Home truths on education in 21st century

High School principal Mike Conn promised Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism that elements of what he would tell them of plans for the new Bexhill High would be "controversial."

To today's listeners what he had to say about this 37m investment in Bexhill's future certainly seemed radical and innovative.

They were certainly well received.

To older members of the audience, however, much of what he had to say on school hours and apprenticeships were familiar territory.

The new Bexhill High, scheduled for completion in 2010, will have an 8.30am-5pm working day.

There will no NO homework.

Instead, pupils will be able to complete in the classroom under ideal conditions and under professional supervision what they currently do at home.

The aim, as Mr Conn graphically put it, is to avoid the too-familiar situation of a student working with one eye on Neighbours on the television and the other on the homework.

What is proposed offers a sound solution to a problem that is timeless.

And that is why that radical and innovatory headteacher Ramsey Nicholson fought, and won, the battle in the 1950s to introduce an essentially similar system at the High School's predecessor, the former Down County Secondary School for Boys.

That was 50 years ago. Then, the system was called Homework Classes. The school day remained 9am to 3.45pm. Students had a 15-minute snack-break then returned to class from 4 - 6pm.

This was "controversial" in its day. Mr Nicholson had first to convince his staff that they should work the extra hours. He then had to thump the table at Lewes to win approval for his scheme.

Homework Classes worked '“ for essentially the same reason that the proposed 8.30am-5pm working day at the new High could work.

Ramsey Nicholson, always the champion of the under-dog, appreciated as Mike Conn does, that not every student has opportunity for uninterrupted study at home. Sadly, Homework Classes ended when Ramsey Nicholson's tenure as head of the Down School ended.

The Down School of the 1950s included a Technical stream for those of academic ability. It also acknowledged, as the planning for the New High does, that while some pupils are natural academics, the aptitude of others is toward practical skills. For the latter, the Down offered training which included, for example, brick-laying.

Tradesmen still thrive in the town who owe their start in business to training which began at the Down.

So, "controversial" the exciting plans for the new High may be, radical they certainly are, but one can also point to past proven success.

For this reason, the new plans are none the worse for not being as experimental as they might at first appear.

We believe they have a lot to offer 21st Century pupils.