What a good idea to ask people what they think!

The forthcoming County council election will give people the opportunity to question their elected representatives about this issue. It is not time for a rethink about the Middle Schools?

There is significant funding for improving secondary education in England but it isn't a bottomless pit.  Suffolk could be awarded tens of millions of pounds but the county needs to get its act together and prove that  it is ready and prepared to deliver a complex build programme.  If they are not ready then the money might run out!

looks like the number of people losing their jobs at the university is going to be a lot fewer than originally thought - this is good news I would have thought.  Having a thriving university will be excellent for the County.  It should help to retain existing talent and attract new talent to the County.

University set to reveal job cuts

Staff at the only university in Suffolk are to hear about job cuts next week.

University Campus Suffolk staff were told a few weeks ago that positions were at risk because of restructuring.

Negotiations have been taking place between management and the unions and Richard Lister, from the university, said there has been some progress.

Managers were expecting that the number now affected would be considerably fewer than the 34 posts originally thought to be at risk.

"We are looking at some restructure changes that will allow us to grow as a business," he said.

"we want to grow University Campus Suffolk in new academic areas over the next few years to become an institution of about 6,000 -7,000 students."

Hi Jane,

Thanks for this interesting blog. About time we had something like this - to express OUR views rather than what politicians tells us we should have.

Well done and keep blogging !

I am Secretary of the NUT for Lowestoft. The town's schools  will be drastically affected by the closure of Middle Schools.Suffolk NUT have been working tireslessly to  persuade Suffolk County Council to re-examine their School Organsisation Review, as we believe they have failed to take into proper account the massive changes happening in 14-19 Education.We have urged them to  let those changes become established first,then they will have a clear idea of what provision will be needed - our full response can be seen on the Suffolk NUT website.

Thanks Peter.  Like you through our MSDC councillors we have been trying to make a difference.  However, we need to get County Councillors elected and then we can make a real difference.  We agree there are massive changes in 14-19 education agenda and it needs very careful consideration to capitalise on the opportunity that this change can bring.  We need councillors that can see and understand these opportunities and recognise that decisions made today have to be the right decisions for future generations - we need to create a lasting legacy that meets the needs of the children of the future.  

Great to see that the proposals by Suffolk Together

are being supported by the NUT. Dialogue and discussion are the way forward and it is encouraging that trade unions would seek to work with Suffolk Together Councillors. When a dominant Political party forces unpopular measures through they should be held to account on polling day. Suffolk Together councillors would represent a real change that negotiation and consideration would be the way forward a County Council level