ikeqms

An Independent KEQMSKing Edward VII and Queen Mary School, Lytham

The journey so far...

2 www.NoToTheTakeover.co.uk

PASSION TRADITION EXCELLENCE COMMUNITY

3www.NoToTheTakeover.co.uk

Thanks for taking the time to read this

brochure.

It has been produced by the Parents

Group supporting an independent King

Edward VII and Queen Mary school

(KEQMS), a school that has an

independent presence in our

community for over 100 years.

The Parents Group has received active

support from a wide range of people.

So we thank current pupils, ex-pupils

(The Lidunians), ex-staff, ex-governors,

local residents, local councillors and

other friends of KEQMS. We also thank

the many local businesses that have

generous supported this publication.

Welcome to the future!

We all share a belief in an exciting and

vibrant independent KEQMS.

We have come together to produce a

plan for the future and since September

2011 have we have worked tirelessly to

make sure it is credible, workable and

has the backing of all those involved.

Currently our legal appeal is in progress,

so we are very limited in the amount of

information and detail we are allowed

to disclose.

However we can assure you that a team

of professionally experienced people

have worked to produced a recovery

plan and stand ready to implement it.

We firstly aim to return KEQMS to

independence. Then we will build on the

strengths we all know and love, to

produce a top class school.

We have a marketing team and a plan to

return pupil numbers to previous levels.

We have a detailed business plan,

backed by an experienced business

management team, to return the school

to profit.

We believe it is possible to return

KEQMS to a sound financial footing

quickly.

We have an education development

team that will build and extend our

curriculum and provide academic

strength.

In addition we have a development team

that will work to establish KEQMS as a

centre of excellence in sports, music

and performance.

Enjoy reading this brochure and, if you

can, please donate to help our legal fees.

An Independent KEQMS


In September 2011 it was announced that

KEQMS was to be taken over by the United

Church Schools Trust (UCST) and merged with

our friendly rivals from Arnold School in

Blackpool.

Just like KEQMS, Arnold is an excellent school

with a rich history stretching back to 1896

when the school was founded by Mr Frank

Truswell Pennington.

When the announcement was made a group

KEQMS parents got together to understand the

implications of the merger announcement and

what it would mean for our children’s future. It

quickly became apparent that there were

several issues that needed to be addressed.

We formed ourselves into a Parents Group and

approached both the KEQMS Governors and

UCST to get our questions answered. It became

clear to us that the merger was not in the best

interests of our children or future generations

who would attend KEQMS and Arnold Schools.

There are numerous reasons why we believe

that a takeover of KEQMS by UCST and a

merger with Arnold school is not in the best

interests of pupils, the schools or the

communities. Many of these have been widely

documented on our website,

notothetakeover.co.uk, the local press, social

media sites and even in the national news.

If you get the opportunity I would urge you to

look, particularly at our website where you will

see that we have been engaged in what could

be regarded as a ‘David and Goliath’ struggle to

keep KEQMS independent.

Both KEQMS and UCST are charitable

institutions. KEQMS is actually run by The

Lytham Schools (TLS) charities, a charity that

can date its origins back to 1720 when some

wealthy local people invested in a charity to help

educate local children after floods had

decimated most of the area.

When charities decide to merge, as UCST and

TLS decided, they must apply to the Charities

Commission for approval. Despite the many,

many complaints sent to the Charity

Commission that were against the merger the

commission decided to approve the scheme and

allow the takeover of KEQMS by UCST. This

was in November 2011.

When the Charity Commission made their

decision It was made clear in their supporting

documentation that the decision could be

appealed. After consulting with many parents of

children at KEQMS, the KEQMS old boys and

girls association (The Lidunians) and concerned

members of the St Annes community it was

decided to lodge an appeal against the Charity

Commission decision.

The decision to appeal was not taken lightly but

the weight of opinion from our solicitor and

barrister suggested that our grounds for appeal

were extremely strong. Our appeal was lodged

in December 2011 and ever since we have been

working hard to present our case for an

independent KEQMS to return the school back

to it former status.

The good news is the end is in sight.

Welcome


A court hearing has been set for 11th and 12th

of April where the First Tier Tribunal will hold

the initial formal hearing of our case to overturn

the Charity Commission decision to create the

scheme that allowed UCST to take control of

KEQMS.

Whilst I am unable to comment on the details

of the case I can say that I believe that the case

we are putting forward is as strong as possible.

It would be wrong of me to predict the

outcome of our case but I feel we are doing

everything we possibly can to secure

independence for KEQMS.

I am very grateful for the work done by our

solicitor, David Coupe and our barrister, Hubert

Picarda who have spent countless hours going

through the disclosure documents, guiding us on

the legal process and submitting our case. I can

honestly say that we would not be in this

position if it wasn’t for David and Hubert.

It has been a long haul for all of us. It is just over

six months since the governors of KEQMS

announced that UCST would be taking over

KEQMS, for all of us it seems to have been a lot

longer. It is credit to many who have stuck to

your guns and continued to fight against this

takeover.

I can think of many communities that would

have given up long before now but the parents,

ex pupils of KEQMS and this fantastic

community of Lytham and St Annes are made of

far sterner stuff.

We still have a lot of preparation to do before

the hearing and we are working day and night

to ensure everything is in place. Of course we

could not fight this takeover without financial

support. Legal fees alone are substantial. The

companies and individuals advertising in this

brochure are friends of the Parents Group and

have donated a significant amount of money to

our campaign.

I am really appreciative of the sacrifices many

people have made, giving both their time and

money. We need to make one last push to boost

the money in our Save KEQMS account to

ensure that we can see this appeal process

through to what we hope is a successful

conclusion.

Please can I ask you for one last time to donate

as much as you can to our campaign. Details of

how to make donations are on our website

notothetakeover.co.uk.

I am very optimistic about our chances but

cannot guarantee the outcome – however one

thing that I can guarantee is that we will not give

up with our fight to keep KEQMS independent.

It is part of our community’s history and is

something worth fighting for.

Once again, thank you for reading this brochure.

Keep up your fantastic support and keep

everything crossed for a successful outcome to

our appeal.

Regards

RayRay Aliss

Chair of the Parents Group


1. We believe in the KEQMS community.

The most fundamental change in the school’s

history was decided by about a dozen people in

total secrecy.

2. We believe in independent education.

The population of the Fylde continues to grow and

we want our community to have choice for their

children.

3. We believe independent schooling has agreat future.

Other independent schools are doing just fine.

KEQMS requires marketing and running efficiently

as a business. And we need some inspiring

leadership at Board level.

4. KEQMS is loved by pupils, staff andparents.

It currently provides a caring community where

every child feels valued and secure. There is no

need for change.

5. We value history and KEQMS is part ofthe town’s heritage.

For proof, take a walk along the senior school

corridor and look up at the honours boards. In the

main hall, read the names of the boys who fell in

the Great War. Each name is an echo of what the

school really is, and has always stood for.

Why we oppose the takeover Viability

Governors have repeatedly stated, on several

occasions, that the school is not financially viable

and that demand for independent schooling

would fall by 20% due to demographics and that

this indicates that the school will face increasing

competition and accrue even greater losses in

years to come.

This is fundamentally untrue.

The accounts show that far from being

financially unviable, the school and the charity

are in robust health and more than able to

weather a relatively short period of uncertainty.

Moreover with respect to the demographics the

figures obtained from the Office of National

Statistics (projecting population trends to 2033)

together with Lancs CC’s own plans show that

far from an overall drop in population, the trend

is for an increase slightly over the coming years.

We do acknowledge that trends in the core age

groups of 0-4, 5-9,10-14 and 15-19 show some

fluctuations but these stabilize quite quickly and

taken together with a planned increase in

housing stock in the Fylde area bringing in up to

2000 new families per year plus a known

shortage of junior school places that cannot be

addressed quickly indicates that demand for

independent schooling could well rise and an

independent KEQMS delivering a first class

education and marketed as the school of choice,

will be well placed to take advantage of the

coming years.

This is additionally borne out by data from the

Independent Schools Inspectorate and the

Independent Schools Council.


The Recovery Plan

What will happen if we win?

This is the question people are increasingly

asking.

Parents need not worry over the possibility of

a 'win' for NTTT in the appeal. The group who

stand behind an independent KEQMS, have

already drawn up detailed operational plans for

how the school would be run from day one,

after a positive judgement.

These plans are not 'fantasy blueprints' built

by a group of idealistic, deluded parents but

rather a detailed operational plan backed by

professionals in the necessary specialisms, from

education to accountancy , from marketing to

estates management . The aim must be to build

a robust viable school business model, delivering

a top class education to every child in a family

environment.

We won't just give you what was there before.

It will be better and show continuous

improvement, but the big difference will be it

will be a school supported by the local

community, that sources its suppliers in the local

community, and is democratically controlled by

that community.

We want a school and charity that not only

claims to stand for the community, but answers

to that community and provides for its

schooling needs - both at KEQMS and through

the other linked primary school providers, to

a modern, realistic and viable plan. Unlike past

Governing bodies we WILL deliver, and we will

represent the needs of students past, present

and future parents, and the wider community.

We will provide the highest quality of schooling

with a truly local flavour, and play our role in

maintaining a vibrant local economy.

We need to be true to the spirit of those

enlightened pioneers who put these together

for the benefit of the local Parish as it was in

the beginning, and reinvigorate the vision of a

truly comprehensive independent education on

the Fylde , for the benefit of all who want to

share its values and nurture.

Fortunately we do not have to produce twelve

pages of questions and answers. That is because

if we are successful in our appeal KEQMS will

operate as it did on the 1st September 2011,

before UCST became involved. We will not have

to waste our time discussing uniforms, dinners,

transport between sites, protecting exam

groups, planning permission, site safety, pastoral

care, changes to the curriculum, exam boards,

Heritage Committees, disruption or logistics.

We will concentrate on what is important for

us – a well managed, thriving, independent

KEQMS. It is true that we will face some

challenges and that we will have to work hard

to get us out of the mess that has been created

but we are confident that KEQMS will remain

an outstanding school - the school we all love.


For an independent KEQMS our mission is to

produce confident and compassionate young

people.

Through teaching excellence, supportive

pastoral care and experience of our

environment, we encourage individual success

for community good.

We exist to help students achieve both

academically and socially and to reach beyond

themselves so that they leave proud of their

achievements.

With solid marketing behind the promotion of

these core values our mission is to make it the

premier school of choice in the region. We take

a unique and innovative approach to teaching

that helps students connect with the subject

matter they need to master.

Through personalized and focused teaching

processes, our students develop the tools they

need for ongoing success in their fields of study.

Our success depends on our attention to the

needs of our students and truly helping them

achieve - we don't succeed unless our students

succeed.

Mission

We Aim to:

● Use our unique location at the heart of Fylde

coast as our gateway to a greater classroom for

adventure and adventurous learning, where our

students will learn directly about the

environment, each other and themselves.

● Inspire our students through a broad and

balanced curriculum that challenges inside and

outside the classroom, where they learn about

their strengths and weaknesses, and are

encouraged to reach beyond themselves.

● Support our students to develop their

individual academic, creative and sporting talents

and skills of leadership to enable and empower

them to make an active and real contribution to

their world.

● Foster a democratic and accountable culture

where our students contribute fully to school

and community life and take increasing

responsibility for their own learning and actions.

● Encourage a global perspective by providing

opportunities for all our students irrespective

of gender, race and beliefs and encouraging them

to value and respect differences.


KEQMS inspires personal excellence and

recognises the importance of achieving the very

best academic results for pupils of all levels of

ability.

However, this is only one criterion by which

success may be judged. We aim to inspire pupils

primarily by equipping them with the confidence

to try new things, to be able to work as part of

a team or, when occasion demands, to lead that

team.

We do not aspire to mould our students to fit

a preconceived notion of excellence: we offer

them the opportunity to develop in their own

way, pursuing their own enthusiasms and using

these to nurture growth.

Our students acquire the knowledge and skills

necessary to take up a fulfilling role in society,

and equally importantly, are constantly given the

opportunity to reflect on life’s broader meaning

and to evaluate the purposes which their

knowledge and skills might serve.

Our pupils are fortunate to have the chance to

grow and develop in a civilised environment

amongst beautiful surroundings, cared for by

teachers with whom they enjoy excellent

relationships.

This is a small school, independent in

governance and outlook, where everyone,

regardless of ability, has the opportunity to take

part and whose participation is actively sought

in order to sustain a very wide range of extra-

curricular activities, the keynote is, as ever,

freedom of choice and guidance to develop in

your own way.

Personal excellence depends on personal

happiness.

Vision Management

What little meaningful merger activity can be

rolled back swiftly.

We have an excellent academic team in place

and recognise that we will need to recruit a

suitably qualified Headmaster.

However in the short term we are confident

that the existing senior management team will

help steer an independent KEQMS.

They will be backed by both a Bursar/Financial

Manager and a Business Manager, responsible for

marketing and operations. This core team will

head up the management of the school together

with regular consultation with both a new board

of governors and the Lytham Charities Trustees.

The senior management team brings a wealth

of academic excellence to the school and has a

proven record of developing well rounded

students who achieve both academically and

socially.

With the continued support of the already

excellent teaching staff at KEQMS we are

confident that we can quickly return KEQMS to

a position of strength.


Having a large family get together?Need somewhere local for extra visitors to stay?

Why not use Dunesview?

A spacious, comfortable and welcoming family home.

English Tourist Board – 4 stars.

Situated opposite the sand dunes with fantastic opportunities

for walking the dog or playing with the children.

Comprises 4 double bedrooms with 2 further sofa beds downstairs.

Available for long weekends, mid week breaks or a full week.

Dogs accepted by prior arrangement.

Please visit our website or call for more details.

www.dunesview.co.uk

07970 902684

Sarah & John Barraclough


Wishing you

a successful

outcome

Bispham Dental Practice

112 Red Bank Road, Blackpool, FY2 9DZ

Tel 354531

Happy to support the campaign

From 6th Form KEQMS Grandparents


From A 6th Form KEQMS Grandparent


Good Luck with the campaign

DON'T LET THE BULLIES WIN

Peter Jackson the Jeweller54 Fishergate WalkSt. Georges CentrePRESTON, PR1 2NR

Tel : 01772 254453 Fax : 01772 562559www.PeterJackson.co.uk


Ana-hathaYOGA

Ana-Hatha YOGAOne to one sessions & REIKI Sessions

Tel Anna 0781 735 8529

Ana-hathaYOGA

Ana-Hatha YOGAOne to one sessions & REIKI Sessions

Tel Anna 0781 735 8529

Saint Annie’s

Ironing ServiceEst. 2004

24 Hour Turnaround

£12 per bag of 20 items

FREE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY

LARGE ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY PRICED

Shirts 70p per Shirt

Tel. 01253 724 379

Sharon 07904 597 491


To be clear, we are absolutely confident that the

School itself can be profitable school in its own

right.

This transformation will need support from the

Lytham Schools Charity. But the Charity is in

great shape to do this. It has around £9.7M of

assets, of which about £4M are cash or

investments (i.e. not the KEQMS land and

buildings). This is much more than is needed to

get the School on to a sustainable financial

footing.

The school is currently operating at a loss. This

can be solved by cost cutting, increasing fees or

increasing pupil numbers - or a combination of

all three.

As the overall loss is not great, the turnaround

challenge is eminently achievable.

As we have stated from day one, with the right

governance and commercial management

(which our business plan delivers), we can take

the school into profit within 12 months.

We are sure that KEQMS was not and is not a

financially failing school. It does have a viable,

financially strong and educationally excellent

future as an independent school.

And the recent accounts lodged with the

Charity Commission show this really clearly.

UCST and the Governors are claiming tofix a problem that simply isn't there.

The Financial Plan

1. Generate a new UK & International

prospectus that truly ‘sells’ the benefits of

KEQMS.

2. Work towards developing increased numbers

in to infants/Juniors

3. Encourage greater take up of places at 6th

form for those wishing to continue their studies

4. To plan for a sustainable ‘boarding’ element to

the school with a target of 50 pupils enabling

positive returns to made to the charities (from

2016 onwards)

5. Establish solid links with local and regional

businesses to support the school as well as

forging partnerships with leading bodies in the

UK (CITB, LTA etc).

6. Build and manage a ‘waiting list’ for places

through improved reputation for excellence and

diversity

7. Establish a parent body of industrial advisors

delivering direct value to the school by way of

advice and guidance acting as ‘sales team’ or

ambassadors to interface with potential pupils

and parents

8. Create a new business management post to

concentrate on financial stability, school

growth/marketing, operations, administration

9. Develop an enhanced board of governors

comprising established experts

10. Broaden syllabus to capture untapped

markets (eg Chinese Language studies

supported by UCLAN)

11. Increase revenue steadily and return to a

positive cash flow and surplus cash position by

2013/14

Keys to financial stability


The Educational Plan

The educational priorities of the children must

come first. Parents have a moral right to be

properly consulted and all negotiations

conducted transparently.

The needs of an entire school family, parents,

students and staff, need to be taken into account

and all the stakeholders have a right to expect

consultation BEFORE decisions are presented

as a fait accompli.

Making the decision to choose independent

education isn’t the same as buying a packet of

sausages! It isn’t a question of brand.

Different children need different environments,

and parents make those decisions carefully, and

to do so they need full facts, not a fake choice

which disappears overnight.

John Charlesworth (1942-51, KES)

I left KES to attend Cambridge. I thenbecame a teacher. I am utterly opposed tothe take-over of schools by multi-schoolconglomerations,whose key decisions will inevitably befinancial rather than educational. I deplorethe outrageous secrecy of the governors'shabby decision.

1. Continue to develop methods of approaching

subjects that helps students get their minds

around challenging concepts and deliver

excellent academic results.

2. Create excellent word of mouth promotion

of services - students sell services to other

students and their parents.

3. Truly listen to students' needs and diagnose

where their understanding of concepts is

breaking down with added value from the

parent body of industrial advisors to a schools

management team.

4. Operational changes to allow the Principal to

concentrate on Education: teaching staff

improvement/training; teaching methods and

pastoral care.

5. Continue to promote the spirit of friendly co-

operation between pupils in all years of the

school. The House System provides occasion for

students of all ages and abilities to feel they

make a valued contribution to the school.

6. Continue to support pupils with special

needs. To provide for the needs of the individual,

to ensure all our pupils realise academic

progress and a realistic yet personally ambitious

vision of achievement.

Keys to educational success


Our research shows an independent school,

based in Lytham, will benefit from 4 key factors.

1 Increasing market size

2 Stable demand resisting economic downturn

3 Increasing demand

4 Ability to pay school fees

1 Rising UK birthrate from 2001.

Significantly this creates an increasing number

of pupils aged 11 from 2013 until 2024.(Source - Office of National Statistics www.ons.gov.uk)

Demographics

3 Increasing public belief that independent

school standards are higher than state.

56% of parents believe education standards are

higher at independent schools, creating a strong

and increasing demand.(Source - Independent Schools Council Survey 2010

www.isc.co.uk)

2 Annual change in pupils numbers at UK

independent schools remains stable despite

economy.

‘The underlying trend of the last quarter of a

century has been for the independent sector to

grow.’ ICSC 2011 Census(Source - Independent Schools Council 2011 Census

www.isc.co.uk)

4 KEQMS is situated in the 3rd most affluent

area of Lancashire. Fylde Borough average mean

income lies above UK average.

Therefore KEQMS core market (FY8) has

significantly higher means to pay fees than other

areas of Lancashire.(Source - Lancashire County Council www.lancahsire.gov.uk)


Dr John Lilley (1946-56, KES)

I was delighted to get your appeal letter – Ihad been hoping that there was some way inwhich Lidunians, settled at a distance, couldhelp to avert the demise of our beloved oldschool.

Unless one subscribes to the Lytham StAnnes Express one has felt quite a bit shutoff from the details of this matter and havelearned only disjointed snippets ofinformation.

I haven’t liked what I have heard, and neitherhave the numerous alumnae of mygeneration. The prospect of the take-over bythis ‘foreign body’, UCST, is dismal, as istheir plan to remove the emblems of bothKES and QMS.

The symbol of Excalibur as the emblem ofKES has been known for over a century.Together with the motto “Sublimis ab Unda”it epitomises the concept of the resurgencewhich the Lytham Schools Foundationembodied to the Borough in recognition ofits origins in the Charities raised in responseto the great storm of 1729.

The crest and motto celebrated theEdwardian admiration for ancient Englishchivalry with its spirit and symbolism of thesword rising from beneath the waves chimingwell with the teachers and pupils of a newschool, an “educational Camelot”

The Old School song had the lines - - -“School of King Edward, School by the Sea,Dear to our hearts will thy name ever be”

What will be left of the memories and livesenriched by a school tradition now trashedby an unsympathetic takeover – even thename is besmirched with abasement to asecondary role?

I left KES over half a century ago – a secondgeneration pupil. I was imbued by itsstandards and traditions which have livedwith me to this day – and I am extremelygrateful for all it brought me up to know, tobelieve and to behave.

I know that many other Old Lidunians areas appreciative as me of its wonderfulinfluence, not just scholarship but a roundededucation in the true sense of the word, fromthe library to the playing field, from theclassroom to the high street; an innate senseof responsibility, fair play dignity and fun.

Are such noble ideals to be drowned in thegrubby opportunism and obliteration ofdignity seen in the arrangements for theproposed AKS?

Ex-pupils support


Wishing you all the success in the worldBREEDONS GRANITE KITCHEN WORKTOPS

UNIT 7B BROOKSIDE

REDMARSH INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

THORNTON CLEVELEYS, FY5 4EZ

Tel: 01253 850713

Fax; 01253 851337

www.breedonsgranite.co.uk

[email protected]

NO JOB TOO BIG, NO JOB TOO SMALL

EVERYTHING CUT FROM SLAB, NOTHING PRE MADE.

VISIT OUR FACTORY OR CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION.

elle amarahealth & beauty

Specialists in all aspects of#

Beauty & Nail Enhancements

43 Norbreck Road

Norbreck

Blackpool

FY5 1RR

Tel: 59 66 66

0776 33 27 346 or 0776 33 26 [email protected]

www.2ndincomegenerator.co.uk


St Annes Town Centre, next to B&M Bargains

Open 7 days. Tel 711167

New homecooked menu with special offers

Breakfast SpecialsFull breakfast £4.75

Bacon/ sausage £2.50

Homemade SoupsWith artisan bread £2.95

Combo with sandwich £4.50

Omlettes with various fillings and salad£3.50

Clockhouse Cafe and Beach Terrace Cafe

support the KEQMS Independent Future

Lytham shrimpsserved with artisan bread

£4.75

Flame style burgers

from £3.00

Ice cream, cakes coffees and teas

If you need milk... you need Pemberton’s

Just call 735473 or 737400

Pemberton’sDairies

Supporting the local

community since 1856

with milk produced

on our own family farm

‘Keep It Local’


Wishing Parents & Friends of KEQMS all the best

for an independent KEQMS

www.wilkinsonsflorist.co.uk38-40 Talbot Road, Blackpool, FY1 1LF

01253 620 30801253 299 929

Interflora @Wilkinsons Florist‘Let our flowers Speak for you...’

● Flowers For All Occasions● Classic and Contemporary Designs

● Teddies - Balloons - Chocolates● Champagne & Wine

● Family Owned & Run● Established Since 1956



Apartment to Rent

Nerja, Costa Del Sol

Well equipped kitchen area, TV and DVD

Sitting room with comfortable double futon

Large private balcony overlooking garden & sea

Communal roof terrace with lift & swimming pool

Fly from Blackpool – 45mins by taxi from Malaga

Excellent inclusive rates available this summer

Flexible arrival and departure days

Call Fiona on 01253 721813

Mob 07941 350595https://sites.google.com/site/nerjaholiday

Sleeps 4 - Twin Bedroom

Dog & PartridgeChipping, PR3 2TH

Visit Us Onlinewww.DogAndPartridgeChipping.co.uk

A traditional english restaurant in the heart of the forest of bowland

To make a reservation please call01995 61201

Opening TimesMonday - Closed, Tuesday - Friday 12:1:30, 7:00-9:00

Saturday 12:00-1:30, 6:30 - 9.00Sunday Lunch 12:00-3:00 Sunday Evening 3:30-8:00

The

We wish all supporters ‘Good Luck’ for an Independent KEQMS

HypnotherapyStop smokingStop phobiasWeight loss

Eating disordersAnxiety

Tel 01772 682009www.newtonhypnotherapy.co.uk


Full Public Liability Cover

Tel 01253 788111 or 07880 677788

We support an independent KEQMSEst. 1986

7 7



At the Lancashire Eye Clinic we combine high

technology with a real passionate, personal

service. A simple phone call will give you

access to an appointment, as we understand

how busy you are, which is why our service is

focused on getting you an appointment as

soon as we can, and with no fuss.

The Lancashire Eye Clinic provides a state of

the art service, using up to date diagnostic

surgical techniques and equipment, some of

which are not widely available in the UK, which

is why our patients travel far and wide for our

services.

A successful outcome is the most important

factor at Lancashire Eye Clinic. We offer a

comprehensive range of services, which

ensures that the most important solution is

offered.

With our one on one consultation we believe

that our service is second to none and that our

competition aspires to the high standards of

service which we set.

Our ophthalmology services include:

Cataract surgery

Oculoplastic surgery

Glaucoma surgery

Refractive surgery

Corneal surgery

Vitero-retinal surgery

Eye muscle surgery

Eyelid surgery

Macular degeneration

DVLA testing

Injection free treatments

Our consultant Mr Raines offers a highly

comprehensive service and the risks and

benefits of the various treatment options will be

discussed on a one on one basis.

Contact the Lancashire Eye ClinicTel: 01253 730 302

9 Lowther Terrace, Lytham, FY8 5QGwww.lancashire-eye-clinic.co.uk

The Lancashire Eye Clinic


Jura Lodge

Cosy log cabin for holiday let

on a small peaceful park

in Troutbeck, Lake District.

Sleeps 6

Self catering

2011 prices held this year

Visit www.juralodge.co.uk


The position of the Lidunians is as follows:

Notice of the AGM and the Agenda were sent

out prior to the meeting. The motion deploring

the lack of consultation, the terms of the final

package and the handling over of the school to

UCST was properly proposed, seconded and

carried unanimously, production of the press

release and letter of objection to the Charity

Commission was put into the hands of David

Coupe, a member with legal expertise to ensure

balance and accuracy.

As I said in my FOCUS message it is to be

expected that some Lidunians will favour the

merger. To date I have had one communication

in favour and around a hundred specifying that

they are strongly opposed.

Reasons given include:

Sympathy for parents who had contracted into

a school of their choice with the objectives and

ethos that they valued, only to have this changed

without consultation.

An Arnold Head, and Bursar, will reflect Arnold's

objectives and ethos.

The placing of Arnold's name in front of KEQMS

for which permission had to be sought.

The loss of 'Q' representing Queen Mary from

the new website (AKS).

Concern that the UCST's record with schools

offers nothing to reassure.

With all this happening on a campus that owes

its origins to the desire of the Lytham Charity

to provide schools for the people of the Lytham

St Annes area, one can understand the real fear

that KEQMS will not survive.

Dr Jill Richards,

Chair, Lidunians

Don Ellis (1942-50, KES)

I read the details of the deceitful andtreacherous action of the school governors inagreeing to the proposed takeover of theSchool by, of all organisations, a Church trust.

To compound the matter, subsuming theSchool to a larger unit whilst forgoing its ownidentity, leaves me appalled.

The combining of King Edward VII withQueen Mary's was pragmatic,understandable and sought to maintain thelevel of opportunity for the present andfuture children of the local community. Thenew proposal appears to be political but, dueto the secrecy when dealing with the futureof so many children, leads me to questionthe motives of the individuals particularly asthe power over policy would be exercisedfrom many miles away. Keeping matterssecret alone makes me wonder what theindividuals concerned are really after.

As the Charities Commission is supposed tocare for the beneficiaries of the charity, theymust surely have raised questions. Who didthey ask, what questions did they ask andhow did they verify the answers?

Even if I appear to be politically incorrect, Ibelieve the traditions built up over manyyears of excellent tuition academically andmorally, should be defended. I fear theactions taken by the Governors may beintended to defeat such socially high targets.

I am pleased to enclose my cheque towardsthe cost of fighting the betrayal of our youngpeople's lives.

From the Lidunians


Why are we here …..or why are we here ?

Let's just remind ourselves of why we are here

We have an excellent school which has been

producing a very high calibre of results from a

fully comprehensive intake of students .

We have a dedicated staff who worked well

together, as well as with children and parents,

giving their all to the unique project of KEQMS.

The school progressed , modernised and

improved seamlessly , without the need for

management consultants or visiting heads . Year

by year we became educationally stronger and

drew out for ourselves a niche that was

uniquely KEQMS

Decisions emerged from the school by consent

and osmosis. We didn't need Head Office to tell

us what to do , or to approve every requisition

whether for computers or toilet paper.

We supported and were supported by the local

business community. We were a significant part

of the local economy .

We offer a good range of subjects and believed

in choice , not a limited 'tram track' one size fits

all curriculum . Our vision is to expand the

curriculum and allow more , not LESS individual

academic pathways. We never forget every child

is an individual.

We believe in developing the school in harmony

with its ecological habitat . To preserve the best

of the environment for both students and our

neighbours.

We will ensure any future development to be in

harmony with the present objectives, and to

abide by previous undertakings to statutory

authorities and the neighbourhood.

We will be a good neighbour.

We remember every parent has a choice. You

entrust us with the future of your child , we

undertake to work in partnership with you to

produce a fully rounded individual . We will not

force your child to make choices against his/her

best interest .

We will not deliver edicts from on high , we will

never promise the earth, nor will we ever

deliver chaos ( let alone doing both at the same

time ) .

We want to be a family -orientated school

where everyone is a valued individual , not a PIN

number in a remote control.

Most of all we want to serve our home

community . To provide the very best education

we can, and provide the social support to open

the school to all who have the wish to attend

and the motivation to succeed.

KEQMS was never intended to be a

reincarnated 50's Grammar School , or an elite

socially selective establishment separated from

the lives of ordinary people. It was a school for

all who wanted . A school with the strength to

succeed and the will to serve.

A school for the community , run by the

community , to educate the local community

regardless of ability . That was the vision of the

Lytham foundation all those centuries ago , and

still is the vision we are fighting for now.

KEQMS - as it is, and as we hope it will be


Oncore is an independent food wholesalerwho combine refreshing enthusiasm with exceptional customer service.

The result is an expanding, contemporary total

foodservice provider for the northwest of England.

With over 4000 product lines including all major

brands Oncore present an abundance of choice

which is distributed from our modern purpose built

distribution centre which has excellent links to the

motorway network enabling us to deliver an

excellent customer service which care about you

and your business.

For details contact Glyn Patterson

01772 791888 or 0796 782 93 91or email [email protected]

Wishing Good Luck for an independent KEQMS

Copy Cat CommunicationsLytham St Annes

We believe in independence

� Creative writing

� Business reports

� Corporate communication

01253 711248

[email protected]

This 2 bedroomed Victorian cottage offers 4 star

accommodation for 4 people within minutes’ walk

of the windmill and Lytham’s centre.

It is elegantly furnished, and there are plenty of toys

and DVDs available for young families.

Our guests describe it best...

‘What a find! The cottage is a delight..

Absolutely everything to make the stay

comfortable. The extras – flowers, wine, coffee,

biscuits etc – just add to the experience.

We have rented many cottages in England,

but this is the best!’

Liz and Kim Bickerstaffe 01253 713850 www.christmas-cottage-lytham.co.uk

Liz and Kim support the campaign to keep KEQMS Independent

CHRISTMAS COTTAGELuxury Self-catering Holiday Cottage on Warton Street, Lytham

If you have friends or family who need

accommodation when visiting Lytham,

you may like to pass on our details.



When it’s gone - it’s gone for good

We have noticed from several of the comments

on our site that some parents believe that it is

inevitable that UCST will eventually succeed in

their plans to merge the two schools. It is

understandable given some of the

communications from UCST claiming that they

are confident that the decision by the Charity

Commission will be upheld.

We wanted to assure you that we are receiving

the very best legal advice for this campaign and

are confident that we have an excellent case to

present. The core group have been working

somewhere in the region of a combined 200

hours per week to put together the educational

vision of the future for KEQMS, the financial

outlooks for the next ten years and plans for

the transition of the school back to

independence. We have also spent an enormous

amount of time fund raising and on our legal

case.

We are normal people who all have day jobs. We

can assure you that we would not spend our

time on this or spend the generous donations

of parents and supporters unless we thought we

had a good chance of winning this case. We are

not pursuing this out of some kind of vendetta

against UCST or the KEQMS governors, we

continue because we firmly believe that an

independent KEQMS is a completely viable

alternative, both educationally and financially.

The plans we presented at our recent meeting

at Fylde Rugby Club speak for themselves. We

are passionate and committed but we are not

idiots. If we believed for one second that this

was a hopeless case or that the school could

not survive we would not continue.

However – it is not a hopeless case, the school

can flourish and we will continue

We have also heard that some parents believe

that if UCST win, the effect of our campaign will

allow parents a greater say in how the school is

run. Remember, the UCST school will have the

same governors of old – did they listen to

anything we had to say? There is a real anomaly

in independent education (unlike state run

schools) where the people who own the school

have absolutely no obligation to listen to

parents views and can run the school how they

wish. This has been clearly highlighted over the

last 5 months. We want to change that.

Do not be fooled into thinking you will have

more influence going forward.

We would question the UCST claim that they

have a ‘mandate’ from parents to move ahead.

We have already highlighted that less than a

third of the parents from both schools decided

to complete the online consultation. We can

speculate as to the reasons but one thing we

are certain about is that on two separate

occasions we have asked the KEQMS governors

and UCST to hold a ballot of KEQMS parents

to decide on independence. On both occasions

we have been refused. We asked that an ‘Option

6 – an Independent KEQMS’ be put in the

recent consultation paper and we were refused

yet again.

These continual refusals demonstrate that

UCST are worried about where the real

majority is.

Rather than pursue a costly legal battle we

would much prefer UCST to work with us to

transition KEQMS back to independence under

the control of The Lytham Schools charity and

the parents group.

Once again we urge UCST to consider this

carefully.


HOW CAN I DONATE?

1 Via credit or debit card.

Go to www.NoToTheTakeover.co.uk and click on the donate button

2 Via internet banking

Log on to your account and transfer to

Bank - Santander

Sort Code - 09-01-28

Account Name - Save KEQMS

Account No - 7083108

3 Via cheque

Please send your cheque, in the addressed envelope provided, payable

to ‘Save KEQMS’ to 17 Balmoral Road, St Annes, FY8 1ER.

Name...........................................................................................................

Address........................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................

Postcode......................................................................................................

Can you help us?We ask that you consider donating to help us keep

KEQMS independent. Every penny helps.Our suggested donation is £25, or more if you can.

The Parents Group continue to fight the takeover. Please help us.

This is a real ‘David and Goliath’ struggle. We are a group of parents, ex-staff, ex-governors and

former pupils who are funding the legal appeal ourselves. Our legal fees may exceed £50,000. To

win we need to raise this money quickly. We are fighting against three opponents (UCST, Lytham

Schools Trust and the Charity Commission) and their highly paid legal teams. This is an unequal

struggle which we will lose without the financial support of parents and Lidunians.

We have a solid case that has a good chance of success. We are still as passionate as ever to save

our school and see it returned to its rightful position – independent and a part of our strong and

caring community.

�

Can you help?

An Independent KEQMSKing Edward VII and Queen Mary School, Lytham

If we lose the appeal - we lose the schoolKEQMS will cease to exist

The 100 year heritage and tradition of an independent Lytham school

will be lost forever

If we lose the appeal - we lose the schoolKEQMS will cease to exist

The 100 year heritage and tradition of an independent Lytham school

will be lost forever

Date post:	29-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	no-to-the-takeover
View:	213 times
Download:	0 times

ikeqms

Documents