it seems the schools are going ahead without taking parents views onboard going by the meeting at southfield on tuesday.

Two words RICHARD ROSE.

If Bright Tribe is such a wonderful organisation, why haven't more schools signed up? In the last six months only Stainburn and Southfield have fallen for their talk and signed on the dotted line. Bright Tribe claim that they will have dozens of schools under their control within a couple of years. If the last six months are anything to go by, this will not happen. They say they are 'talking' to lots of schools but nobody else has fallen for their patter. This should tell us a lot. Schools are realising that Bright Tribe have no experience of running any schools at all and are being cautious. Do people know that Bright Tribe are promoting an education which will not secure Workington children the qualifications they need to either get a place at university or get a good job? Bright Tribe want children to have fun and do lots of active activities outside the classroom but this will not enable children to achieve the qualifications that are essential these days. Most people do not understand the rush. Why do the two schools have to become academies in June? Why do they have to merge in September? If academies are the way forward, surely it would make sense to 'shop around'. The schools should see what other companies have to offer, compare and contrast and then make a decision. Why sign up for the first company that shows an interest? A company that has not got any track record of running a school. I would be telling them to come back in 2 years when they have set up a school so I could measure their success. People need to ask what will happen if Bright Tribe don't get any more schools on board. This whole thing will fail and who will pick up the pieces? In the meantime, the children of Workington will suffer in this rushed venture. Parents have now been invited to give opinions at the two schools but isn't that too late? The schools have signed up for this already. As somebody else has pointed out above, this is shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. Parents, staff and pupils should have been consulted first! This must be stopped or at least slowed down! Bright Tribe need to be challenged. If they are as committed to the people of Workington as they say they are (haha!!), they will build a nice new school somewhere in town and then the people of Workington can opt to send their children there if they want to! I am concerned for all pupils, parents and staff!

Charles, every denominational school in the country teaches creationism. Get over your self.

Stainburn School is a resourced facility for pupils with special educational and physical needs and prides itself on this aspect of it's provision which has been highly praised by Ofsted.

Provision for young people with additional needs is part of the core ethos of the school and I am sure this will continue to have the highest priority in any future developments.

Parents, pupils and the local community will be consulted shortly. Change is not always welcome but unfortunately sometimes necessary to ensure that our children have the best education and opportunities in life. I welcome the new 'Workington Academy' and hope others will too!

What is in it for Bright Tribe? I dont believe it is philanthropic but like PFI there will be future profits. What provision will exist for children with special educational and physical needs? They cost much more to educate and will be a drain on the trusts money making. Do parents know what pressure may be put on the curriculum? Mr Gove is giving the go a head to Creationalism for some trusts.

Cumbria County Council have had five years or more to come up with a solution to the education problem in West Cumbria and Workington. This merger has been on the cards for a long time and only fell through when the BSF money was cancelled when the Conservative Government came to power.
CCC have wasted tens of thousands of pounds on consultations but have yet to follow anything through. I am glad that Bright tribe have stepped in to take chage of the whole mess meft by CCC.
As for the credentials of the Bright Tribe board members - look them up, google is your friend!!
It makes for quite impressive reading, and I for one wish them well in their endeavours.

i think it should not merge esp to stainburn right on the A66 its is bad enough now ,and the volume of traffic will get worse,its a stupid idea

Has anyone done their research? This company currently have no schools under their belt, the top man (Professor Hopkins - what are his educational qualifications?)was last in a classroom as a teacher in the early 1980's and the company website gives little detail of how they expect to achieve their vision. This is a recipe for disaster and I feel very sorry for the pupils, parents and staff involved in both schools. I would urge the parents and pupils to fight for the survival of both schools in their own right. In a previous teaching job in the late 1990's I worked in a school that was the result of a merger in West Yorkshire - it was a complete hell hole with high levels of disruption, low staff moral and a high rate of teacher turnover. Numbers fell and it eventually shut down!