputational problems should they not behave in a fair way.
Suggestions on how to have all parents agree to the above are welcome.
How should we communicate together so we can take decisions?
Please come up with suggestions URGENTLTY - we need to take action immediately after EID.
The letter received on Thursday is useless and contains no solution to our problems.
There were more than 200 emails sent to JPS and/or GEMS - 200 emails means 200 families. Assuming an average of two children per family, in simple mathematics, we would have a minimum of 400 children representing 40% of JPS' students.
It is time to unite all concerned parents into one organized "Parental Body" represented by one person, preferably a lawyer, taking the following actions:
1- Submitting a formal request to GEMS. The request should include our demands and to some extent solutions to the mess GEMS has created. We need to help them getting out of the "hole".
2- Organizing a petition and sending it to the relevant parties (ie Minister of Education) and following up with them.
3- Check HEALTH ans SAFETY issues and take necessary actions.
4- Contact local and international MEDIA and make sure that they publish our concerns.
5- Contact international private school associations and let them know what is happening in the "GEMS WORLD".
6- Contact educational experts and get advice from them.
7- Check whether we can legally establish an escrow account and have the future term fees blocked until solutions are found.
8- Inform parental bodies of the other GEMS schools as it seems that they are going through the same problems.
GEMS management and shareholders cannot act as they want.
We need to show them that they can have major reputational problems should they not behave in a fair way.
Suggestions on how to have all parents agree to the above are welcome.
How should we communicate together so we can take decisions?
Please come up with suggestions URGENTLTY - we need to take action immediately after EID.
Whilst everyone has their own individual issues with the school, it is important that we remain united and focused on the main issue. GET CLASS SIZES BACK DOWN TO A MAX OF 25 FOR Y1-Y6.
Diluting the main issue by raising others risks us sounding like a mob and we can lose our credibility.
Let's reiterate. At the moment Y1-Y6 has an average of 26 students per class. We have seen this immediately impact the health and safety of our children within the school and also exacerbate the parking horrors on both sides of the school. Let's not even go into the obvious educational deterioration. Increasing the class size to 27 is totally unacceptable.
We are determined and united and we will not go away.
Diluting the main issue by raising others risks us sounding like a mob and we can lose our credibility.
Let's reiterate. At the moment Y1-Y6 has an average of 26 students per class. We have seen this immediately impact the health and safety of our children within the school and also exacerbate the parking horrors on both sides of the school. Let's not even go into the obvious educational deterioration. Increasing the class size to 27 is totally unacceptable.
We are determined and united and we will not go away.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Our loss of trust and confidence in GEMS has actually been accumulating over the years. The recent issue of class sizes has just bought it all to a head. One would think that the best way to restore trust is to stop lying, show your cards and then move forward with an honest game. But this recent letter from JPS and GEMS head office further adds fuel to the fire.
Why do they have to undermine and belittle our concerns by stating how they understand our concerns of class sizes rising from 25 to 26. (translated: what's all the fuss about). Come on GEMS - another insult to us parents!!! Why talk averages - the point is GEMS put in place a plan to increase numbers to 29 - that's the point - TAKE OWNERSHIP! And then GEMS dilute the issue by finishing the letter off with parking matters.
Furthermore - if we look just a few years away (2005) -class sizes were 22. Then miraculously we all return from the summer break to find they were increased to 25. No announcement made at all!! (More deception - more money grabbing)
And the bus issue - Do GEMS really think that us parents are so naive as to what they are up to........ Every single GEMS parent knows that their pathetic letter was another GEMS LIE. The disgust and distaste towards GEMS regarding the Bus price 100% increase was rampant. (And unfortunately Mel Curtis had to attach her name to the JPS bus letter). I do believe, like every other head of JPS - she is unfortunately just caught up in all the politics. Unwillingly the head teachers (Principles) become GEMS puppets.
Employing new TA's to the school is not going to help our children's education. Most of the time the TA's (and teachers) have to devote a huge amount of time to making the school look 'impressive'. Yes - it's all about impressing us parents and the multitude of visitors. I certainly would rather have mediocre display boards, solely with children's work and more emphasis put into their learning - and I'm sure this is exactly what the teachers and TA's want. (What are GEMS intentions....)
Why do they have to undermine and belittle our concerns by stating how they understand our concerns of class sizes rising from 25 to 26. (translated: what's all the fuss about). Come on GEMS - another insult to us parents!!! Why talk averages - the point is GEMS put in place a plan to increase numbers to 29 - that's the point - TAKE OWNERSHIP! And then GEMS dilute the issue by finishing the letter off with parking matters.
Furthermore - if we look just a few years away (2005) -class sizes were 22. Then miraculously we all return from the summer break to find they were increased to 25. No announcement made at all!! (More deception - more money grabbing)
And the bus issue - Do GEMS really think that us parents are so naive as to what they are up to........ Every single GEMS parent knows that their pathetic letter was another GEMS LIE. The disgust and distaste towards GEMS regarding the Bus price 100% increase was rampant. (And unfortunately Mel Curtis had to attach her name to the JPS bus letter). I do believe, like every other head of JPS - she is unfortunately just caught up in all the politics. Unwillingly the head teachers (Principles) become GEMS puppets.
Employing new TA's to the school is not going to help our children's education. Most of the time the TA's (and teachers) have to devote a huge amount of time to making the school look 'impressive'. Yes - it's all about impressing us parents and the multitude of visitors. I certainly would rather have mediocre display boards, solely with children's work and more emphasis put into their learning - and I'm sure this is exactly what the teachers and TA's want. (What are GEMS intentions....)
I've just read today's letter (25 Sept). It states that the current class size at JPS across Yrs 1 to 6 is 26, 21 students in FS1 and 23 in FS2. This is in doubt, in my opinion. However, assuming the numbers are accurate, the letter states, in the next paragraph, that classes will be limited to 27 across Yrs 1 to 6, 22 in FS1 and FS2.
So, if I am correct in my calculations, JPS' response to our concerns re class sizes (at least across Yrs 1 to 6) is to increase the average to 27???
It is nice to see the parking issue receiving a bit of attention and creative thinking, beyond Mel Curtis ranting in another letter.
A little history lesson can put current events into context:
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidspec11502P/Tuition%20Fee:%20Bearing%20the%20burden%20of%20literacy
So, if I am correct in my calculations, JPS' response to our concerns re class sizes (at least across Yrs 1 to 6) is to increase the average to 27???
It is nice to see the parking issue receiving a bit of attention and creative thinking, beyond Mel Curtis ranting in another letter.
A little history lesson can put current events into context:
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidspec11502P/Tuition%20Fee:%20Bearing%20the%20burden%20of%20literacy
Three weeks ago we sent out an email asking if the increase in class size had been communicated or posted somewhere. After 3 days we received a call from Mr. Chynoweth, who told us that it had not been communicated to the parents but that GEMS had made the decision only at the end of the summer due to 'community pressure.' Furthermore, as an educational expert he assured me that effective teaching can still be guaranteed up to a class size of 30 students....
The letter GEMS sent out to the parents on September 25, stated that concerns have been raised as a result of raising the class size from 25 to 26. This statement is incorrect. Both classes of our sons have 27 students. Moreover, the 'year one class' of our youngest son started with 19 students in September 2007. Compared with his 'year two class' of 27 in September of this year, the class size increased a staggering 42 percent!
GEMS can either choose to continue communicating to us parents like they have done so far - not or incorrectly - or stop the arrogance and start discussing educational and facility improvement options seriously, and try hard to win back some credibility.
I quote from the JPS website..... "Parents receive priority attention in an open and friendly environment that promotes open communication between school, parents and students. Positive and effective interaction between school and home is important to a child’s development and education. We listen to parents, actively inviting them to share their views with us, ensuring that they receive prompt feedback in an appropriate form." Actually, if you continue on the webpage (http://www.jumeirahprimaryschool.com/server.php?show=nav.00m00300b) GEMS proudly states 14 communication options aimed at enhancing and strenghtening parent relations...
The community pressure in the summer months must have been so intense that the abovementioned standards must have been temporarily put on hold. However, by now (after all the dust has settled...) it would be appropriate for GEMS to apologize to us parents for this temporary freeze of communication standards... and live up to the communication standards so proudly presented.
The letter GEMS sent out to the parents on September 25, stated that concerns have been raised as a result of raising the class size from 25 to 26. This statement is incorrect. Both classes of our sons have 27 students. Moreover, the 'year one class' of our youngest son started with 19 students in September 2007. Compared with his 'year two class' of 27 in September of this year, the class size increased a staggering 42 percent!
GEMS can either choose to continue communicating to us parents like they have done so far - not or incorrectly - or stop the arrogance and start discussing educational and facility improvement options seriously, and try hard to win back some credibility.
I quote from the JPS website..... "Parents receive priority attention in an open and friendly environment that promotes open communication between school, parents and students. Positive and effective interaction between school and home is important to a child’s development and education. We listen to parents, actively inviting them to share their views with us, ensuring that they receive prompt feedback in an appropriate form." Actually, if you continue on the webpage (http://www.jumeirahprimaryschool.com/server.php?show=nav.00m00300b) GEMS proudly states 14 communication options aimed at enhancing and strenghtening parent relations...
The community pressure in the summer months must have been so intense that the abovementioned standards must have been temporarily put on hold. However, by now (after all the dust has settled...) it would be appropriate for GEMS to apologize to us parents for this temporary freeze of communication standards... and live up to the communication standards so proudly presented.
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