CYP Now - NCB Now: Comment - Planning ahead for the schools of the future

The vision of how our schools might look in the future is a bright one. They will offer child health services as well as family support to those who need it. They will be open all year, providing leisure facilities for the wider community. They will extend beyond the school grounds, so that excluded children or those who truant can still benefit.

But how do we make this vision a reality? The government appears to be trying the "softly softly" approach - piloting extended schools in every area, and hoping that the idea will catch on. This is not enough.

First, we risk a backlash. Enthusiastic schools have welcomed breakfast clubs and after-school activities, relying on the commitment of teachers and heads. If we put more schemes in place without improving the infrastructure, we will burn out our best staff. This would feed the cynical view of some teachers that the green paper agenda is simply a device for putting more work their way.

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