(07 May 2016, 8:23 am)Charles41 wrote There's also the question of access to playing fields as well. When schools become academies there is a tendency to take away historic facility for the wider community to use playing fields for recreation.
My former school used to have playing fields which were open to all to use free of charge outside of school hours. They now have a large fence around them and a no admittance policy.
The academy my partner's son attends has excellent modern sporting facilities. However these are only available to clubs by prior arrangement at a weekend on a fee paying basis. I feel this is wrong, facilities should be made available for all to use. Also the academy is surrounded by high fences and electronic gates. My partner has to buzz the intercom if she wants to visit. It's meant to be a school not a bloody prison.
Charles
Local primary has high fences and intercom. Pretty standard. From my POV, it means that Littl'un can't just take himself for walks. He'd not be able to attend his local school, otherwise. It also means that parents with a grudge to bear can't just march in and that pupils can spend their school day safe from adults in their life who aren't supposed to have any contact with them, for good reason.
Also has the added bonus that the (many) local scrappies have to make the effort to throw stuff over a very high, extremely prickly hedge if they want to fly tip. The field isn't as well protected as the school yards.