What does super mean?
Is it a phrase to excite us?
Is it a phrase to keep us docile?
Whatever it is the government seems to be preoccupied with the word super in relation to public establishments. Alongside the “super schools” agenda, the government seems caught up on introducing ‘polyclinics’ or “super-surgeries” across England.
In theory, the proposals seem workable and positive: flash modern buildings and extended opening hours. In practice, they could prove damaging. Doctors and nurses will be working shifts and, potentially, breaking down the traditional doctor/patient relationship. Groups, namely the Patients Association, believe: “the greatest concern that the Patient Association harbour’s in regard to polyclinics is the need for continuity in doctor-patient relations.
It is often crucial to the efficiency of the patients treatment that they form a bond or relationship with their local GP so the doctor can use their understanding of different patients social and cultural backgrounds.
There will also be fewer buildings, "the proposal... is to crush singlehanded and small practices in favour of giant super surgeries of 10 or more doctors. The current 10 000 British practices would shrink to a miserable 1800", said Dr John Dracass of the West Hampshire local medical committee. This will mean that patients will have to travel further in order to see their GP.
Facebook group, Save our Surgeries, opposes the proposals and believes that “the Government fails to understand the depth of opposition from doctors and patients to this policy and does not have a clear understanding of what the proposals will mean in practice. Even the term polyclinic has not been properly defined.”
George Monbiot, of the Guardian, is similarly against the proposals: “None of this serves either the customer or the taxpayer. The irony of Brown's reforms is that they are wholly centred on the needs of the providers rather than the patients.
“Little by little, the privatisation of the NHS is happening already, disguised as a crusade for patient power.”
However, a similar system has taken place in Australia to rave reviews. Every city has a medical centre which holds 12 doctors, and patients can walk in 24-hours a day. They even co-exist with local GPs.
We can’t decide whether the polyclinics will be a success without seeing them in practice, however, like the super school scheme it has found more criticism than praise. “People will not realise just how good the UK GP system is until it is abolished or undermined”, this was a comment from one reader on the BBC website.
It just seems like another Americanisation of the British system. The projects have already tried and, arguably, failed in the states but yet they’ve been transferred to the United Kingdom.
Like the “super schools” story only time will tell if the scheme will be a success.
To add your views you could go to http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/. This is just one group against the plans.
Monday 21 April 2008
Super Schools "not a failure"
Despite major criticism of the super schools ideal in Burnley, a spokesman for MP Kitty Usher claims that the project is “not a failure”
Just recently the new Shuttleworth Community Collge site has been branded an ‘eyesore’ by residents, if this is attached to all the other problems the project has faced it’s easy to see why people would consider it a failure. However, Kitty Usher’s office came out fighting yesterday and told me that “saying it is a failure has reached a position before any evidence is taken.”
The problems have come about for a number of reasons: merging schools with local rivialries (namely Ivy Bank and Habergham); managing split campuses; difficulties in finding sites and obtaining planning permission. But Peter Marland, office manager for Kitty Usher, said: “There have been difficulties but the project has a long term future not based on short term difficulties.”
One obvious aim for the new schools was to improve the education system in Burnley and also break up the admissions cycle which sees schools in the west of Burnley densely populated compared to sparsely populated schools on the east side.
Martyn Bell, father of a former pupil of Habergham, told me that he took his son out of the school due to problems the scheme caused. He said: “I was opposed to the proposals from the start, he got into Habergham and that was one of the best schools in the county.
“But when the schools merged there wasn’t the same emphasis on education. It was about getting by, but the violence and lose of grades was worrying for different reasons.
“We took him out of the school and had to send him into private education as there are no longer any good schools in the area.”
However, Mr Marland argued that: “New buildings and providing a better standard of education can not be opposed.
“The local media and political parties opposed the scheme (and) have created the false impression of failure and challenged parent’s faith.”
Questions have to be asked whether the “false impression” that is being created takes into account the violence and Ofsted reports which have often criticised the current schooling system.
He did, however, tell me that this scheme is untested so there is bound to be unforeseen problems in achieving success. Achieving success seems a long, long way away.
Defiantly, Mr Marland told me: “The problems are not irretrievable. The schools are improving and the exam results of the schools have not suffered noticeably since the merger.”
“Once the schools are on one site and have a fixed point with their own, rather than mixed school intake, then it will be up to the management to provide the benefits of the new buildings.”
At the time of proposals most head teachers in the area backed the decision. Ivy Bank headteacher, Mr Stephen Ball said: “It’s great news for the town and the local economy.”
Mrs Debbie Hill, headteacher of Walshaw High School, said: “It’s a great opportunity for Burnley.”
It was back in October 2003 when it was proposed that all Secondary schools in the Burnley/Padiham area would be replaced by five new ‘state-of the-art’ schools.
The sites of Barden, St Theodres, Gawthorpe, Habergham/Ivy Bank and Townley High schools are being replaced by new high-tech schools in a £150 million scheme, each accommodating 1,050 pupils. The other schools affected in the area are Pendle Walton, St Hildas, Mansfield, Walshaw and Edge End.
Since that day plans have been drawn and put into place to various degrees of criticism. Residents from around the Townley area voiced their anger to deputy leader John Prescott. Then when the plans were confirmed the Hambledon site was already over subscribed. If everything wasn’t already bad enough, rats were found at the Shuttleworth site.
As it stands today, you’re hard pushed to find any positives: the schools are still shakey with no real structure or foundation; pupils are being pulled out by their parents; exam results aren’t what they used to be and there is a fear of violence amongst pupils and parents alike.
Only time will tell if the project will, eventually, be a success. But for now all I can say is that I’m glad I got out in time.
Map of the Building Schools for the Future initiative in Burnley and Nelson
View Larger Map
Key: Blue = Old Schools
Yellow = New Schools
Wednesday 2 April 2008
English 'Pirates'?
This week two Italian teams (Palermo and Reggina) have claimed that English teams are "pillaging" their best young academy players at little or no compensation.
UEFA president Michel Platini has pledged to try and stop such poaching and has been quoted as saying: "The first contract a player signs should be with the club who trains him."
The main problems are that you're uprooting young players and potentially affecting their chance to make the big time by throwing them into a big pond as a small fish and that smaller teams spend time and money on training these players before they are robbed by bigger teams for next to nothing.
Palermo president, Maurizio Zamperini, said: "These clubs already have the best players in the world. To try to speculate on young players, robbing them from other clubs that live off young players, is wrong."
Trevor Brooking has come out and agreed with both Platini and Zamperini saying that the current influx of foreign talent is "very worrying". The Premier League spokesman, Dan Johnson, said: "Clubs would much rather be picking up players 10 or 20 miles up the road rather than scouring Europe". That's fine but when will this happen?
How long do we have to wait before English academy products are seen more regularly in the Premier League?!
UEFA president Michel Platini has pledged to try and stop such poaching and has been quoted as saying: "The first contract a player signs should be with the club who trains him."
The main problems are that you're uprooting young players and potentially affecting their chance to make the big time by throwing them into a big pond as a small fish and that smaller teams spend time and money on training these players before they are robbed by bigger teams for next to nothing.
Palermo president, Maurizio Zamperini, said: "These clubs already have the best players in the world. To try to speculate on young players, robbing them from other clubs that live off young players, is wrong."
Trevor Brooking has come out and agreed with both Platini and Zamperini saying that the current influx of foreign talent is "very worrying". The Premier League spokesman, Dan Johnson, said: "Clubs would much rather be picking up players 10 or 20 miles up the road rather than scouring Europe". That's fine but when will this happen?
How long do we have to wait before English academy products are seen more regularly in the Premier League?!
Monday 31 March 2008
Video referees in football?
I have always been a traditionalist football fan who believes that video refs will slow the game down, slow the tempo and generally just kill footballing debate. But, my thoughts have now changed after the debacle at Wembley on Sunday.
It was the Johnstone Paint Trophy Final between Grimsby Town (my team) and the MK Dons (the franchise) and it was a tale of two penalties. The first, given correctly to Grimsby and missed...the second, wrongly given to MK Dons, scored and killed the game as a contest.
Putting aside the fact that the Dons were the better side, if there was a video referee he would've seen that three players were offside and the linesman had given offside before the penalty was given. With the MK Dons peppering Grimsby with crosses and shots they looked almost out of ideas when the penalty was given and until that point Grimsby still had a chance.
But, then again how did the officials not realise the offside was given before the penalty?
However, this is not an isolated incident in the call for video referees. Two big games have seen ridiculous decisions in recent years. The Pedro Mendes v Roy Carroll incident at Old Trafford and where Carlos Tevez was stood literally on the line and offside when he scored the winner at Ewood Park which hugely contributed to the Hammers staying up.
There are many arguments for and against video technology and the FA has considered it on many occassions but it is yet to be tested. Big name managers such as Arsene Wenger and Mark Hughes have backed plans but Fifa is still against such measures and in October of 2005 condemned the French leagues for their plans to test the technology.
Grimsby lost a trophy, Spurs lost 2 points and Sheffield United lost their Premier League status on poor decision making from officials. Surely video technology should be tested to see what effect (positive or negative) it can have on the game.
It was the Johnstone Paint Trophy Final between Grimsby Town (my team) and the MK Dons (the franchise) and it was a tale of two penalties. The first, given correctly to Grimsby and missed...the second, wrongly given to MK Dons, scored and killed the game as a contest.
Putting aside the fact that the Dons were the better side, if there was a video referee he would've seen that three players were offside and the linesman had given offside before the penalty was given. With the MK Dons peppering Grimsby with crosses and shots they looked almost out of ideas when the penalty was given and until that point Grimsby still had a chance.
But, then again how did the officials not realise the offside was given before the penalty?
However, this is not an isolated incident in the call for video referees. Two big games have seen ridiculous decisions in recent years. The Pedro Mendes v Roy Carroll incident at Old Trafford and where Carlos Tevez was stood literally on the line and offside when he scored the winner at Ewood Park which hugely contributed to the Hammers staying up.
There are many arguments for and against video technology and the FA has considered it on many occassions but it is yet to be tested. Big name managers such as Arsene Wenger and Mark Hughes have backed plans but Fifa is still against such measures and in October of 2005 condemned the French leagues for their plans to test the technology.
Grimsby lost a trophy, Spurs lost 2 points and Sheffield United lost their Premier League status on poor decision making from officials. Surely video technology should be tested to see what effect (positive or negative) it can have on the game.
Thursday 28 February 2008
The state of British tennis
“British men's tennis is in its most perilous state for more than 20 years” – that’s the view of BBC 5 Live's Jonathan Overend.
These remarks have came in response to England’s 4-1 thrashing by a powerful Argentinean team in the Davis Cup. Without Andy Murray, who pulled out of the tournament in order to protect himself from injury, the young team went to Buenes Aires to face an unbelievable task.
Argentina finished day one with a 2-0 lead and didn’t drop a set as they took instant control against the inexperienced side. Alex Bogdanovic summed up Britain’s apparent lack of talent when he said: “I wasn't expected to win and I must move on from this and learn.” This was regarding his defeat to world number 41 Agustin Calleri.
David Nalbandian, world number nine, demolished Jamie Baker in less than two hours. Britain’s highest ranked player in the match was Bogdanovic who is ranked 203rd in the world and in comparison Argentina boasts two other top 20 players, in addition to Nalbandian, who didn’t even feature against the British hopefuls.
If Britain are to lose the next round of matches they will be relegated from the world’s elite 16 league and there was some debate as to why Britain were missing their star man Andy Murray. He told the press that he was unable to play as he didn’t wish to risk aggravating an injury by switching to clay courts to play in the matches. This was met by disbelief from his brother and fellow Great British team member, Jamie Murray who told the BBC: “It was a shock to me and for the team, very disappointing - I was not aware he had a problem. It's disappointing he chose not to come and it kind of affects the way we feel about him. If he wanted to really push himself he could have come here.”
Tim Henman, regardless of whether you classed him as a success or a failure, was the figure head of British tennis and with him around we always stood a chance in cups and tournaments. And his honesty and determination couldn’t be questioned even by his biggest critics.
However, when he quit the game he made way for billed wonderkid Andy Murray who quickly began to shoot up the rankings and become the spearhead for British tennis. Now, Andy is a respected pro who is thought of as a potential world number 1 as he matures with age and experience.
What is happening to British tennis?
When Wimbledon is in full flow the country goes mad with ‘cup fever’ but for what reason? No English playerThe tournament is classed as maybe the top prize in world tennis to many pros but maybe this is an insult to tennis when Britain continues to offer less and less (in terms of players) to the game. Strawberries and cream, the possibility of rain, the banter of John McEnroe it’s all there and sets up great tennis but what does Britain offer the world of tennis other than just strawberries and cream? Nothing.
There are ways in which we can offer reasons why there are few (if only one) top British players in the world. Is it declining interest in the sport or lack of ambition and endeavour in tennis clubs? It’s probably a combination of factors, the lack of top players (ie, celebrity status) and a winning mentality coupled with tennis clubs maybe not striving to make the kids push on. The perception of tennis is that it isn’t macho or rewarding. The back pages of newspapers tend to be saved for anything but: football, rugby, cricket and even motor-racing but very rarely do you see a headline sport story focused on tennis. You're lucky to see a tennis story.
Recently however the Lawn Tennis Association and their Clubvision plan in particular have made new, exciting plans for the sport: telling clubs to appoint trained coaches and releasing more money for equipment.
Only time will tell and we can only hope that British tennis improves from the position it’s in to producing world-class players.
These remarks have came in response to England’s 4-1 thrashing by a powerful Argentinean team in the Davis Cup. Without Andy Murray, who pulled out of the tournament in order to protect himself from injury, the young team went to Buenes Aires to face an unbelievable task.
Argentina finished day one with a 2-0 lead and didn’t drop a set as they took instant control against the inexperienced side. Alex Bogdanovic summed up Britain’s apparent lack of talent when he said: “I wasn't expected to win and I must move on from this and learn.” This was regarding his defeat to world number 41 Agustin Calleri.
David Nalbandian, world number nine, demolished Jamie Baker in less than two hours. Britain’s highest ranked player in the match was Bogdanovic who is ranked 203rd in the world and in comparison Argentina boasts two other top 20 players, in addition to Nalbandian, who didn’t even feature against the British hopefuls.
If Britain are to lose the next round of matches they will be relegated from the world’s elite 16 league and there was some debate as to why Britain were missing their star man Andy Murray. He told the press that he was unable to play as he didn’t wish to risk aggravating an injury by switching to clay courts to play in the matches. This was met by disbelief from his brother and fellow Great British team member, Jamie Murray who told the BBC: “It was a shock to me and for the team, very disappointing - I was not aware he had a problem. It's disappointing he chose not to come and it kind of affects the way we feel about him. If he wanted to really push himself he could have come here.”
Tim Henman, regardless of whether you classed him as a success or a failure, was the figure head of British tennis and with him around we always stood a chance in cups and tournaments. And his honesty and determination couldn’t be questioned even by his biggest critics.
However, when he quit the game he made way for billed wonderkid Andy Murray who quickly began to shoot up the rankings and become the spearhead for British tennis. Now, Andy is a respected pro who is thought of as a potential world number 1 as he matures with age and experience.
What is happening to British tennis?
When Wimbledon is in full flow the country goes mad with ‘cup fever’ but for what reason? No English playerThe tournament is classed as maybe the top prize in world tennis to many pros but maybe this is an insult to tennis when Britain continues to offer less and less (in terms of players) to the game. Strawberries and cream, the possibility of rain, the banter of John McEnroe it’s all there and sets up great tennis but what does Britain offer the world of tennis other than just strawberries and cream? Nothing.
There are ways in which we can offer reasons why there are few (if only one) top British players in the world. Is it declining interest in the sport or lack of ambition and endeavour in tennis clubs? It’s probably a combination of factors, the lack of top players (ie, celebrity status) and a winning mentality coupled with tennis clubs maybe not striving to make the kids push on. The perception of tennis is that it isn’t macho or rewarding. The back pages of newspapers tend to be saved for anything but: football, rugby, cricket and even motor-racing but very rarely do you see a headline sport story focused on tennis. You're lucky to see a tennis story.
Recently however the Lawn Tennis Association and their Clubvision plan in particular have made new, exciting plans for the sport: telling clubs to appoint trained coaches and releasing more money for equipment.
Only time will tell and we can only hope that British tennis improves from the position it’s in to producing world-class players.
Monday 25 February 2008
Monday 4 February 2008
Racism in Sport - Spanish bigots?
Alot is said about racism in sport, and in football in particular, but the main debate from last week was racism in motorsport. Lewis Hamilton, Formula Ones first ever black driver was the focus of racial abuse and taunting from Spanish racing fans during pre-season testing at Barcelona.
“In our country, where multi-culturalism is a new thing, we are in nappies dealing with these things, and have a naivety which makes the English nervous”. That quote was from AS sports writer Guillem Balague after England’s black players were at the centre of monkey chanting and other racial abuse from the Spanish supporters during a match at the Bernebau in November 2004. Is this an excuse or an apology? One thing that is for sure is that Spaniards seem behind the times when it comes to multi-culturalism. I’ll agree with him there.
Racism can be the spark and cause of any argument from the front street to international debate but never is it as highly documented as when it occurs in sport.
And when we talk about racism in sport, the Spanish (albeit a minority) seem to be the most backward in appreciation of eradicating the disgraceful taunting and chanting. Last week Lewis Hamilton was subject to racist bigots when he went to test drive his McLaren at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Whilst tearing round the track in his new F1 car Hamilton was at the end of abusive gestures, racial remarks and people who painted themselves black and wore shirts suggesting they were Hamilton’s family. The reasons for this appear to be obvious: Hamilton, Formula Ones first black driver, had a row with Spanish ace Fernando Alonso which has since led Alonso to leave McLaren and Lewis has become a hate figure amongst some of the Spanish public.
These acts of racial abuse could back-fire on the bigots as Spain may now lose it’s grand-prix at Barcelona and, potentially, the one at Valencia. Surely that’s a small price to pay for such inhumane activities?
In the Sun this story ticked all the boxes needed for a controversial and explosive front page and inside story. The fact that it mixed a hard news item with a celebrity and sport led it to reach the top of the newspaper and then it filled a double page spread on the inside. What was evident is the fact that the story was still more entertainment based than racism based. However, in the Independent it was different: the story was seen to lack relevance and was positioned at the back of the paper in a short article. What this shows is how hard it is to differentiate between what is hard and what is soft news.
This is far from the first time that we have seen racism from Spain. Like I’ve already mentioned there was the incident in Madrid in 2004. Also, Luis Aragones was fined after he referred to Thierry Henry as “that black shit”. Reason? Because he was trying to motivate Jose Antonio Reyes. Oh well that’s alright then. In 2005 referees had to temporarily stop matches due to bigots. Then there’s been abuse to Deportivo goalkeeper Carlo Kameni, Costa Rican striker Paulo Wanchope and Portugese right-back Miguel.
Perhaps the most well-known of recent times was in 2006 when Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o attempted to abandon the game, by walking off, after he was subject to monkey chants each time he received the ball. He played on and Barcelona won the match. Justice? Hardly but Zaragoza also got slapped with a 9,000 euro fine. Justice? You can’t really put a price on eradicating racism but Eto’o felt it was lenient and in his opinion punishments should go beyond fines - closing stadiums for example. But in all fairness, that’s a bit extreme due to the large percentage of honest and respectful fans.
“In our country, where multi-culturalism is a new thing, we are in nappies dealing with these things, and have a naivety which makes the English nervous”. That quote was from AS sports writer Guillem Balague after England’s black players were at the centre of monkey chanting and other racial abuse from the Spanish supporters during a match at the Bernebau in November 2004. Is this an excuse or an apology? One thing that is for sure is that Spaniards seem behind the times when it comes to multi-culturalism. I’ll agree with him there.
Racism can be the spark and cause of any argument from the front street to international debate but never is it as highly documented as when it occurs in sport.
And when we talk about racism in sport, the Spanish (albeit a minority) seem to be the most backward in appreciation of eradicating the disgraceful taunting and chanting. Last week Lewis Hamilton was subject to racist bigots when he went to test drive his McLaren at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Whilst tearing round the track in his new F1 car Hamilton was at the end of abusive gestures, racial remarks and people who painted themselves black and wore shirts suggesting they were Hamilton’s family. The reasons for this appear to be obvious: Hamilton, Formula Ones first black driver, had a row with Spanish ace Fernando Alonso which has since led Alonso to leave McLaren and Lewis has become a hate figure amongst some of the Spanish public.
These acts of racial abuse could back-fire on the bigots as Spain may now lose it’s grand-prix at Barcelona and, potentially, the one at Valencia. Surely that’s a small price to pay for such inhumane activities?
In the Sun this story ticked all the boxes needed for a controversial and explosive front page and inside story. The fact that it mixed a hard news item with a celebrity and sport led it to reach the top of the newspaper and then it filled a double page spread on the inside. What was evident is the fact that the story was still more entertainment based than racism based. However, in the Independent it was different: the story was seen to lack relevance and was positioned at the back of the paper in a short article. What this shows is how hard it is to differentiate between what is hard and what is soft news.
This is far from the first time that we have seen racism from Spain. Like I’ve already mentioned there was the incident in Madrid in 2004. Also, Luis Aragones was fined after he referred to Thierry Henry as “that black shit”. Reason? Because he was trying to motivate Jose Antonio Reyes. Oh well that’s alright then. In 2005 referees had to temporarily stop matches due to bigots. Then there’s been abuse to Deportivo goalkeeper Carlo Kameni, Costa Rican striker Paulo Wanchope and Portugese right-back Miguel.
Perhaps the most well-known of recent times was in 2006 when Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o attempted to abandon the game, by walking off, after he was subject to monkey chants each time he received the ball. He played on and Barcelona won the match. Justice? Hardly but Zaragoza also got slapped with a 9,000 euro fine. Justice? You can’t really put a price on eradicating racism but Eto’o felt it was lenient and in his opinion punishments should go beyond fines - closing stadiums for example. But in all fairness, that’s a bit extreme due to the large percentage of honest and respectful fans.
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