New school for Jojo

We held on to Parklands as long as we could- it's still open, and Jojo is happy enough there. But he isn't really getting an education.  many teachers have left, only 20 children are applying for next September... some lessons had only supply teachers... Jojo found much of the classroom antics amusing, but he realises this isn't education.
On Thursday i rang ESLA and Halewood , the two closest schools, to ask for a quick look around. I wouldn't bother with an open evening, they are so fake.  By rep, Halewood is a better educational establishment, we have 5 teens there in our wider church family, and Bev is a governor there and I remember her telling me that when  her girl had a bullying experience it got sorted that very day. Halewood is not on a direct bus route from here, tho' there is a 50p school bus from close by.  It is actually the whole "Bus full of loud teenagers" experience that puts me off. Ive Been on those buses. It's horrendous.
That's why I always had ESLA as our standby school, it's just in Garston, a quick bus ride home on the 82, very frequent buses, so you can dodge certain characters if need be.  ESLA is undoubtedly not as good as Halewood. But all Jojo's friends-who-didn't-go-to-Parklands go there. He'd be among friends in school and on the bus home.

Panic?
No. Because Jojo's intention has always been to transfer to Studio when he's 14, and do GSCEs there. so years 7-9 were just treading water in a way, learning Keystage 3 stuff - we didn't really mind where. We were not stressed about this stage of his school life. remember. I've got another kid here at home doing this stuff. it's not rocket science!! I actually don't even mind whether Jojo goes to school or not!

What happened?
BC & DF are In Jojo's year and also happen to be our church friends. Obviously their parents are a bit more invested about their school as they are thinking forward to GCSE time.  We are all committed to the community in Speke, we've held on as long as possible.
BC & DF are both starting at Halewood next week, I knew this but didn't mention it to Jojo til we'd been to see Halewood for ourselves.

Well. Yesterday Halewood got back to me at 9am, we looked at the calendar - it's a busy time of year! And agreed to meet that morning at 11.30am.  So at 10am I got Jojo out of Parklands, He was thinking "What, another asthma appointment?"   We went for food in Morrisons, I explained that we would be visiting Halewood even though I know he wants to go to ESLA. We prayed. We remembered that God faithfully guides us. And He has protected us before. He will protect Jojo on that bus.

btw Halewood Academy Centre For Learning :  http://www.halewoodacademy.co.uk

ESLA: Enterprise South Liverpool Academy : esla.org.uk

We got a taxi to Halewood. It has a infants & juniors right next door, and is five minutes walk from my beloved Aldi.
We had a little tour and loved everything about it. We peeped into a lesson (Sophie H waved at us).
The toilets are unisex and rather open plan. No opportunities for bullying there. There is a general policy of open plan-ness everywhere so adults are always nearby. It's very light and colourful. Year 7's have their own floor.   Its huge in comparison- 1800 kids compared to parklands' approx 300.
They do real A-levels. They do play rugby. It is out of Liverpool City Council's juristiction , YAY! (it's in Knowsley.)  We both loved everything about it. Rang Lee. He agreed, we signed up there and then and bought the tie & blazer badge!
The assistant principal who'd shown us around said Jojo can probably be there by wednesday (think about it - theres only 6 more school days before Christmas) But also he would like to co-ordinate Jojo starting with BC& DF.
So On monday we'll nip to Laser for black trousers blazer and white shirt & p.e. kit. No Problemo!

The other 3 families from church & I were so sure that putting our children in Parklands was the right thing. We still are. The kids may not have learnt much academically, and they certainly have learnt a bit too much about the seedier areas of life!! But we believe they will take something away from their months at Parklands that the Good Lord will use for His good purposes in future.
Just Praise Him!